[pct-l] Chuck Long PCT planning Guide

[Montedodge@aol.com]

 Remember is book guys? My mom found a copy in an old book store. Great 
reading! Book speaks of 16 hikers trips of the PCT in 1975 ( 13 of which 
completed the trail) Most taken stove, Svea 123, average number of food drops 
was 19 with a hiker using a whoping 24. Most used pack, Kelty by a large 
margin. Book talks of bad planning hiker's showing up at Campo with 30 days 
of  food on their backs. Of course today's hikers would laugh their tails off 
at the 70's advice for a thru hike. Getting to a question of which trail has 
more elevation gain , the PCT or AT. The AT has steeper grades and maybe  
even a little more overall gain, but a 3,000 ft gain at 2,000 to 5,000 feet 
is still easier than a 2,000 ft. gain from 10,000 to 12,000. The AT mountains 
are mole hills by comparision. On the PCT, the deserts are higher than much 
of the Mountains of the AT.----- P.S. Chuck Long's last words of wisdom are " 
Don't be too materialist about your gear, your gear is just a means to the 
end " Mad Monte's view, if you bring something that breaks or doesn't work, 
no biggee, just buy a replacement along the trail. Your gear may break, but 
if your spirit doesn't, you'll still find a way to finish the trip.
* From the PCT-L |  Need help? http://www.backcountry.net/faq.html  *

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