Pacific Crest Trail Prep

If you've read my previous posts you'd assume the bulk of my bag would be comprised of maps, a compass, a GPS unit, an emergency locator and distress signals, but it's not. In fact, I'm probably not even taking paper maps. But this, like everything below, is likely to change in the time leading up to my hike. The clock is ticking and the countdown to my hike is equally exhilarating and terrifying: 

So as the seconds tick down I am gathering my gear. So far I've made a list of what I am taking, with brief explanations. A few things to keep in mind when reading over my gear: I am claustrophobic. If I am cramped up I get little sleep and my mind is uneasy. It's a real thing. I traveled all over New Zealand in a 1-man tent and in bad weather when I spent any amount of time in the tent it was stressful. There are a few other comforts I am packing that I might forego on a week-long hike but in the long run they are important to me for the physical AND mental comfort. 

Some people can go without comfort items but (with plenty of time to think about this while hiking) I feel better as I hike looking forward to what I consider a comfortable camp as opposed to a cramped bare-bones setup. I am well aware I am 2 pounds over normal weight with these considerations. If I change my mind I will switch gear, but for now this is what I have.

BIG 4: Tent, Backpack, Sleeping Bag & Sleeping Pad

Tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 (49oz including Tyvek groundcloth). Yes, this is heavier than a 1-person and probably a bit bratty but I chose this over a tarp tent because I don't like having to rely on a staked-down method. I traveled all over NZ in a Copper Spur UL1 and at a 10oz difference (and a HELL of a deal on a $55 UL2) I'm going with the larger. I also like having double doors.

Backpack: Granite Gear Latitude Vapor 3800cu in (40oz): This is a pack from 2007 that I have had and loved for years. Through backpacking trips and as a traveler this bag has been perfect. One big plus to this bag is the double zip that goes down the length of the front of the bag allowing you to open it suitcase-style. The support system on this pack between the heavily padded belt and shoulder straps is another big plus. With lighter bags you often have to sacrifice this comfort, and some UL bags won't even accommodate the required weight. This is a sturdy, supportive bag. I am likely modifying a few things on this bag such as adding a 2oz 'hood' that I can stretch over the top to cinch down any unconsolidated fabric if the bag isn't full.

Sleeping Bag: Brooks-Range Alpini 15 degree (32oz): At 2 pounds this 15 degree down bag is perfect. A high quality $400 bag made sweeter when I snagged it for $190!

Sleeping Pad: Insul-Mat(discontinued) 2007 mummy mat (20oz): Again, a little on the heavy side but seemingly bomb-proof and very comfortable. I'll have a Thermarest NeoAir Xlite backup ready to be shipped just in case my spot-mend kit fails.

CLOTHING: I will be hiking with roughly the same gear through the whole trail. I plan to layer and haven't planned on taking any gear that isn't necessary with one exception: I might trade out rain gear as I enter Oregon as my southern gear will likely be more lightweight than durable.

• Down jacket: Outdoor Research Incandescent. (14 oz. w/hood). Slightly heavier than the Ghost Whisperer but seems to fit me better. Pretty sure I will drop weight and this will be too big as well soon!
• Rain jacket (hopefully under 6oz in south, probably switching to my Patagonia jacket in Sierras
• Lightweight pants: UPF 40-50 ideal for desert and as day-to-day pants.
• Skirt, 1 pair spandex
• Thermal pants
• REI plaid sun shirt (UPF 45)
• 2 T-shirts
• 2x bras/socks/underwear
• 1 pair liner socks
• Lightweight dress (I'm making it, for Zeros/laundry or hiking)
• Gloves (sun gloves for sure, maybe buying liner gloves on-trail if needed for warmth 
• Gaiters (either Dirty Girl or homemade
• Sun hat (maybe a new one here)
• Scarf (trusty old Burning Man scarf, my favorite!)
• Bug net (head, for Sierras)
• Smith sunglasses (with croaky)
• Shoes: Still deciding, trail runners either Brooks/Salomon

FOOD PREP/STORAGE/WATER: This is a tricky one. For the stove I aded up my Snow Peak 700 pot/lid/stove/lighter/windscreen/cosy and compared it to the Jetboil Titanium Sol which includes all of this. Turns out it would be about .8 ounces more (and infinitely easier/more convenient) to bring the Jetboil so pretty sure I'm going to buy that.

• Jetboil Titanium Sol system
• Titanium TOAKS long spoon
• Food bag/cord for hanging OR Bearvault in Sierras
• Ziplocks for cooking
• Small towel
• Plastic container (Chinese take-out? To use as sink/rehydrating container/storage of smushables)
• Sawyer Squeeze (full-sized, not mini) water filter and 2 bags
• Extra water storage (and main water bottle) will be in the form of Smart water disposable (but heavily reused!) bottles.
• Aquamira tablets (2 day backup-assuming I will run into other hikers if needed I can use their filter until getting to next town and use Aquamira only in emergency)

ELECTRONICS: Still deciding on camera gear but allowing 1.5 pounds here. If you know me you'll know I like to carry my camera! 

• LG G3 phone (new in March) with case
• Waterproof multi device bag
• ANKER 10,000mh battery pack
• Headphones
• All cords and chargers (possibly shorter cords)
• Camera/cards/batteries/pole mount
• Princeton-Tec headlamp (AA's)
• Backup mini photon light (.2oz)

TOILETRIES/MEDICAL: This will likely change but roughly will include a version of the following

• Basic first-aid kit
• Trowel/TP
• Medicine including inhaler (and backup), ibuprofen, aleve, allergy, oxycodone for emergency and fun (kidding!), vitamins
• Mirror/razor (whatever, I want it and together they are .8oz!)
• Toothbrush/paste
• Mini nail brush (old cut-down toothbrush- 0.1oz)
• Bronners mini (scrub glove?)
• Hairbands (3)
• Headband (1)
• UL towel (Packtowl?)
• Chapstick (UPF 50)
• Repellent
• Sunscreen

MISC. GEAR: Another category that will be changing frequently

• Euroshirm hiking umbrella
• Trekking poles (Komperdell)
• Bag Liners (2 big, 1 small)
• Pack cover
• Small Tyvek seat (and To Town/Trail sign)
• Journal/Pen/Sharpie
• Pocket knife (bigger knife?) and multi-tool.

And how could I forget little Oscar, my tiny sheep who's been everywhere with me!

Things I am considering: Swap rain coat and pack cover for poncho over all? I am using the umbrella for shade and light rain so this will not eliminate the umbrella. 

Any suggestions? Things I have forgotten? Let me know! I will likely trim this but for now this is the list. Constructive, helpful comments welcome!

Finding the PCT

I was sitting on the porch at a hut along the Milford Track in New Zealand the first time I heard of the PCT. I was with a French couple drinking some wine (a rarity to have on a multi-day hike but leave it to the French!) and when I brought up my time living in Asheville and along the east coast they asked about the Appalachian Trail. Though I had hiked on bits of it from NY to GA and camped all over the thing in NC, I had never hiked a substantial portion of it. And alas, I was moving to the west coast, to Seattle, to be near the mountains there so the Appalachian Trail would have to wait.

"What about the other trail, the west coast trail, the Pacific Coast Trail?" they had asked.

I was surprised that in all my time plotting foreign adventures on trails in unknown lands it appeared I had missed one that would soon be visible from my back yard. I had spent time on the west coast on little trails and all over Yosemite and the Sierras but I had never looked at the collective network of trails that formed a walking path from Mexico to Canada. And thus a new goal began to take shape. 

The thought of the trail festered in my mind. In the year that followed that porch chat the thought of the trail rarely left my mind for more than a few days. It was just a little idea that I couldn't shake. Could I walk that far? Is it possible? I spent that year trying to work near NY, when that failed I moved west via all the National Parks (and World Cup games) I could hit en route to Seattle. 

In the end, it wasn't all my time in the woods or my love of hiking that ultimately led me to commit to the trail. It was something that happened a few days after I got to Seattle. The upset stomach I had had for a couple days worsened and after 4 stubborn days of excruciating pain I finally stumbled into the ER and collapsed in a hospital bed with what I thought was a terrible stomach bug. Turns out I had pancreatitis among other problems, and the doctor told me bluntly that there was a 40% chance I could die within a week and there was nothing that could be done but waiting. This is how the worst hour of my life began. Two weeks before this I had been hiking in Glacier National Park in grizzly country feeling more alive than ever and now here I was crying on the ER bed. An hour later after more testing I was shown to have gallstones and the prognosis changed dramatically (and 10 days later after having my gallbladder out I was fine) but the mental impact remained. An hour is a hell of a long time to have to deal with potentially dying. And the doctor was a real bitch who tried exactly not at all to comfort me. Sitting there shaking, all alone in a new city and faced with not a lot of options I was shocked by how quickly everything could change through events I could not control. Those who know me well know that I've always lived my life as though it were a fleeting gift. I had never shied away from an adventure or change, but this new motivation felt heavier, it felt different. This was the first time I had ever been sick beyond a flu, and the first time I realized I'm not guaranteed all the time in the world to do the things I wanted. The PCT was the first item on the to-do list, so I finished my Jell-O and I started making plans.