[pct-l] Eyewear and South bounders

[mara at jeffress.net (Mara Jeffress)]

Hi all,

I have been lurking since Jan. and have decided to come out since I 
still have one lingering question which hasn't been brought up so far 
(I hope!).

I am fairly blind without contacts or glasses and I am wondering what 
others like me do on a long through-hike.  I have done various combos 
on my many hikes of just wearing glasses, wearing extended wear 
disposable contact lenses for the entire time between resupplies (and 
changing them out at stops) or carrying contact lens solutions and 
taking them out every night (hard to keep hands clean).  I am leaning 
towards just doing glasses since I have to carry them anyway as back up 
if I go the contact route.

I was wondering what others do about this issue and if anyone has a 
recommendation for lightweight, durable glasses/sunglasses combos.  I 
had a pair of Wiley field googles with changeable lenses, but not in 
prescription, which I am considering, because they were really light 
and easy to exchange as it turns dark.

On a totally unrelated note.  The longer I wait to get my permit and 
decide when to start (lots of family forces at work are making me miss 
the KO and start in June instead) the more a southbound hike looks like 
the best option for me.  The recent snow in the Washington Cascades may 
affect WHEN in June I plan to start.  I was wondering if anyone else 
had solid plans to start SOBO in June on the 1st or 15th or 30th (late, 
I know).  It would be nice to start out with a few kindred souls.  I 
also know a lot of Seattle folks since I just moved from there to 
Berkeley, CA and can probably arrange a ride to Manning for a few folks 
wanting to drive up together from Seattle.

Cheers,
Mara
(Class of '05 hopeful)
mara@jeffress.net