[pct-l] Do you plan?

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

This is exactly how it worked out for me. I started thinking I had to  
plan a lot and then ended up just planning as I went. But scoff! Not  
plan every detail and obsess over ever little thing? How dare you  
even suggest such a thing! Think of the newbies!

On Jan 13, 2012, at 6:18 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> I don't see much of a point once you have the basics.  That is, carry
> enough water to go 15-20 miles, have a sleeping system that's good  
> down to
> 20?F, and carry a bear canister in the required areas.  Beyond that, I
> think everything else can be planned on the trail if you carry  
> something
> like Yogi's book and Halfmile's maps for the next 3 sections or  
> so.  Even
> for mail drops, but you and your support crew needs the same  
> address list.
>  This gives you enough information to see what's ahead to figure  
> out how
> much food to carry, how to get it, and how to do a zero.  Planning  
> can be
> done during breaks or at night, although it'd help if the support crew
> calls your mail drop locations to verify that they're open and  
> accepting
> packages.  That provides plenty of time for adjustments as well.
>
> What say you about this?
>
> Sir Mixalot