Today is my birthday. It is also one month til we hit the trail. Almost everything I own that I don't need for the next month is in a storage unit. All the big items I need for the hike are purchased and either here or on their way. I have alternate and back-up footwear for when they wear out on the trail. I have a bunch of freeze-dried food ready to be shipped to me to supplement what I can buy in towns on the trail. All my monthly bills are on auto-pay. We have researched available water along the trail and set up a schedule for the desert to make sure we have enough. I have read multiple autobiographies of people who have hiked the trail to learn from their mistakes and try and prepare myself as much as possible.
And I still get anxious thinking about the trail.
I have never done more than a single night backpacking trip. I have never even gone on vacation for more than a couple days at a time. This will be a huge step away from anything I have ever known.
While this causes me anxiety, I also welcome this fact. Stepping away from everything will help me step out of my routine, and hopefully not just go back to that routine when I get back.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Getting my gear finalized
With just over a month til time to start hiking, I'm getting my final gear list ready. I will post a full list once I have everything.
As a preview, here are my "Big 3"
Sleeping bag: REI Igneo 17 (https://www.rei.com/product/111164/rei-co-op-igneo-17-sleeping-bag)
I was waffling between this bag and the Marmot Phase 20. I ended up choosing this one over the Phase due to it having a higher denier shell and being a little less expensive. While it is not quite as light as the Phase and won't pack down quite as well, the Igneo will likely be a little more durable, especially with the dog being along for the trek.
Tent: MSR Mutha Hubba. (https://www.rei.com/product/896095/msr-mutha-hubba-nx-tent)
A compromise between ultralight, and toughness and liveability. This tent is a 3-person, which we decided on in case we need to bring the dog into the tent with us for any reason, which makes it a little heavier. We also wanted something that the floor would be more likely stand up to the dog's nails. Many thru-hikers choose the Big Agnes Fly Creek, since that is one of the lightest true tents on the market (as opposed to a tarp-tent), but not only is that paper-thin, it also has no liveability to it. If one has to spend more time in it than just crawling in and sleeping, its going to be miserable.
Backpack: REI Flash 65. (https://www.rei.com/product/893906/rei-co-op-flash-65-pack)
I had considered dropping down to the Osprey Exos 58, but the Flash both fit better and carried the weight better. Simple as that. The Flash is still on the lighter end of packs in that capacity range, and I have put up to 35 lbs in it for a hike with no issue. I feel good about using it for a long hike where I will probably only have that range of weight for the first day of a very dry section, and usually will be in the 25ish lbs range.
As a preview, here are my "Big 3"
Sleeping bag: REI Igneo 17 (https://www.rei.com/product/111164/rei-co-op-igneo-17-sleeping-bag)
I was waffling between this bag and the Marmot Phase 20. I ended up choosing this one over the Phase due to it having a higher denier shell and being a little less expensive. While it is not quite as light as the Phase and won't pack down quite as well, the Igneo will likely be a little more durable, especially with the dog being along for the trek.
Tent: MSR Mutha Hubba. (https://www.rei.com/product/896095/msr-mutha-hubba-nx-tent)
A compromise between ultralight, and toughness and liveability. This tent is a 3-person, which we decided on in case we need to bring the dog into the tent with us for any reason, which makes it a little heavier. We also wanted something that the floor would be more likely stand up to the dog's nails. Many thru-hikers choose the Big Agnes Fly Creek, since that is one of the lightest true tents on the market (as opposed to a tarp-tent), but not only is that paper-thin, it also has no liveability to it. If one has to spend more time in it than just crawling in and sleeping, its going to be miserable.
Backpack: REI Flash 65. (https://www.rei.com/product/893906/rei-co-op-flash-65-pack)
I had considered dropping down to the Osprey Exos 58, but the Flash both fit better and carried the weight better. Simple as that. The Flash is still on the lighter end of packs in that capacity range, and I have put up to 35 lbs in it for a hike with no issue. I feel good about using it for a long hike where I will probably only have that range of weight for the first day of a very dry section, and usually will be in the 25ish lbs range.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
GoFundMe
If anyone feels like donating to the cause, I have a GoFundMe going for my girlfriend and I.
https://www.gofundme.com/my-girlfriend-and-i-hike-the-pct
As it says on the page there, we ARE trying to raise all the money by ourselves, but we are not sure we will quite have enough, so I started the fundraiser. Just throwing it out there.
https://www.gofundme.com/my-girlfriend-and-i-hike-the-pct
As it says on the page there, we ARE trying to raise all the money by ourselves, but we are not sure we will quite have enough, so I started the fundraiser. Just throwing it out there.
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