F.A.Q

I have been getting alot of questions from friends and family and folks that I've met, and most of them have never heard of anything like this.  Here are the ones I get the most, and a little bit about what I'm trying to do:

What's the Pacific Crest Trail?

The Pacific Crest Trail is a 2663 mile long scenic trail that runs from the Mexican border at its southern end by Campo, Ca to its northern terminus 6 miles into Canada near Manning Park, B.C.
It passes through 24 national forests, 37 wilderness areas and 7 national parks along the way. I'm attempting a thru-hike of the PCT. A thru-hike is completing a long distance trail like the western Pacific Crest Trail (2663 mi.) or the eastern Appalachian Trail (2181 mi.) one end to the other.

How long will it take? You're going alone!?

Each year about 200-300 hikers attempt thru hikes of the PCT, and about half of them finish. It takes a hiker an average of 4-6 months to complete the trail, depending on weather, snow levels, how many zero days (rest days, or zero mileage days) and side trips they take. Most hikers start hiking alone, but end up hiking with others along the way, often teaming up for difficult sections and climbs. A lot of thru hikers prefer to hike solo, but there is never a shortage of hikers if you want company, because you run into the same people that started within a couple weeks of you the whole way up.

What about food and water? How are you going to eat, sleep, etc?

I will be resupplying in towns about every 3-7 days for food, gear repair, and postal service. As far as my water, I will be collecting it from natural springs and water sources along the way and purifying it. Some nights I will sleep out in the open, and some nights in an ultralight tent. I  will carry a down sleeping bag for nighttime and clothing layers for all types of weather. I will rely only on what I can carry on my back, and I tend to lean toward a lighter system. Check out my gear list for more info!

What about bears and mountain lions, or crazy people? 

Animals want nothing to do with you. They only care about food and protecting their young. Mountain lions go out of their way to avoid human activity, and are not a problem. If you see bears it's usually at a distance. There are also certain measures you can take to avoid contact with animals, such as cooking dinner early, then cleaning up and hiking several more miles before making camp for the day. This way the smells of cooking are far away from where you are sleeping. In the few areas along the trail where bears are common, I will carry a bear-proof canister to store food in and place a good distance away from my tent at night.

You avoid crazies by practicing common sense. I wont be coming into town in the middle of the night or hanging around bad areas. 99% of the time I will be in remote backcountry areas that require navigation and and are further out than criminals and lowlifes like to venture. I will be coming into and leaving towns during daylight, and communicating with family and friends and checking in often.