[pct-l] Re: pct-l-digest V1 #918

[HShires@aol.com]

Ron,

I took a peek at your web page.  A couple of suggestions.  

Water filter. You didn't say what you were using for a water filter 
(maybe you didn't use one?) but I highly recommend the one I used.  It's 
an inline filter from safewateranywhere.com that I spliced into the 
drinking tube coming from my platypus bag.  Weighs about 3 oz and there 
are no moving parts, nothing to break.  The specs are the same as any of 
the other the carbon filter alternatives and two of them (at $25/each) 
lasted the whole trip.  

Sleeping bag.  I like your quilt concept.  Be sure to test it out in 
20-25 degree weather because there will be nights in that range in the 
High Sierra and in N. WA.

Rain.  Try a poncho.  I made one out of 1.1oz silicone coated nylon and 
was very happy with it. I think it weighed about 7oz or so - certainly 
comparable to an umbrella - but provided much more protection for both my 
body and my gear.  The umbrella will be useless in the wet brush. The 
poncho is also an emergency shelter in case your tarp fails.

Stove.  Did you mention one.  Esbit? Alcohol?  I loved my Esbit but be 
sure to use a good windscreen (I borrowed the windscreen from my MSR).

Shoes.  I liked my New Balance shoes too.  My feet really spread out 
during the hike and I switched to "4E" width.  Never had any feet 
problems after that.  If you can afford it, change your shoes every 
300-350 miles.  Your feet will be much less sore.

Training. I think it helped me a lot to train before the hike.  I'm 
convinced that I avoided stress injuries by being in really good shape 
before I left. Others I met bairly trained at all and made it just fine.  
Either way, I recommend taking the first couple of weeks a little easier 
to let your body get used to the trail.  

Henry

>Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 11:19:46 -0700
>From: Ronald Moak <ronm@fallingwater.com>
>Subject: [pct-l] Ultralight Equipment Evaluation Hike
>
>Since deciding to do the PCT next summer, I've made several pieces of
>equipment to be used on the hike. Last weekend I was able to get out and do
>and evaluation hike with the new equipment. 
>
>The article below describes the equipment, the reasoning, the trip and some
>conclusions. I've made it a link because it's long and I didn't want to
>flood the server with that much traffic.
>
>http://www.fallingwater.com/pct2000/equpmentcheck.htm
>
>Ron "Fallingwater" Moak
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