Category: Preparation

To San Diego

Toby 2 Comments

The last few days have been stressful. My stomach has been in knots as I got ready to head out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. I’ve said my goodbyes and drank way too much at my send off party. I’ve finished prepping my resupply boxes, practiced setting up my tent and have packed everything into my backpack. I even shaved my head and got a couple tanning sessions in. Luckily as I finished getting ready today the stress subsided and my excitement has ramped up. Having everything in your life change is a difficult thing to navigate through for sure.

I’m now sitting in SeaTac airport waiting to board my one way flight to San Diego for a few days of relaxing before heading out to conquer the PCT. Tomorrow will be a day of relaxation as I mentally prepare for what’s ahead. I’m purposely not planning anything as I really want to make sure that I have time to adjust. Although, I’ve been thinking about the beach and Mexican food. Monday I’ll head over to stay with Scout & Frodo, a couple that generously hosts PCT hikers before giving them a ride to the trailhead in the morning. I think there are 34 of us, including some international hikers, staying with them Monday night.

After that I’ll begin my new life of hiking and sleeping in a tent (with the occasional nights in a hotel). This blog will be the best way to keep up to date on my trek. Once I hit the trail I’ll begin posting videos as well as normal blog post and pictures. You can also follow me on Instagram for more of the day to day updates, I’ll be using the Stories feature a lot. If you are curious about where I’m at the Map link in the menu will give give you a map with my current location. You can also send me messages through the contact form or through Instagram. Also, don’t forget to click the Donate link and make a contribution to the Alzheimer’s association if you haven’t already. If you already have, thank you!!

Even though there are way to many of you to list here I want to thank everyone who has helped me get here and given me words of support and wisdom. Especially Cristina, my parents and my brother. I love you all and am so grateful to have you in my life. I couldn’t do this without you!

Two Weeks

Toby 1 Comment

Three more days of work, eleven days until I fly to San Diego and fourteen days until I start hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Something that has, for over a year, seemed so far away is now right around the corner, even though it sill doesn’t feel real. I fully expect that sometime between now and when I arrive at the trailhead I will have a full on panic attack. Ok, maybe not a full on panic attack but I know the reality of the situation will hit me hard. I’ve had the occasional thoughts of “What the hell am I doing?!” but they seem to pass quickly. The excitement easily defeats the nerves.

Perhaps what lies ahead hasn’t hit me yet as I have had plenty of other things to keep my mind occupied. Moving out of where Cristina and I were living and putting everything in storage, wrapping things up at work, writing a blog post for the Alzheimer Association and spending time with friends and family. Cristina and I also managed to make a quick trip to Portland to visit the Columbia / Mountain Hardware / prAna company store to pick up a few last minute clothing items for the hike. This was a little tricky as I’ve managed to cultivate a fair amount of mass, fat is fuel, to bridge the gap when I fine tune my diet on the trail. It felt weird buying pants that were a bit tight but I fully expect that the pounds will melt off in the desert.

Another thing that keeps my mind occupied are the things I need to do before I ago. At the top of that list is putting together 11 resupply boxes for various stops along the trail where resupply options are limited or non-existent. I recently attempted to go shopping for all the things I would need for the resupply boxes but noticed that I was I was filling my shopping cart with things that that would be prevalent along the trail at other resupply stops. Realizing that I would probably get sick of those things I decided that I needed to rethink what I want to fill my resupply boxes and ditched my half full shopping cart. I also need to practice setting up my tent. Yes, that’s right, it’s 14 days until I start a 5 month hike and I haven’t even setup the tent i’ll be taking with me once. I haven’t even taken it out of it’s stuff sack. Luckily it’s pretty simple and looks easy to set up. What is probably the most surprising thing I have left to do is go tanning, yes, tanning. Just to get a base. Since my journey starts in sunny Southern California and my skin is accustomed to the continuously overcast Pacific Northwest I’m hoping that a base tan will help keep me from getting extremely sunburned. There are a few other small loose ends to tie up as well but they aren’t that interesting, I mean who would want read about travel toothpaste anyways?

However, what i’m looking forward to the most before I leave is my upcoming send off this Saturday. Cristina even made a limited run of prints for the occasion as well. It will be great to see most of my friends and family before I head out. Maybe that’s when things will start to feel real. Hopefully I don’t have a panic attack.

The Plan

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One of the questions I get asked the most is how long it take me to hike the entire Pacific Crest trail. My go to answer has been “about five months”. However, up until just a few days ago that was just a rough estimate. Over the past few weeks I have been slowly putting my plan together, calculating how long it will take me to get to certain points on the trail, figuring out where and how I will resupply, documenting the details about each town I will stop in and of course, how long it will take me to hike the entire Pacific Crest Trail.

Planning out a hike that will take “about five months” may seem like quite the undertaking but luckily there are a few resources that help make things a lot easier. The first and what I found the be the most helpful is Craig’s PCT Planner.  This site allows you to easily create a plan by just entering a few pieces of data such as your start date and hiking pace. After creating your initial plan you can then make adjustments section by section, selecting the towns you want to stop in and where and when you plan to take a day off and get some rest, or maybe just spend a little extra time. One thing that is extremely helpful is being able to enter notes about each section including the towns you plan on stopping in.  While it automatically selects popular resupply points along the trial when you first create your plan you’ll definitely want to make some adjustments and add in additional information.

 

For the information side of things I used two different resources, Yogi’s Pacific Crest Trail Handbook and Halfway Anywhere’s 2017 Pacific Crest Trail Thru-hiker Survey Let’s start with Yogi’s PCT Handbook; it’s AMAZING! At $40 it may seem a little expensive but it’s well worth every penny.  The first half of the book is a lot of great information about everything form logistics to gear to personal care and what to expect during your hike form the perspective of multiple different (and hardcore) thru-hikers.  The second half the book is detailed data about the towns and trial tips, post office information, where to resupply, town maps, restaurant information, you name it. To give you an example of how detailed information it will include things such as “the vending machine in the lobby has candy for $1.25” and phone numbers of Trail Angles that will give you a ride and / or let you stay at their home.

 

The other wealth of information  Halfway Anywhere’s PCT Survey. This survey contains a lot of great information gathered from those that hiked the Pacific Crest Trail the previous year.  This really helped me determine where I wanted to stop resupply and when I would need to have a resupply box mailed. In addition to the resupply information the survey covers everything from gear to how long it took hikers to complete the PCT. If you’re interested in what i’m getting myself into take a moment to check it out.

With those resources I built out my plan with detailed notes about each stop along the way. While i’m sure i’ll tweak it a little bit, adding bits of information or account for when i’ll need to hike into a town, here is a summary:

US/Mexico Border to Manning Park
4-3-18 to 9-9-18 (5.3 months)
(northbound hike)
Days
138.3 days walking
2.0 on trail layover days
19.2 in town layover days
(11.0 in town “zero” days)
159.4 Total days
Averages
without layovers: 19.3 mi/day 2,280 ft/day
with layovers: 16.7 mi/day 1,978 ft/day
Trail
Base Distance: 2,663.5 mi
Extra Distance: 0.0 mi
Total Distance: 2,663.5 mi
Base Elevation gain: 315,313 ft
Extra EG: 0 ft
Total Elevation gain: 315,313 ft
Resupply count: 30
To see my detailed plan, with notes, click here.

Note: Since my notes include how to mail things to me along the way I should note that even though I’ve captured post office information that doesn’t mean i’ll be stopping in that post office.  If you are kind enough to feel the need to mail me something shoot for the towns that include “Mail Resupply” in the notes and don’t mail anything too far in advance. Also, shoot me a message using the contact form so I know that I should expect something.  

Since it’s not an exact science I was a bit conservative in regards to my pace. There will be days where i’m faster than planned and days I will be slower or not hike at all. I may change the towns I stop in or be re-routed due to forest fires. A lot can change. So while my current plan is to finish on September 9th, it still is “about five months”.

Working The Kinks Out

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Most of the hikes I’m used to range anywhere between 6 and 12 miles with a decent amount of elevation gain. However, on the Pacific Crest Trail I will being over 20 in a day once I hit my stride.  When you cover that much distance, day after day, you’ll start to notice things you wouldn’t after a day hike or weekend backpacking trip. That slight poke in you’re used to ignoring will  back will eventually feel like you’re being stabbed, that odd spot in your hiking shoe will make your feet scream. Even your clothes can become an issue, the chaffing struggle is real.

To try to get ahead of these things as much as I can I’ve been throwing all my PCT gear in my backpack and racking up some serious miles, trying to identify the pain points and adjust accordingly. My go-to spot is the Iron Horse Trail just outside North Bend, WA.  Not only is it close by but it’s long, flat and has some nice views.  Since it’s flat I can keep my pace up and really get some serious miles in.

The long flat hikes also allow me to calculate my base pace, which is currently around 3.5 miles an hour. 8 hours of hiking would put me at around 26 miles, 26 flat miles. Since the PCT is far from flat i’ll be using my base pace along with the elevation gain to calculate the distance I plan to cover each day.

During my first hike on the Iron Horse I covered 14 miles without stopping and discovered a few problem areas with my pack which came very apparent near the end. My backpack was unbalanced and the edge of my sleeping pad was poking me in the back.  I made adjustments and returned, covering 17 miles without issue, other than being a little sore, I don’t know if  I’ve ever gone 17 miles without stopping before.  I was feeling good about where I was at and decided that I was ready to add some elevation into the mix. It was also nice to practice things like snacking and drinking as I hiked as well as charging my phone and taking photos along the way.

Before taking off on my next hike I took some time to really look at what I was carrying in my backpack. To do this I turned to Lighterpack.com to track everything. I broke out a scale and weighed everything, logging and categorizing each item. I wasn’t too happy with where my base weight ended up and slimmed down what I was carrying.  The sleeping clothes I was bringing weighed over 1lb, I decided that my sleeping bag liner would keep my sleeping bag just as clean at a fraction of the weight. I didn’t need the small shovel or an extra flashlight.  I cut down what I was bringing to exactly what I needed.  Here is how everything weighed out (Click here to see a detailed list of what makes up my base weight). I’ll  continue to refine what i’ll be carrying with me and update the list as I go.

With my base weight  at 15 lbs and 3.5 ounces, with room to improve, I was feeling pretty good about where things were.  Per the 2017 PCT Thru Hiker Survey at Halfway Anywhere the average base weight hikers started with last year was 19.49 lbs and the average base weight they finished with was 16.51 lbs.  If you’re a data nerd or just want to understand more the PCT hikers last year, take a closer look at the 2017 PCT Survey, there is some really interesting information, at least I think so.

With my backpack and base weight dialed in I ventured to one of my favorite spots, Squak Mountain.  With a diverse network of trails it’s easy to hike as much as you want with plenty of challenging bits if you know where to go.  In 3 hours I covered 9.24 miles with a decent amount of elevation gain and loss. Unfortunately my fit bit didn’t seem to want to track elevation that day.  However, my pace only decreased slightly with the added elevation.  Next time i’ll use my actual GPS, which I still need to figure out.

From here on out i’ll be getting out and hiking with all my gear every chance I get, starting to practice setting up everything and packing it all up again as well. The more I figure out before I hit the PCT the better, hiking the trail itself will be enough of a challenge.

Happy New Year! 

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At one point it felt so far away but 2018 is finally here and I’m 91 days away from starting my hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. It may seem like a trivial thing but being able to say “this April” instead of “next April” has made a huge difference in my mindset. The feeling of the PCT being something I will undertake “next year” has vanished and has been replaced with a feeling of excitement that increases every day.

I still have plenty to do to get ready, all those things I told myself I would get to after the holidays are now lined up in front of me. Not only the things like figuring out when I will be at certain points on the trail, finalizing my resupply plan and step up my training, but also finding a storage unit and moving pretty much everything I own into it.

Besides the logistics of moving here are the things I’m be focusing on to prepare myself for the hike:

  • Training – Plenty of cardio during the week and long hikes on the weekend with lots of stretching every day. Try to do everything I can to get my ready for the abuse I’m about to put it through. 
  • Practice – Spending time doing the things I will have to do on the trail like packing and unpacking my backpack, setting up my tent in all different kinds of weather and updating this blog from my phone.
  • Prepare mentally – The biggest challenge of through hiking the PCT might be the mental one. To prepare I have incorporated meditation into my daily routine (Yay Headspace) and remind myself of why I’m hiking the PCT, how I’ll feel after completing the trail and what it would feel like if I were to give up. 
  • Refine and finalize my gear – I broke down and bought a new, much lighter tent. While I love my Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 I wanted to reduce my base weight and make more room in my backpack, so I switched to the Six Moons Designs Lunar Solo. Not only is it over 1lb lighter it also takes up far less room in my pack. Another change I made to save weight and space is to go stoveless (more on that later) although I am considering the crotch pot. I also received the InReach Explorer Satellite Communication Device / GPS for Christmas / my birthday. I still have a few small things to pick up like stuff sacks but am feeling good about my final set up.
  • Diet – Adjust my diet to eliminate foods known to cause inflammation. No refined sugar or alcohol and a lot less grains. Add in nutrient dense foods since those might be lacking in my trail diet. 
  • Finalize my schedule – I know I’m starting April 3rd and have 6 months to complete the hike, even though that’s probably more than I need, but I need to finalize my schedule so I know where I’ll be and when. That way others can make plans to meet up with me along the way or send care packages. This seems pretty straight forward but I don’t know how long it will take me to acclimate to hiking 20ish miles a day or when I’ll want to spend an extra day in a hotel. 
  • Food – At this moment I’m planning on picking up most of my food as I go, which means I’ll sometimes have to figure out how to put together a weeks worth of meals from stuff I can find in a gas station convince store. I will probably end up sending myself at least some food along the way. 

I’ll go into depth on my schedule and resupply plan in the coming weeks along with my final gear list. 

I hope your holidays were great and 2018 is off to a great start for you. Here’s to an amazing year ahead!

Reviewed and Approved

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Back on November 1st the Pacific Crest Trail Association began accepting applications for 2018 Pacific Crest Tail permits. I was anxiously sat in front of my computer with multiple browsers open along with one on my phone.  I watch the timer tick down towards 10AM when the permits would go live. I read comments on Facebook where others talked of server crashes as everyone floods the site, which apparently happened last year. I began to have flashbacks to trying to snag concert tickets as soon as they went on sale knowing they would sell out  almost immediately.

When the timer hit 0 I refreshed everything and began filling out the same information in multiple windows as quickly as possible.  Even though I was just attempting to submit an application it was first come first serve and they only accepted  35 applications per day, matching the number of permits made available. However, it wasn’t a complete dash for the finish line as once you selected your start date you had 13 minutes to complete your application.  This seemed like plenty of time to fill things out, until I hit “Next” to move to the next page and  nothing happened.  After 2 minutes of waiting I got to the next screen and once again quickly filled out the required information in each browser before clicking “Next”… and waited. This happened on each page, with the little clock ticking down before my selected date would be released and I would have to start all over again.  “Are you Traveling by foot or by Horse, mule or other equine animal?” Foot but a mule might come in handy. Next. “Do you have a child under the age of 18 joining you?” no.. no man. Next.”Do you want to purchase the extra permit to camp on Mt. Whitney?” Yes, but ain’t nobody got time for that, I guess I’m day hiking it. Next.  This continued until I made my way to the final screen with 2 minutes left, the same amount time it had been taking to move from one page to the next.  I clicked submit and anxiously waited to see if I made it through in time. After what seemed like an eternity the confirmation page loaded, I made it.  I took a deep breath and thought “If just applying for a permit is this nerve wracking I’m going to be a mess when I’m about to start”

After a few weeks of obsessively checking the status of my permit application I received an email stating that my application had been reviewed and approved. I will be starting my journey on April 3rd 2018. With my start date finalized I submitted for my sabbatical from work, finalized my travel plans and began to second guess my start date.  I wanted to start a bit earlier than the ideal mid to late April start date to avoid a large rush of hikers but after seeing how quickly permits were taken realized that with as popular as the trail is, and a limited number of permits, it’s going to be the same amount of people regardless of when I start.  With starting early I run the risk of facing less than ideal snow conditions in the mountains, mainly the Sierra and the San Jacinto, here’s hoping it’s a mild winter in southern California.

What To Wear 

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In an earlier post I covered all the gear i’ll be using on the PCT, now it’s time to talk clothing.  One question you may have is how much clothing I’ll bring with me and the answer is only what is necessary.  This means that I’ll be wearing the same thing for most of my time on the PCT, washing it periodically and only replacing items as the wear out.  Here are the basics.

Columbia Thistletown Park T-Shirt – Basic T-shirt that is advertised to wick away moisture. I’ll probably swap  this with a Merino wool shirt. Merino wool is great in both cool and warm weather, wicks moisture away, is quick drying and resists odor.

Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants – My go-to hiking pants as they are light, wick away moisture, offer sun protection and easily convert into shorts.  Although I found that they can restrict movement in some situations so I may switch it up and go with a pair of shorts that allow for better movement.

Darn Tough Hiker 1/4 Socks – Merino wool socks! Really durable, comfortable and odor resisitant, what more do you need?

Altra Lone Peak 3.5 Shoes – Obviously footwear is very important. These are arguably the best through-hiking shoes. They are light with natural foot positioning, gaiter attachment points, drainage holes and are quick drying.  I definitely go through a few pair of these.

Two Beers Hat – I need something to wear on my head and Two Beers is awesome.

So that is what i’ll be wearing most of the time, but since the the PCT crosses through almost every type of climate I’ll need to switch it up a bit as conditions change. The first thing I need to be prepared for is the desert, where sun protection is of the utmost importance. While in the desert I’ll swap out my t-shirt for a white long sleeve shirt, which provides SPF 50 protection, and swap out my hat for a big dumb floppy sun hat. I’ll also have my pair of Julbo MonteBianco Sunglasses. Another item i’m considering is a pair of light weight gloves to protect my hands from sun exposure, I’ve heard of hikers getting pretty nasty sunburns on the top of their hands when using trekking poles in the desert.

When I get into colder climates I’ll start layering up with my favorite material for outdoor activities, Merino wool! I have a pair of Icebreaker Lightweight Leggings and a Icebreaker Lightweight Hoodie (Which I would link to but apparently it’s no longer available), and an Icebreaker  Sierra Beanie. These do a great job of keeping me warm in cold weather while i’m moving but for the times it gets really cold or i’m relaxing after a day of hiking I also have the Mountain Hardware Ghostwhisper Down Hooded Jacket, which is super light, really warm and packs down nice and small.  Other items that will keep me warm are a Merino Wool Buff for my neck and face and Mammut wool gloves.

The final thing I need to be prepared for is something I’ve been dealing with my entire life… rain. For the rain I have the Outdoor Research Helium HD Jacket, which packs into it’s own pocket. I considered getting the matching pair of rain paints but since i’ll most likely be wearing my convertible pants as shorts, I would rather avoid the extra weight and just dry my legs off when needed.  I have come to terms with the fact that no matter how hard I try to avoid it I will end up being wet.

Speaking of getting wet I also have a pair of Xero Z-Trail Sandals for water crossings and for at camp. Like the Altra Lone Peaks they have natural foot positioning and I’ve heard that some people will actually hike in these, I may end up being one of those people if they are awesome as they sound.  Also, when it comes to feet, I have a pair of Dirty Girl Gaiters to keep debris from finding its way into my shoes and a super comfy pair of heavyweight wool socks to wear after a long day of hiking.

The last thing I need to figure out is what i’m going to wear when I need to wash everything at a laundromat when I stop in a town…..

All The Gear, All Lined Up

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When I fist started looking at gear for my PCT adventure I planned to carefully weigh my options for each item I would be bringing with me, by not only reading reviews but physically inspecting and testing items out before making my final decision. You may remember earlier posts about backpacks and tents, where I outlined different option sand attributes with the intent to dive deeper to each option. Well, that didn’t happen. After discovering the wealth of detailed reviews and ranked lists of backpacking gear I just started buying things, here is what I ended up with.

For my backpack I ended up with the ULA Circuit.  I didn’t necessarily chose this backpack, it just so happened that my brother had one that he never used and was willing to part with for $100 (Thanks, brother!).  I love how it carries and the way the hip belt moves with you while you’re hiking.

For a tent I ended up with the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2. It was at the top of many lists and while I could have gone with something lighter (and more expensive), I felt better getting something I believe to be more durable and sturdy, call it my security blanket.  It’s super easy to set up and nice and roomy. I also picked up the footprint for it too. However, while the extra space of a 2 person tent is nice I’m wondering if I should switch to the 1 person version for the PCT.  I wonder if my decision was a subliminal one.

After considering going with a sleeping quilt I decided to go with a sleeping bag, the weight difference wasn’t substantial enough for me to risk having drafts of cold air attack me while sleeping. I landed on the REI Co-op Magma 10 and apparently so did a lot of other people because it wasn’t easy to track down, all the REI locations were sold out when I went to buy it. The first time I tried to buy it I had made a special trip to Portland to avoid sales tax , the second time I had a 40% off coupon for the REI friends and family sale. However, third time’s a charm; Cristina and I went to some outdoor event only to find REI was handing out 35% off coupons and had it back in stock!  The sleeping bag itself was well worth the wait and effort, it’s not named “Magma” for nothing.  I also picked up a silk sleeping bag liner to help keep it clean, I can only imagine how filthy i’m going get.

For a sleeping pad I went all out and picked up the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm Max. I didn’t realize how important sleeping pads until I started looking into my sleep setup. With a down sleeping bag it’s the trapped air that is keeping you warm, when you’re laying on the down it is compressed causing it not to provide insulation from underneath, so a good sleeping pad will provide the insulation your sleeping bag doesn’t.  This one is nice and comfy but it does make crinkly noises when you move around it, a small price to pay for warmth.

My last major gear purchase was a new camera, the Sony A6000! I had already accepted the fact that I wouldn’t be bringing my heavy DSLR and was planning on just using my phone for photos. However, I just couldn’t do that, I need (heavy emphasis on the word “need”) an actual camera for my hike. I considered a compact point and shoot but was concerned about the lack of zoom, so I went the mirrorless route instead. Having a digital display viewfinder takes some getting used to but I’m amazed by the pictures it takes. While it barely fits in the hip pocket of my backpack I’m happy I decided to get it.

In addition to the major items here is the rest of the gear i’m taking with me.  I’ll cover clothing in another post.

  • BearVault BV500 – Extra big ass bear can! While i’m not overly concerned about bears a bear canister is required in sections of the PCT.  This thing is huge, I have yet to figure out how i’m going to carry it with me.  It does double as a seat, so I have that going for me.
  • Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe – Another item I will only need for parts of the PCT but this one is a little more important, as I learned when learning how to keep myself from sliding off a mountain in the snow. I could have gone with a lighter version but if i’m going to need it I want to make sure it’s not going to fail.
  • Leki Corklite Treking Poles – A friend of mine pretty much demanded that I get Leki poles when I started hiking seriously and I’m glad I listened. I’ve put a lot of miles on them and they’ve held up great.
  • Kahtoola MicroSpikes – Added traction for the icy bits of the trail, makes it super easy to not slip and fall on your butt.
  • MSR Titan Kettle – Since I’m planning on dehydrating a majority of my food in ziploc freezer bags (easy clean up) I really just need something to boil water in, this will be more than sufficient. It can also double as a coffee mug.
  • MSR Pocket Rocket 2 –  While I currently have another canister stove I’ve decided to pick up the Pocket Rocket 2 as it’s lighter and probably a bit more reliable than a no-name brand.  I don’t have it yet, I will soon!
  • Long Handle Spoon – With the plan to eat most of my meals out ziploc freezer bags having a spoon with a long handle will keep my hands clean. So while you think my spoon might be too big, it’s not, but this guys is.
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – Yep, it’s a phone.  The same phone I have with me every day. However, more importantly, it functions as a GPS and there are some great PCT apps out there, some of which I mention in my PCT Resources post.
  • Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter – This water filter and I are going to be best friends. I’ve used a Sawyer Squeeze on my backpacking trips and while it takes a little work it gets the job done. Not to mention it fits perfectly on top of a smartwater bottle, which my backpack is designed for.
  • Generic First Aid Kit – I’d link to it but i’m not sure what brand it is. I’ll probably switch it out with a more compact single use kit.
  • Huntsman II Swiss Army Knife –  It took me a while to find a pocket knife that had scissors, a can opener, bottle opener, saw and tweezers.  This one has me covered.
  • The Deuce Of Spades –  Super lightweight, just a tad over half an ounce, shovel for digging holes. I mean how could I not buy it with a name like that?
  • Generic USB Battery Pack – The one I have now is nothing that special, i’ll probably upgrade it soon. Not only can I use it to charge my GPS (phone), it can also charge my camera as well!
  • Klymit Pillow X – Tiny little inflatable pillow. I’ll probably end up using my puffy jacket as a pillow most nights.
  • Petzl Tikkina Headlamp – Cristina had an extra so I adopted it as my very own, the one I had wasn’t very bright. Might look into upgrading it to something even brighter! (not pictured)
  • Sunto A-10 Compass – A compass that works great!  However, I should probably upgrade to one that I can adjust the declamation on.
  • Other Stuff – A lighter, tooth brush, tooth paste, dr. bonner’s soap and a camp towel.

While this is a lot of stuff it does fit in my backpack with room for my clothing and food, both of which I’ll cover in a future post.  Wait, I feel like i’m forgetting something….. that always happens to me when I’m packing for a big trip.

Backpacking is in tents

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Picking out a tent you’re going to spend months living in isn’t a decision one should take lightly, especially when you’ll be facing a plethora of weather conditions and having to set up and tear down your tent almost every day.  Finding the right balance between weight, function and durability can be a difficult one.  There are some really lightweight tents out there but I find myself questioning how well they will hold up on the trail, the last thing you want is for your tent to fail when your days away from civilization in a massive storm.  While I currently have a hand me down 2 person North Face Tent which does the job, is a bit bulky and heavier than I’d like. Plus it’s a bit old, so I don’t know if I trust it.

I considered making weight my top priority, looking at tarps and bivys ,but decided an actual tent would provide me with an extra bit of comfort and sanity that I’ll need while out on the trail. As I started my search  for a new tent my only prerequisites were that it be a 2 person tent and weighs under 3 lbs. While I am in fact only one person I like the idea of  having the extra room a 2 person tent offers, allowing me to either protect my backpack from the elements and critters by keeping it inside the tent, or have enough room for Cristina when she joins up with me to hike some sections.  Here are the tents I’ve taken into consideration:

 

MSR Carbon Reflex 2  

Nice and light weighing in at 1 lb 13 oz with  zipper free vestibules and dual doors.  It also has a “Fast & Light” configuration where you combine the rain fly with a footprint, cutting 6 ounces of weight when conditions don’t call for a full tent setup. This was my first pick when I began looking for a new tent but the negative comments about the rain fly, comparing it to saran wrap, made me reconsider. There were other comments stating that the materials were prone to punctures and tears, which doesn’t sound like a fun thing to have to deal with. Another point that I realized is that I needed to take into consideration is that the Carbon Reflex 2 is a non-free standing tent, like the North Face tent I currently have. The idea of having a tent that can be completely freestanding is appealing because finding the right area to steak out your tent can be difficult, especially if the ground is hard.  The Carbon Reflex 2 retails for $499.95, which I would gladly pay if I wasn’t so worried about the durability.

MSR FreeLite 2 

Another light MSR tent, heavier than the Carbon Reflex at 2 lbs 7 oz but still well under 3 lbs, and freestanding!! Awesome! Like the Carbon Reflex it has dual doors and a “Fast & Light” configuration which reduces the weight by 7 ounces. I was ready to order (and it was actually ordered by accident) until I  read a review stating that when the rain fly was added the ceiling was lowered by by 4 inches and the walls bowed. Being tall I need all the room I can get, so that was an immediate red flag. Also, it’s not really freestanding! with only one point of contact on one side it needs to be staked down as well. The Freelite 2 is a bit cheaper than the Carbon Reflex at $439.95 but the alleged space issue and my added criteria of a freestanding tent kept me from going through with the purchase.

Mountain Hardware Ghost UL 2 

This tent looks amazing on paper.  2 lbs 9oz , freestanding and 2 person! Unlike the MSR tents the Ghost UL  only has one door, which in itself isn’t a deal breaker. However, I once again lost interest when I read the reviews and saw comments about the tent being fragile. One reviewer stated that the material ripped when it brushed against a rock. Another reviewer called out the fact that the rain fly sags and design flaws which makes it hard to get in and out of. The Ghost UL is priced at $449, the same as the MSR FreeLite 2, but the potential for frustration seems high with this one.

 

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2

When Cristina and I went to the PCT class at REI a few months ago the presenters mentioned the popularity of Big Agnes and after taking a closer look I can see why.  The Copper Spur HV UL is freestanding, has 2 doors, and a maximum height of 40 inches!  At 2 lbs 12 oz it’s the heaviest out of the tents I’ve considered but a little extra weight can go a long way.  It has a “4-way high volume hub design” for added strength and some magical “Proprietary random rip-stop pattern nylon” which makes it extremely durable. It also has some nice pockets for keeping things organized. The price is inline with the other tents I considered at $449.95 and at this point is my choice. Let’s see if that remains the case when I go to buy it this weekend.

There are a number of other great 2 person tents which weigh in over my self imposed 3 lb limit, such as the Nemo Dagger 2P and the REI Co-Op Quarter Dome 2 , both of which are cheaper than those above. If you’re looking for a lightweight tent for backpacking I’d take a look at those in particular.

PCT Resources

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I am finally moving past drooling over new backpacking gear and starting to dig into the actual planning of my trip on the Pacific Crest Trail.  There are a lot of things to take into account such has how much you can hike in the day, resupplying, rest days  and making sure you know where you’re going.  Luckily there are a lot of resources out there to help you plan your trip and help you while you’re out on the trail.  While I still haven’t read that book I mentioned in my first post I have found a lot useful sites online, here are a few of my favorites:

Pacific Crest Trail Association – The obvious place to start, the groups that preserves and promotes the PCT,.. and issues your permit. Tons of information about the trail, it’s history an the volunteers that support it.  Throw a few bucks their way if you can.

Halfmile’s PCT Maps – The name says it all, maps. Not just any maps but  the most current and accurate PCT maps available. They have maps that you can print (which would take a ton of  paper), GPS downloads, apps for Android and iOS, and  my favorite, a Google Earth map (really, take the time to load it up and check it out, it’s pretty awesome).

Craig’s PCT Planner – A really cool tool that lets you plan out your hike section by section. By just picking your start date, entering your pace and set the hours you want to hike in a day it will generate an itinerary for your journey. It accounts for increased travel time due to elevation gain and allows you to insert rest days into your schedule.

LighterPack –  A nice little tool that lets you track what you will carry with you and manage weight.  It also allows to share your list with others, once I get my list a little more flushed out I’ll be sure to post it here.

Yogi’s PCT Handbook – Not exactly an online resource but still very important. Yogi’s handbook is probably the only PCT planning book you’ll need. It includes tons of tips and advice from people that have hiked the PCT as was  information about the trail itself and the towns it passes through.

PCT Class of 2018 Facebook Group – A great way to connect with others planning on hiking the PCT in 2018, ask questions and help others.

I’m sure there are many more great resources out there that I’ve yet to come across, I’ll be sure to update this post when I find them. I’ll also be adding a dedicated list of resources to the sidebar in the near future.