[pct-l] PCT advice

[goforth at cnw.com (Joanne Lennox)]

Seems like whether or not your dog will be occupying your sleeping bag is
not a very good criterion for its selection.

All the lightweight bags are made from fairly fine fabric that will not take
much abrasion or rough treatment (dog nails, thorns, bushes).  I would teach
your dog that a down bag is not his bed, or put it over a log or place out
of reach until you plan to use it. In the morning to dry it you usually will
have to put it up off the ground and in the sun.  Yes, down bags are fairly
durable if you use them right.  And having a dogs muddy prints, and smell
all over a bag means that you will be washing it more often, and you got to
know that the time and opportunity to wash a bag on a thruhike are going to
be very limited.

Most bags are not roomy enough to allow a dog to be inside or outside when
you are in them.  that means that the only time the dog will be on your bag
is when you are not in it; at these times there are ways to keep the bag
dog-free, and I am sure that he will not need the added warmth.  What he
will want is your tender loving company.

carry a piece of blue foam  or pad- something that he can have as his place
for the night, next to yours, anchor it down with a couple of tent stakes

The last K minifilter I had got shelved after the first use.  I do not have
enough muscle mass or time to use it. Look in the 99 archivesfor this list.
There are also long discussions on taking a dog on the PCT in the archives;
your questions come up at least 2 times every year in great detail

Goforth