[pct-l] money question

[dude at fastmail.ca (dude)]

I have not thru-hiked, but from what I have seen and read about how 
people resupply, I'd say that most people perpare a food box for 
every resupply stop along the way and then prepare a set of detailed 
instructions on when to mail each package and leave both the 
instructions and packages with a trusted friend or family member for 
them to mail according to the instructions.

As far as money spent on the trail, it can vary widely.  Factors 
cointributing to the variance are:
- how many restaurant meals you eat (its easy as hell to get into the 
habit of eating at a restaurant at every opportunity possible and 
even creating opportunities to eat at restaurants instead of trail 
food)

- how many hotels/motels you stay in.  Its also very easy to say "i'd 
like a real bed and a shower" and then hit the local motel every few 
weeks.  If your gear fails (ie: down bag gets soaked), then you may 
be forced to get a hotel/motel.

- How well you planned your food re-supplies and how well you are 
willing to stick with it. If you get tired of eating corn pasta (or 
whatever your staple food is) and you start buying supplemental food 
at the grovery store, then you can certainly spend alot more than you 
originally anticipated.

- how well your gear holds up, and how well you planned for gear 
replacement.  most people go through at least one pair of shoes or 
boots on the trail and mail themselves a replacement along the way.  
if you dont account for such things or if your tent/bag/clothing 
fails, then you may encounter expenses that you didnt expect.

- entertainment/gifts.  you could spend money on gifts, trinkets, 
movies, entrance fees to nearby parks or tourist destinations.

- film processing.  many people spend money mailing film back to 
their home or to a developer.

- Lastly, of course it depends greatly on how fast you hike.  An 85 
day thru-hiker will inherently spend less than a 135 day thru-hiker.


I'd say that its concievable that one could spend as little as $150 
on an 85 day thru-hike with no hotels and only modest restaurant 
meals (one fast food every week) and no variance from your trail 
menu, to as much as $2500-$3500 for people who take 135 days or more 
and get frequent hotels and restaurant meals.  It could be even more 
if you also replace gear, spend money on gifts/recreation/film.

HTH,
dude




> 
> I have a follow up to that question.  Do most people usually
> prepare their food boxes ahead of time and have someone at home
> send them to you?  Or do you buy food along the way and send it
> ahead to yourself?  I'm sure its a mixed bag but I'm still
> curious.
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> On Wed, 30 Jul 2003, Hayduke wrote:
> 
>> I'd like to know how much people spend on a thru-hike of the PCT.
>> The number I am interested in is not really the "total" cost. I'm
>> looking for the amount spent "on the trail". Assume you already
>> have all your gear, and that you can get to Campo and return from
>> Manning Park. So basically I want to know how much is spent on
>> food and expenses along the trail. Trail expenses are food,
>> lodging, mailing boxes, and replacement gear (am I forgetting
>> anything?). How much do folks usually spend over the course of
>> the hike?
>> 
>> Thanks for your input :-)
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