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[pct-l] re: pct-l-digest V1 #56
Vapor Barrier. With my thru-hike last year, I don't remember any discussion
relating to vapor barriers but, I saw folks using gaiters not only in the
Sierras but also in sections where there are lots of pebbles. The gaiters
make your socks last a bit longer by keeping them cleaner.
The season for this year. Of all the years I have lived in the San Francisco
Bay Area, I've noticed that we get the most rain here by the coast and snow
over the Sierras during the months of January and March. This month,
February, has been very nice although we're only halfway through. In fact, I
was out whale watching last Sunday by the lighthouse in Point Reyes National
Seashore and saw a couple of Grey Whales migrating north, of which the bulk of
them should arrive in March. January this year is typical with lots of rain,
February so far is also typical with not much rain, best time to go play in
the snow in my opinion but of course Hwy 50 going to Lake Tahoe is shut down
indefinitely. If the amount of rain we get in March is also average, then
this year should be as good as any. Note also that last November around
Thanksgiving, the ski lifts at Lake Tahoe were not able to open due to the
lack of snow. That was an indication that the winter season was late and as
such would have less time to accumulate snow. In comparison, back in 1994,
the snow started falling in mid-October and by the second week of November,
the ski lifts were open. That resulted in the record year for rain and snow
in 1995.
Other than the weather itself, thru-hiking the PCT undoubtedly is a choice
each of us have to make. No one else. Polite Cat, look at the consequences
if you do not hike the trail this year. Granted that this great job is only
for a year, but no one knows what the future holds. When the year is up, you
might be offered another great job. What then? Will you decide to take that
job or resolve yourself in hiking the trail? How about the fire that is
within you now to do the trail? It will not be there forever and as such you
may resolve later not to do the trail. In the grand scheme of life, say
twenty years from now, when you have a vision to your past, how would you like
to remember 1997 as: the year that you turned down a job to try to thru-hike
the PCT or the year that I took a great job. Look into yourself for, as Rilke
wrote, "In the depths, all become law." And in there, you will find an answer
that is based on you before anything else. Once you find that answer, then
all the outside events become part of what you face. If you do decide to hike
the trail, you will make adjustments to cope and in so doing, learn more about
your self. Find some time alone with nature, removed from the distractions of
this human-made world. It is scary at first but that too passes away and when
it does, you will find yourself embracing all your surroundings, the beauty,
the life, the peace. And if you do decide not to hike the trail, know that it
is based on your decision alone and as such, you cannot do any better. Good
Luck.
Ben
(pct-l-digest) Wrote:
|
|
| pct-l-digest Tuesday, February 11 1997 Volume 01 : Number 056
|
|
|
| In this issue:
|
| [pct-l] Greetings
| [pct-l] Howdy!
| [pct-l] oh golly!!!
|
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 01:11:28 -0600
| From: traveler@mc.net
| Subject: [pct-l] Greetings
|
| Hello all,
| I hiked the PCT in 1979, North to South. I just came across this site and
| am looking forward to getting in touch with others interested in the PCT.
| Happy Trails,
| Jon Balthazar
| traveler@mc.net
|
|
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|
| ------------------------------
|
| Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 02:00:14 -0800 (PST)
| From: Andy Strickland <andyman@efn.org>
| Subject: [pct-l] Howdy!
|
| Hello all,
|
| I have just recently subscribed to this newsletter and would like to
| introduce myself. I am planning a solo through hike of the PCT this summer
| beginning approximately May 17th. I hiked the Appalachian Trail almost
| twenty years ago and haven't done anything of that magnitude since. I turn
| forty next month and this will be a good test of whether or not I can still
| have it. It was mainly a mental thing for me back then and I expect it to
| be so again, blisters and sore muscles aside. Certainly I have developed a
| lot of patience that I didn't have before and that should be helpful.
|
| The Colin Fletcher reference of a couple days ago reminded me of my own
| experience on the A.T. I read all his books as a kid and he above all
| inspired me to take up backpacking along with some overnight hikes and such
| in the Boy Scouts. So when I started that trek I was prepared for every
| eventuality and my pack weighed over 60 lbs. But by the end I had pared it
| down to the bare essentials and it weighed about 35 pounds fully loaded.
| Colin Fletcher was a pack horse, unquestionably, but I got a lot more
| pleasure out of traveling ultra light. Not only did this make me able to go
| faster and further on less energy, but it also changed my state of mind. I
| felt closer to nature, which is the point after all. This lesson is as
| fresh in my mind as if it was yesterday.
|
| Here is my two cents about vapor barriers. I've put my feet into bread bags
| between boot and sock while working in the cold. This IS an excellent way
| to keep your feet warm. I cannot, however, imagine using a vapor barrier
| for any reason on a long distance hike.
|
| I would like to meet some of the through hikers in this group out on the
| trail this summer and perhaps hike along together for awhile. If anyone is
| on a similar itinerary and feels likewise let me know, no obligations.
|
| Happily,
|
| Andy Strickland
| Eugene, Oregon
|
|
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|
| ------------------------------
|
| Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 23:39:53 -0500 (EST)
| From: POLITECAT@aol.com
| Subject: [pct-l] oh golly!!!
|
| evening all
| i have a very i stress very important question. any one know what the
| statis
| of the hike this year is? see i want to go this year but i was also offered
| a
| great job for a bout a year . i know more info then you all want. but i
| thought if any one you in the land of hiking gods and godess live ( i am in
| the cold and chilly chicago) knew what the snow was. i mean in comparsion
| of
| p[ast years and so forth. i almost need to do the hgike this year but i
| thought someone osted it was looking prett bad? i would hate to miss this
| year i have been planning so hard. so any one everyone neighbors contrymen
| nobles and peasents. please help a looney in need. save me save her save
| us.
| my gear thanks you my dried food thanks you the boots i will wear thank
| you.
| and good night.
| wendy aka polite cat
| no i am not insane i am just confused today. forgive a ranting lunnie. i
| miss
| my california mountains. the cold has sunk into my brain.
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| ------------------------------
|
| End of pct-l-digest V1 #56
| **************************
|
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