[pct-l] planning ahead, but how thoroughly?

[m.karon at comcast.net (Marshall Karon)]

Take things as they come. Sure, some folks might plan every night, but it is 
much better to just wing it. Just guess at your speed and how many days food 
you will carry between stops. In fact, any attempt to exactly determine 
where to stop will certainly fail. Weather, streams, snow, views, other 
hikers, water sources, terrain, etc. will all impact what you do. Let the 
trail be your guide.

Some folks count the number of each meal they need; others count days and 
figure 3 meals per day regardless of when you arrive/leave a resupply point. 
The experienced will count meals. I gave that up and always have some extra 
food (which I do eat!).

Taking things a bit slow at the beginning certainly is advised. But, you 
should be able to do 10-15 mile days almost from the start, maybe more 
(although your feet may not like it). Then you may go 20+ until the High 
Sierras (Kennedy Meadows), drop some through them, and then after Tahoe, go 
much higher. So, I think your 10 mile/day will be lower than you can easily 
do without hurting yourself. If you go to the kick-off (recommended), your 
miles need to be adjusted for those days.

If you are supplying yourself by buying on the trail, you have the advantage 
of adjusting what you pack easily. Otherwise, you may need to either 
supplement or have your shipper change what is sent if your guess was wrong 
(it will be).  That is what hiker boxes are all about.



Marshall Karon
Portland, OR
m.karon@comcast.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Wright" <MarkWright@AboveCalifornia.com>
To: "Pacific Crest Trail Mailing List Pacific Crest Trail Mailing List" 
<pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 5:35 PM
Subject: [pct-l] planning ahead, but how thoroughly?


> Looking for some trip planning suggestions here for a 2005 though hike. 
> I'm wondering just how thoroughly I should plan things. For example,  how 
> far ahead do people plan their campsites? I'm sure some people plan  every 
> place they plan to camp all the way up to Canada, but I can't  even stick 
> to such plans for a week long trip. I figure it ought to be  good enough 
> to plan out my first week's campsites and after that just  try to plan a 
> couple days ahead. I know I'll want a pretty good idea of  which towns I 
> will visit for resupply so that people back home can send  me things, 
> though even these plans will likely change over time except  when I know I 
> have a package waiting for me.
>
> So basically, any thoughts from pct veterans on how they planned 
> everything and how their plans changed over time would be appreciated.
>
> One plan of mine which I would like feedback on is to start out hiking 
> about 10 miles a day and work my way up to 20+ miles a day. My goal is  to 
> be at 20 miles a day no later than 100 miles into the hike. Does  that 
> sound reasonable? My reasoning behind this is that no matter how  much I 
> prepare physically my body will not be accustomed to hiking 20  miles a 
> day every day and I don't want to hurt myself, especially my  feet. And I 
> understand that a lot of people overexert themselves at the  beginning and 
> their feet (and other parts) pay the price.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
>
> -----
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