[pct-l] Hello - PCT costs

[marge@prothman.com (Marge Prothman)]

If I were doing a PCT thru hike starting next April, then my planning would
start right
now and for me it would be in categories.

Books:  Do you have the 2 copies of the Pacific Crest Trail, Calif. and
Wash/Or. you have
to start with these, read all the sections, see where you can have town
stops and resupplys.
Read and read some more and then read the journals from 2002 on the people
who have made it
thru.  You can find some of these on the PCTA site and also some on
 http://www.trailjournals.com/

Your equipment: Do you need to buy more? Is it lightweight enough so you
will not leave the trail due to a heavy pack.  Did you plan on two pair of
hiking shoes.  A new pair at the end of California or before. Will you plan
on a Drift box with items you might need for the Hi Sierra, there is postage
involved here. Or will someone mail you this stuff. Do you have someone to
mail you your resupply boxes and will they have the money for the postage?

Your food:  You should be watching the sales NOW at your local grocery
store.  You can get
top Ramen 8 or 10 for a dollar, also anything else that you would use from
the grocery store
especially instant potatoes and instant noodle dishes and powdered milk.
All this stuff is a lot cheaper than the REI packaged meals, however you
should watch those to come on sale also. If
you have access to a dehydrator then start now making your own meals. If you
like Gorp, go to
a place like Costco and buy the big package of a basic gorp then add your
own stuff. A place
I just learned about from a former PTC and AT thru hiker is:
http://www.ownbox.com/treasure/CheaperThanDirt.htm     This sites sell  a
lot of stuff and you
have to check out the food, when they have it, they have it in bulk and you
can make up your
own meals.

Town stops and resupply:  This is a hard one, it depends on your needs, I
may have a lot more
needs than you and I would really want the shower than comes with a shared
room.  I would most
like spend money in the Cafe and also some of my resupply would come from
towns.  I would want
the bread and fruit products that do not do well in resupply boxes.  I am
big on huge cheese
and pickle type sandwiches that would last 2 days, also the little packaged
pies. (they would go stale in your resupply). I definitely would take one of
the phone cards you can buy at Costco,
1000 minutes for $20.

This list will get really busy after the first of the year and you could
also go back into
the archives and read a number of posts on the questions that you have.
Read first tho.
You have a little of my 2 cents worth.
Cheers,   Marge (the old gal)