[pct-l] What the PCT is Really Like

[Cat Nelson]

All good reads!

Cat Nelson McPeek (SageGirl)
sagegirl51 at gmail.com
253-861-3425
On Aug 15, 2013 8:07 PM, "linsey" <mowoggirl at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Dear Josh,
>
> To paraphrase what you wrote:  "everything I have read/watched seems to
> show the good side of the PCT...I want to see what the PCT is really
> like...the trials and tribulations...Is there something out there that will
> show me this stuff? Show me the...difficult times, not just the
> good times..."
>
> Let me expand on why I recommended Ray Jardine's Books, all of which I've
> read, the first two multiple times.
>
> How you feel about the adversities you encounter depends on how you FILTER
> them.
>
> Ray devotes a whole must read chapter to "Hiking Enjoyment as a Learned
> Skill".   Part of this is having the right gear.  Hint:  because I use a
> silver umbrella for sun, wind, and rain, I am THE most cheerful rainy day
> hiker around.  In the sun, I  seem to be much more comfortable in the sun
> than those bundled up in heat trapping sunhats and long sleeved
> sunshirts--the silver umbrella allows me to uncover for uninhibited
> evaporative cooling.
>
> Ray discusses "Trail Shock" and it's remedies.  Basically it's common to
> have serious doubts, trouble adjusting (and perhaps poor appetite)  right
> off the bat and it's a good idea to take it easy for the first couple weeks
> until you get over it.
>
> Much of the hike is more a mental challenge than a physical one and Ray
> points out that poor nutrition will cause your brain to conspire to get you
> to go home where the food is.  Especially if you are trying to subsist on
> nutritionally deficit convenience store food, your brain could be really
> working overtime reminding you of all the things you could be doing at home
> and imparting guilt for being so self indulgent...worse if you have a
> significant other or pet at home.
>
> Ray also delves into post hike blues, although I can't recall his catchy
> name for them.  Trust me that if you read this book after doing after doing
> a hike, you will be kicking yourself for missing out on a HUGE wealth of
> pertinent information.
>
> Ray Jardine is a genius rocket scientist turned Adventure Guru who's now
> logged approximately 30,000 distance hiking miles, including AT hikes very
> recently.  Besides hiking he does all manner of "Next Fun Trips"--his
> nonstop adventure resume would blow anyone's mind and is chronicled on his
> website.
>
> The first book, "The PCT Hiker's Handbook" was probably the first PCT
> handbook and it revolutionized traditional backpacking gear and techniques.
>  It was a complete how to hike the PCT handbook that encompassed
> everything.  Of course the resupply information is largely outdated.
>
> The second book, "Beyond Backpacking" excludes PCT resupply info, adds
> sewing your own gear info and expands on everything else.  The final book,
> "Trail Life..." is the ultimate distance hiking manifesto with over 300
> color photographs.
>
> Sincerely, Lollygag
>
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> Josh Breslow jbreslowsubs at gmail.com
> Wed Aug 14 12:41:40 CDT 2013
>         * Previous message: [pct-l] getting from Cascade Locks to Portland
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> ________________________________
>
> Hello, I am planning for my first thru-hike in 2014 so I have been reading
> trail
> journals and watching lots of videos on the matter; Class videos, Wizards
> of the PCT, Tell it on the Mountain, Cactus Eaters, Four Boots One Journey,
> Yogi's Handbook, etc... I feel like everything I have read/watched seems
> to show the good side of
> the PCT, the polished version. I want to see what the PCT is really like
> (preferably a movie vs trail journal or book but either is fine), the
> trials and tribulations of doing such an adventure. Is there something out
> there that will show me this stuff? Show me the difficulties of having to
> poop in the woods for 6 months, the achy blistered feet, the moments where
> you don't want to take another step. The difficult times, not just the good
> times. Can anybody recommend something that will show me these things?
> Thank you,
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