[pct-l] Doing the trail on the cheap...

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

I kept track of my costs back in 1977.

I had some of my gear (sleeping bag, stove, down jacket) given to me for
birthday and Christmas before. I bought my backpack ($100), tent ($100), ice
axe ($65), boots ($75) and food ($800) beforehand.  I bought all of my
out-of-town food ahead of time in this $800.

I saved up approximately $1,500 for town and miscellaneous equipment,
transportation or in-town food supply and motel costs.

So, total of about $2,600 for about 2,600 miles.  A dollar per mile isn't a
bad deal even 25 years ago.

Today, I would buy a new pack ($150), a new sleeping bag ($125), a new tent
($150), use existing clothing and make most of my other equipment.  I'd try
wearing trail running shoes for all but the Sierras and bring my old
wood-handle ice axe and some other sentimental equipment.  I would
pre-purchase only a small amount of my food, make a ton of beef and other
kinds of meat jerky and some awesome gorp.  Buy the rest in towns.  I'd
figure about $2,500 for town costs now, including a lot of my food for on the
trail.

It can be done for much less, though.
You could;
- Make your own pack
- Make your sleeping bag
- Make your own tent / tarp
- Make your own stove
- Make your own rain / wind parka
- Make your own fleece jacket
- Pre-dry and make all of your trail food
- Limit your in-town costs

And probably end up spending a bit less than I did back in 1977.

Best regards,

Greg "Strider" Hummel