[pct-l] PCT advice

[chelin at teleport.com (Sharon & Chuck Chelin)]

Good evening, Erin,

There is a significant watershed of opinion regarding filters vs. chemical
treatment so I suggest you learn about, and gain experience with, both.   If
you are interested in a filter, I have used the Katadyn Mini Filter with
success for about 6 years, and over 1000 mi. of OR/WA PCT and I have found
it durable and very satisfactory.  Maybe Pacific Northwest water is not has
hard as Sierra water.

I have made week-long hikes with my dog in the Oregon's Cascades, Snake
River Canyon, Eagle Cap, and others.  While it was interesting and enjoyable
it did add a very significant dimension of complexity, and I would not even
consider taking a dog on a longer trip.  I do not know how many whacks you
will have at a PCT thru-hike in your life but having your fuzzy friend along
better be really important to compensate for the associated risk and
complication.

Steel-Eye

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Erin Reading" <ninskyaroo@hotmail.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 1:06 PM
Subject: [pct-l] PCT advice


> Hello!
>
> I'm going to be thru-hiking the PCT in 2005, and I have a couple questions
I
> would love for you guys to answer...
>
> First, I'm about to order my sleeping bag from Feathered Friends, and I
was
> wondering if it would be better to get the Quantum Pertex fabric, which is
> the lightest they have, or the Epic, which is heavier but much more
> waterproof and durable. I'm going to be hiking with my dog, who I'm sure
> will be walking and sleeping on it quite often also, so I'm not sure if
the
> Quantum will hold up well enough.
>
> Second, is the Katadyn Mini Filter an OK choice for a filter?
>
> Third, I would love to have some dog advice...most of the books I read are
> far from helpful, being almost offensive. He will be two years old when we
> hike it and in extremely good shape. He climbs mountains about three to
four
> times a week in the summer and two to three times in the winter and
> absolutely loves it...he can handle class 2 stuff fine and a little class
3.
> He has also done fine doing really long mileages with lots of elevation
> gain...like yesterday was like 20 miles with over 9000 ft total elevation
> gain and he did awesome. So, I'm not too worried about him being fit
enough,
> but I'm not sure what to do about his feet, backpack, or food.  Where in
the
> world do you get ultra-light hiking gear for dogs? What is the lightest
and
> best food? Are boots enough, or does he need extra foot care? If anyone
has
> hiked the PCT with their dog, I would love to correspond with you!!!
>
> Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> -Erin B & Kosmic
>
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