[pct-l] Steve's Excellent JMT Adventure

[steve_peterson at sbcglobal.net (Steve Peterson)]

Marshall Karon wrote:
> Nice review.
> 
> Guess you know where to carry your permit next time. Did they ask to see 
> your bear canister (or was that pretty obvious)?
> 
Yeah, it was about the first thing out. She did want to know that all my food 
fit in it (it did), and that all my garbage fit, too (it did). I buried my 
permit because I was afraid of losing it if I kept it in something I accessed 
more often; it was in my first aid stuff (I know, that should be more 
accessible, too) which I've never accessed on any hike. I kept it more 
accessible after that but saw no more rangers. I heard later that this woman 
"has a reputation for strictness", but don't know that she's more strict than 
anyone else.

> Regarding food consumption - most people can't eat that much when first 
> starting out. I'm not surprised that you couldn't eat all you carried.  
> But, when you do the whole PCT, you may find you need everything you 
> carried this time. So, don't presume you will need less by the time you 
> reach Kennedy Meadows. The real hunger often doesn't start until after 1 
> 1/2 months.

That was my understanding, too, although I had heard things like
"developed thru-hiking appetite after two weeks" so I figured maybe
it would hit just before I finished. Part of the issue was the extra-cold
weather--I just didn't want to stop to eat as often as I did on
the first part of the trip, combined with the fact that there's
just no way to eat frozen PB&J; the other aspect was some of it
just wasn't that tasty.

-- Steve