Category Archives: Preparation

Preparation Continues

Each day I wake and do my hiking as per my plan that I wrote last September. I’ve just passed the 1300 mile mark. And although I’m sore and tired each day, which worries me, I wake and I’m ready to go the next day. So I’m at 80 miles a week and a 35 pound pack, which is less than I’ll have to do on the trail, but I’m as ready as I can be.

New Shoes

I got a pair of Brooks Cascadias 9s (the latest version) and started wearing them today with one month to go before I leave on 4/10. The previous ones were Version 8s. I really didn’t want black because of the desert heat absorption, but that’s the only color choice (except for an ugly red/yellow one). The only benefit is they match my gaiters pretty well. Now I’m breaking these shoes in.

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Big Bend Shakedown

On February 17th-21st I went to Big Bend National Park about 8 hours from home. This was my last shakedown hike before starting the PCT. I did a 30-mile “outer mountain loop” desert hike which went up and out of the basin to the desert floor, across the desert, and then back up and into the basin ranging from 5000 up to 7500 down to 4200 feet.

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First morning light view after climbing up Pinnacle trail looking back into the Basin
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View down into Boot Canyon trail. Heading down to the desert.

During it I really began to understand water issues having cached 2 gallons ahead of time which became essential as I was down to 1 liter when I got to the cache and was getting worried. There were no natural springs during this hike and the NPS Rangers required my water caching. At the cache I filled up all my containers and then cameled the remaining 1/3 gallon. Whew did I need it!

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Down in desert doing traverse from Dodson to Blue Creek.

I also appreciated having both topo maps and smartphone w/ Gaia GPS to help pinpoint my location and distance to my next campsite/water location.

The trail was very rocky and uneven and I hope the PCT is better – gotta have my hiking poles.

My only item I’ve decided to change is my sleeping pad. Prior to this I was using a ThermoRest Z Lite pad and was uncomfortable (my old bones and I’m a side sleeper). On this trip I brought a Klymit Inertia X-Frame air mattress, but the gaps in it and that I’m short made it not comfortable, so I’ve now ordered a short (4′) Gossamer air mattress.

I found that although I have a fear of heights that I was able to traverse a trail positioned on the side of a steep slope (45 degrees with hundred of feet above and below).

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During desert traverse on steep side of hill with trail in the distance.

I gotta say that being out there among the massive buttes and mesas makes you feel really really small and insignificant!

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During climb out of desert on Blue Creek trail heading to Laguna Meadows trail in the Basin.

Forms and Permits

Today I received my Entry to Canada permit which I had sent in my application a couple of weeks ago. Also I listened to the California fire permit video, answered the 8 questions (got 100% right!), and printed out the permit. Next is my PCTA Thru hiker permit available in February which is the last required permit.

Update: I have now received my  PCTA Thru hiker permit. I have them all so I’m already to go.

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Entry to Canada permit.
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California Campfire permit.
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PCTA Thruhiker permit.

Lost Maples hiking and camping

For this month’s camping trip I’ve come to Lost Maples state park. Near Bandera TX I knew there’d be hills and there indeed are hills. Although the total trail length is only eleven miles I only needed to do ten at most because this is a recovery week. I arrived late afternoon on Friday, checked in with the Ranger, hiked over a mile out to my campsite designated as ‘A’, and set up. It was a chilly night with a low around 33F. On Saturday morning as I have been doing since my last solo I broke camp in the morning and hiked 10 miles following the East, West Loop, and West trails back to my campsite where I again set up . On Sunday I repeated it again except I hiked the trails in reverse. On Sunday night I cowboy camped, a first. On Monday I only needed to do about six miles so I skipped the 2.5 mile West Loop and hiked 3/4 way around the trails back to my car. At about 11 AM I headed home.

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I can relate to this

I can really relate to this. From Facebook’s Paul E Moore IV “I think the problem is that many of us don’t have a plan and that is why we decide to walk across the country in the first place and this walk gives us a goal, but then when it’s over many of us are right back where we started.” So what will become of me afterwards?

Running, what?

This morning as I was crossing a street on two different occasions I had to run. What surprised me was that I could actually do it with my 35 pound pack strapped to my back. I think my hiking preparation is working. I’m getting stronger. Woohoo! Now remember that it was only for about 15 feet, but hey considering only a few weeks ago I was struggling just to walk with it on. Oh, and I still have some aches and pains regardless. Gotta keep going with the preparation…

Committed

OK I’m really committed now. Today I booked my one-way flight from Austin TX to Sacramento CA on April 10th to begin my adventure. Thanks to a friend, Terry, from last year’s ADZPCTKO, who said he would will pick me up there and then we’ll both be going to Ned Tibbit’s Mountain Education’s Snow Basic Course around South Lake Tahoe on April 11-13. Afterwards the course Terry and I will be traveling south where he will drop me off at the Carpinteria CA train station for me to travel to San Diego. If everything works out Frodo and Scout, trail angels, will pick me up from the station and get me to the start of the trail for the adventure of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

Update: Also got my AMTRAK train ticket from Carpinteria CA to Solana Beach CA. Now I have all the necessary tickets.