Re: [pct-l] Hello to list...and a few comments

["Joanne Lennox" <goforth@cio.net>]

Hi, Chris I am glad you're on the list. I've read about half your journal,
and really enjoyed it. I refer a lot to the Guidebook while I am doing it
so I haven't finished it. Thank you so much for making it available, and
congradualations on being one of the few to do a N to S thruhike last year

I hang my food, often just by the long strings of my foodbags, at least 3-4
feet off the ground out on a limb (away from the tree trunk).  usually in a
tree that is 20 feet from my camp so that if a bear does come by, I am not
right there.  I do this because I do not like rodent damage, and I hate
mice climbing over me while I sleep.  I have seen lots of bears.  I have
never had a bear get my food.  I  am generally out and away from trails.  I
think this is the best protection you can get from bears: get away from
areas that have bears habituated to human food.

I used to take food into the tent with me.  One night, a mouse climbed up
the side seam of the tent body walked along the ridge seam and would slide
down the tent body. <G>.  He did this a lot of the night, it was keeping me
awake. :(  I was relieved when he gave up.:)  The next morning there was a
large hole in the side of my tent. :( Thereafter I hung my food up.

One trip, I got up one morning and there was a large hole in my pack: it
went from the inside to one of my outside pockets.  I had forgotten and
left a small package of peanuts in the pocket, and the top was open
overnight. 

I still get mouse damage, but it is much less.  I absolutely hate having
mice get into my food, partly because I don't have anything to spare, but
also because the turds and urine contaminates food even if they do not eat
it.  Hanta virus is real possibility, and it is more dangerous than a bear
getting your food.

I now also hang up my ice ax(because of the wrist loop) and if possible my
boots , because  I have had these badly chewed as well.

In addition, marmots have chewed the shoulder and waist straps  and the
zippers on my Kelty during daylight hours.  So during the day, I hang my
pack as well.  Often, I will just put it in the crook of a tree.  For some
reason, marmots do not seem to climb trees at all, although
characteristically they perch on and climb rocks.

Sincerely,
Goforth 







----------
> From: Chris Bailey <hikertrash@earthlink.net>
> To: 'PCT List' <pct-l@backcountry.net>
> Subject: [pct-l] Hello to list...and a few comments
> Date: Monday, January 18, 1999 3:13 PM
> 
> Hello list!
> 
> I'm Chris Bailey and I thru-hiked the PCT last summer from Mexico to
Canada along with my partner, Jenelle Wilhelm.  We're now on-line and
wanted to say howdy to the list.  (I (Chris) also thru-hiked the AT in '95
using the trail name "Tahoma.")  We have a website which contains a lot of
journals entries from over the course of our hike at
http://www.skydivenet.com/pcthike if anyone's looking for some reading. 
(The site has a few problems at the moment which I hope to work out in the
next couple of weeks.)
> 
> To put my two cents in on a couple of threads:  
> 
> 1)  Ice Axes and Self-Arrest:  No one ever mentions it, but if you're in
a position where you might have to self-arrest, I think it's really good
practice to wear gloves or mitts.  It will be less painful to grip your axe
firmly and you'll be less likely to lose knuckle skin on icy slopes. 
Gloves or mitts will be safer if they have a grippy palm.  Also, if you are
well-practiced at the technique of "self-belaying," you may be able to
avoid the ass-over-teakettle-type slides in the first place.  Finally, ski
areas can  make a pretty good place to practice without tremendous risk: 
steep, groomed slopes with a good run-out can simulate the kind of terrain
where you might need ice axe skills.  Obviously, ski areas may not want you
there (though if they are operating on Forest Service land, like Stevens
Pass, Washington, they really can't tell you to leave unless you're
wallowing around a busy run for hours on a Saturday), but after they close
for the season they probably won't c!
> are and there will probably still be some icy slopes around for awhile.
> 
> 2) Bears and Bear-Bagging:  If you're hiking outside of griz country
(meaning where there is a confirmed population, not just theoretical range)
and you're not travelling in areas where bears have become habituated and
routinely cause problems, then my personal feeling is skip the bear-bagging
and cylinders.  I dislike bagging because I think most determined bears
still get the food and that just compounds the problem of habituated bears.
 I would use a cylinder in problem areas and griz country despite the
weight, though we didn't use one on our thru-hike (we were thru the KM to
Tahoe stretch early in a heavy snow year).  It seems that in griz country,
an entirely unique set of techniques are needed for how and when to cook,
eat, and camp.  But in the vast bulk of U.S. backcountry, I feel better
with my food nearby where I can keep an eye on it and protect it from
rodents, black bears and other marauders.  Lots of very sauvy, experienced
backcountry travellers disagree with m!
> e, I know, but I guess this is just one of those things you have to
develop your own feel for.
> 
> 3)  Camping Near Campo:  I hiked this stretch in both '97 and '98 and
camped within a few miles of the highway in '97.  It will be pretty obvious
where the illegals are travelling, and it often doesn't correspond with the
PCT.  I think if you avoid their obvious paths (which often follow the
bottoms of ravines) you can camp reasonably safely around here (and there
are some nice spots, some with water nearby depending on the year).  I'd be
a little wary of Hauser Canyon just due to the road traffic...we met some
"interesting" -- though not threatening -- locals there in '98.  All this
said, if you camp too near Campo, the helicopters, airplanes and patrol
vehicles might disturb your first night's sleep.
> 
> I'll shut up now...  Chris
> * From the Pacific Crest Trail Email List |  http://www.backcountry.net  
*

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