[pct-l] My money dump at REI

[elee at microsoft.com (Eric Lee (GAMES))]

Eric wrote:
>
I'd love to hear all the comments suggestions, but please remember
that I'm not some goober who fell off the the turnip truck last week.
I've used a lot of this equipment (or its cousin) on several trips,
some spanning multiple weeks, and most in much more brutal conditions
than what I expect on the PCT (although the repeating abuse will
probably take an equal if not greater toll.. that's where the 100%
satisfaction return / replace policy at REI comes in). Also, I'm not
totally on the "ultralight bandwagon". I see the merits of shaving
weight where I don't need it, but I'm 26, in decent shape, and weigh
over 200 pounds. Hauling 30-40 pounds of stuff around isn't the end of
the world for me.
>

Well, I won't try to convince you to join the ultralight crowd; I'm sure
there are many others who will do that just fine without my help.
<grin>

However, I'll note one misconception that many people have about a PCT
thru-hike; it's not the same as anything you've done before.  It's not
mountaineering, it's not "walk 8 miles and plop beside a lake for the
next three days", it's not a quick weekender, it's not any of those
things.

A PCT thru-hike is all about making big miles.  The challenges and
rigors of 20+ miles per day on average for five months is not something
that most people's previous experience prepares them for, even if they
have tons of outdoor experience in brutal mountaineering conditions.

You mentioned that you've done trips spanning multiple weeks - how many
miles did you cover on those trips?  If you did, say 300 miles on a two
week trip, then fine, you know what you're getting into and you could
take that same gear on your PCT thru-hike.  If, however, you only
covered 150 miles on that two week trip then your experience there
doesn't map well to a PCT thru-hike and you can't assume your previous
gear and habits will be adequate.

That said, many people have carried 30+ pounds on a thru-hike and some
of them have finished, so yeah, it might not be the end of the world for
you.

[Disclaimer: I haven't thru-hiked yet either.]

Eric