[pct-l] Lessons I learned.......

[pfreiman at popmail.ucsd.edu (Paul Freiman/Vicki Cavataio)]

What fun...........and lessons learned.  After doing only dayhikes 
for the past 20 years (with few exceptions) I went on a four day 
southward trek from Soledad to Cajon Pass, 100 miles.  It was up to 
Agua Dulce on Friday to spend the night at the Saufley's.  My first 
time there.  What wonderful people.  A kind hiker took me out at 5:30 
am to Soledad Canyon Rd where I could begin the 4000 foot climb.  I 
was really whining when I weighed my pack (40 #).  Despite meeting 
Dan on my trip, who is 50 and carrying 65 pounds, I am almost 52 and 
those two extra years give me a right to whimp!  Besides, Dan is 
retiring from the Marine Corp.

My first lesson came when I got too hot in the sleeping bag.  This is 
a good time to test out "quilt ideas".  Ray Jardine, of course, 
espouses them, and a friend of mine made his own bag and didn't put 
much on the bottom, which is the same thing that Glen VP is doing.  I 
spread the bag out and I love it.  I stayed a comfortable temp all 
night.

My second lesson is food.  I threw away 7 pounds of food and the pack 
was no longer too heavy.  It was extra food.  I didn't need it.  I 
wish I hadn't carried that extra weight up 6000 feet in two days.

My third lesson is also food.  I haven't been one to carry a stove, 
but I realize now that there is something that heating food does to 
make it more palatable to me.  I was barely eating (no pun intended) 
anything by the third day.  I think I will do like BillyGoat does and 
cook a couple of meals each day.

I'm not going to discuss my bear encounter as a lesson.  :-)

Capt Bivy