[pct-l] Intro

[Slyatpct@aol.com (Slyatpct@aol.com)]

Hey Nina,

It's great to hear you're considering hiking the PCT.  I thought it was a 
great trail and had wonderful experiences.  The views are spectacular and 
will blow you away!  You'll also meet some of the nicest people anywhere.

It's not like you have to hike "fast" on the PCT, but in certain areas you 
will have to hike long, especially in the southern sections where lack of 
water dictates how many miles you travel.  If you've been lurking you know 
that there's several people that are dedicated to maintaining water caches 
along the way to help ease the hikers burden. 

Although, I started out as a thru-hiker, I ended up finishing the trail in 
two large almost equal chunks.  If I had my druthers I would have prefered to 
do it in one year, but turned that slight negative into a positive with four 
eventful cross country trips.

The trail itself and weather also dictates when you hike.  For instance, it 
wouldn't be wise or prudent to hike the southern section in summer.  For that 
matter you can't start too early either, where late spring snow storms will 
hasten your progress.  

I'm not the one to ask about lightening your load, I carry all my lightweight 
gear in a 8 pound pack!

Some of the books you'll want to read can be found on the PCTA website and 
include two by Karen Berger, along with the two volume trail guides, that 
include the maps, the data book and town guide.  Try to borrow or buy Lynne 
Weldon's How to Hike the PCT video and mess around with Craig's PCT planner.

 <A HREF="http://www.pcta.org/";>Pacific Crest Trail Association</A> 

 <A HREF="http://www.pctplanner.com/";>Craig's PCT Planner</A>

Once out there, my best advice is to try NOT compare the PCT to the AT.  
There were too many times I saw or heard of hikers washout on the trail 
looking for the AT experience.  Since you were a southbounder, you're not 
likely to run into that same problem, but bear in mind they're two distinct 
trails and experiences.  Let it flow and you should be fine.

Sly



  waterfallmega@yahoo.com writes:


> Hi y'all,
> 
> I have mostly been a lurker on this list for the past
> couple of years, but I hope to be posting more in the
> next 7 or 8 months, as I am seriously considering a
> PCT hike next year. I'm a "slow hiker" as well (partly
> by choice, partly because of my short little legs) and
> am thinking a section hike might be more up my alley.
> Right now my options are open! All I know is I am
> quitting my job in the spring (geez, I hope no one
> from work is on this list!!) :) and hiking for as long
> as my "trail funds" hold out. So, for now I'm just
> trying to save money, learn what I can about the PCT,
> and figure out how I can further lighten my load.
> 
> I guess a lot of y'all know me from AT-L; I thru-hiked
> the AT southbound last year and it changed my life in
> a lot of good ways. I've been dealing with the
> "post-partum depression" which hit me about 3 months
> after I finished the AT in late December (brrr!), and
> I can't wait to be hiking again. I live in Louisiana
> and haven't done much hiking in the mountains lately,
> though I hope to spend a few days on the trails of
> western NC at the end of this month.
> 
> Because I haven't done much research on the PCT yet, I
> hate to ask questions that I'll be able to find in a
> book. If you are a section hiker who has hiked
> sections for 3-4 months at a time, though, I would
> love to hear from you re: the best times of the year
> to do different large sections. I have the idea in my
> head of hiking the PCT in two big chunks, one in 2002
> and one in 2003, if I can manage it.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Nina Baxley ("Waterfall")
> 
> =====
> Waterfall's Thru-Hike Updates: 
> 




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