[pct-l] lots of PCT related stuff

[fdumville at earthlink.net (Frank Dumville)]

Some of my observations are listed below.

> Second--  Anyone who has thru or sectioned the trail
> with a canister stove: Where were you able (and not
> able) to find fuel?  Also: how much did you use the
> stove (1,2,3 times a day?), and at that rate, how long
> did it take you to go through a canister?  (I've been
> trying to gauge a lot of this, but I live at sea level
> so I know my results will be off.)

I've used a GigaPower canister stove for two long section hikes in 2005 and
2006, with and without a partner.  We got about a week out of a large
canister boiling 1 liter of water two times a day. Air and water
temperature seemed more important than altitude. I highly recommend a pot
cozy, it allows you to turn off the stove and let your food cook without
using any more fuel. 

Availability of canisters can be a problem, I mailed some, bought some
along the way, and found quite a few in hiker boxes. Mailing is legal via
USPS surface mail when properly labeled. Mail the canister separately from
your regular resupply box and bring a copy of USPS Pub-52 to the post
office so you can convince the clerk that it is legal to do so.

This is what I found at some resupply stops.
WA - OR 2005
Stehekin - Yes, at the Ranch
Skykomish - No
Snoqualmie - No
White Pass - No
Trout Lake - No
Cascade Locks - No, but the hiker box at the post office had several almost
full canisters.
Timberline Lodge - No
Sisters, OR - No, there used to be an outfitter here but they closed.
Shelter Cove, No, but there were some in the hiker box.
Crater Lake - No
Ashland - Yes, at the outfitter

Sierras 2004
Independence - No
Bishop - Yes, at the outfitter
VVR - Yes, they had one can on the shelf when I got there
Red's Meadow - No, but I got one out of the hiker box
Tuolumne Meadows - Yes, at the store
Yosemite Valley - Yes, at most of the stores
Northern Kennedy Meadows - No
Lake Tahoe - Yes, at the outfitter

>
> Third--  Custom orthotics: have you tried em?  was it
> worth it?  I don't have any real foot problems, but
> during a 2600 mi hike prevention sounds like a good
> idea to me.
I need arch support and extra cushioning and found off the shelf orthotics
that work for me. FWIW my podiatrist brother-in-law advised me not to get
custom unless the off the shelf ones didn't work.

Frank Dumville