[pct-l] Worst parts of the trail and ways to get through them

[Edward Anderson]

If you become separated from your partner - - - .
 
Since I ride solo, on one horse, I also carry a knapsack. In it, I have everything that I would need to survive if I became unexpectedly separated from my horse (That happened once in Washington when Primo was terrified by llamas and ran off). In my knapsack, I include my sleeping bag stored in a large garbage bag (to keep it dry in case of rain - and it can also become a rain shelter), extra clothes, rain suit, first aid kit, whistle, signaling mirror, SPOT, water, some food, wallet,  etc. All of this, including (when full) the four 20 ounce bottles of water, weighs about 19 pounds. I carry an additional 44 ounce canteen of water in the saddle bags. 
 
MendoRider-Hiker

 

________________________________
 From: Bob Bankhead <wandering_bob at comcast.net>
To: 'CHUCK CHELIN' <steeleye at wildblue.net>; 'PCT listserve' <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2012 1:46 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Worst parts of the trail and ways to get through them
  
Let me add to Steel-Eye's excellent logic regarding "shared gear".

If, as my wife and I do when hiking together, we "share" a tent and kitchen,
we are careful not to divide the components of each system amongst
ourselves, because separations do occur - both intentionally and
unintentional. We both are happier walking at our own pace.  

CAVEAT: wise are they who do not pass a trail junction, signed or not, until
the person behind them arrives or at least comes close enough to be easily
seen AND acknowledges having seen them. You'll get fewer unintentional
separations, greater hiking efficiencies, and greatly reduce stress levels
that way.

Accordingly, whoever carries the tent carries it all - poles, pegs, lines,
tent body, fly, stuff sack, etc.) Logic says that if we split the components
to achieve some target weight or bulk, the tent poles and pegs the one
carries are rather useless without the tent body and fly in the other's pack
when the need for shelter arrives. Ditto the cook pot when the stove and
fuel are on the other person's pack.

While we share one water purification method on the trail, the person
without the equipment carries 6 chlorine dioxide tablets in case we are
separated for a short period.

Other than that, we each carry our own chosen gear kit. Food weight is
distributed as needed to keep each person's pack weight at a comfortable
level or in line with their physical carrying capability. 



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