[pct-l] Beginner experience level

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

When I set out on the trail I had not read Yogi's guides, I had never  
heard of kickoff, I didn't have halfmile's maps and totally expected  
I wouldn't see another soul for the months I was out there. I had the  
wrong shoes, a pack that hurt my back, a resupply plan that  
underestimated my hiking abilities and like anyone, a few extra  
things to mail home as soon as possible. I had been backpacking  
before, but I was surprised by the PCT because in many ways, hiking  
the PCT is not really backpacking. It's something different from  
that. More like hiking with some sleeping thrown in and generally a  
tour of the small-town and wilderness American West. My favorite  
Continental Divide CD is the one with Scarlet and Wildflower. It was  
a very first backpacking trip for one of them. I hiked last summer  
for a week with a CDT thru-hiker who was on her very first backpack  
trip, too. Being a beginner is not really a disadvantage.

On Mar 6, 2013, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> From: Ronald Heinz <ronhikesthewest at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Beginner experience level
>
> for me its the same..its my first thru-hike and i've been preparing  
> myself
> for the trail since nearly a year.
>
> In terms of gear, re-supplies and the terrain..and than i read  
> something
> new and different from other, more experienced hikers which already
> finished the PCT.. i've tried to learn from the mistakes of others and
> Yogi's PCT books helped me a lot and lets me reconsider/refine my  
> strategy.
> During the last few weeks i've felt like I'm not prepared good enough
> (water sources in the desert, food mail drops..) This has changed a  
> lot in
> the last days. Lets see how my increased theory knowledge works in
> real-life situations..
>
> I agree with David: Better do it now - i don't know what's gonna  
> happen
> next year..this could be the time of my life.
>
> I hope to find a hiking partner (or partners) who has a compatible
> hiking-style, maybe there are some hikers when i start at the 24/25th.
>
>
> 2013/3/6 David Thibault <dthibaul07 at gmail.com>
>
>> If it was me I'd go for it.  No time like the present.  There are  
>> a few
>> very inexperienced hikers that do a thru every year.