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Lilredexpress
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Lilredexpress
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PostSun Jan 11, 2015 8:45 pm 
I have started training for a possible 2015 PCT thru hike this year. I am looking for anyone who might be looking to plan/train exchange idea's and info. I started hiking with running/trailrunning shoes this weekend and my feet were not very happy. Ugggg I have two hikes planned next weekend again with running shoes. I have always at least day hiked with Merrill low tops or even my backpacking boots ( currently Zamberlan's ) mainly for protection from getting wet. I also where the Z's when I back pack. But my feet are in shock at the moment. I have never had a problem with blisters ever in any shoe from hiking or running and now I see it might happen when I add weight next week. I had hot spots on both big toes today during the downhill's. I tried on 15 pairs of shoes and might have to keep searching. Any tips from previous PCT hikers? Or anyone who wear's lightweight shoes hiking or backpacking? Anyway if anybody wants to train or exchange info please let me know. Thanks All tips for long distance back packing are appreciated. up.gif I have to make my final decision By FEB 1 2015 so I can request a leave of absence from work or put in my notice. shakehead.gif

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Malachai Constant
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Malachai Constant
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PostSun Jan 11, 2015 9:09 pm 
Check out the PCT website and the specialized blogs, it is not like General hiking. Logistics are very important, know where and when to send your packages. Try to go as light as possible, you do not need heavy boots, tents, bags, etc. We did half of Oregon last Summer and plan to do the JMT this Summer and are tyros at this compared to those who did the whole enchilada. You need to keep updated on fires etc.

"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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SlingShot
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PostSun Jan 11, 2015 11:05 pm 
Congrats on your first steps to the PCT. cool.gif Are blisters your only problem? If so, this will just take time. Take care of them but keep walking, you need to toughen them up a bit. Blister prevention cream is popular amongst runners. Look at Wrightsock socks, they may help. I am starting to prepare for my 2015 PCT thru hike as well. I decided a year ago and gave notice then. One year notice, now my boss is starting to panic. My plan was to start a few weeks earlier than the mob. Return to ADZPCTKO at Lake Morena later in April and continue from where I left off. I Second Yogi's PCT Guide Book. She just released her 2015-2016 copy with most current info (as a book could have). I have the 2014-2015 copy and it getting a lot of use. The resupply logistics are my only concern and that's very low right now.

Take only photo's. Leave only foot prints. Waste only time. John Muir http://www.flickr.com/photos/dogntallgrass/ https://www.facebook.com/marc.mallang
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Opus
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PostMon Jan 12, 2015 6:29 am 
I rarely get blisters but had some fairly bad ones from the start until Kennedy Meadows. I figure it was either the heat or just the sandy trail. Keeping my feet clean whenever I could helped a lot though that's not always easy when water sources are sometimes just trickles. I also tried to take my shoes and socks off when I stopped for any extended breaks. For whatever reason all the blisters stopped when I entered the Sierras, or even the San Jacintos. Also take a look at different insoles, that might help. I started with Superfeet, which I like in my hiking boots, but ditched them three weeks in and it really helped. Leukotape works great too, much better than duct tape. Your feet will toughen up pretty quickly and it shouldn't stay a huge problem. The best training for hiking the PCT is hiking the PCT. Resupply logistics were a concern for me, and I prepared food boxes for about half my town stops, but looking back I'd do much fewer and buy as I go. Much of the food in my boxes sounded good when packing but when I received them I didn't really want to eat it. It was easy enough to find food in almost every stop so long as I wasn't picky and then I wasn't tied to post-office hours.

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Lilredexpress
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PostMon Jan 12, 2015 11:01 am 
Thanks for so many quick reply's. Yes I also Rarely/never get blisters. So when I started getting hot spots defending yesterday I was freaked out. Slowing down really helped and finally went away. I didn't see any actual blisters last night just red toes and red area's on top of my arch. Soaked them in a cold tub for a while right when I go t home. That was a new experience itself. Man my feet sure did stiffen up. I am getting yogi's book and some others this week also. I have read 8 blogs from previous trips from 2013 and 2014. Great to see full scope of issues that come up. I can't believe there is so much on youtube also. Really looks like a mental challenge to stay on the trail after I-80. My personal struggle will be the high sierra's. I had trouble in Africa on Kilimanjaro after 12k. After 16,000 ft I bad headaches and nausea got to be crippling. I made it to 18,000 before turning around. So my plan is to leave early April and get to Kennedy Meadows ( 5k ft ish ) and rest and day hike for a few days to higher altitudes and back to KM to sleep. I really want to switch to my hiking boots during that section and back to something lighter after lake Tahoe. I don't understand the thought process of trail runners going across snow fields day and crossing cold streams day after day. I read every blog and they say they try to dry them out at night and they put frozen shoes on every morning. Not sure I could do that. My Zanberlan's are very confidence inspiring when I slip them on in my tent and are super feet with Micro spikes. I will struggle with this decision if I go. Thanks again.

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Opus
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PostMon Jan 12, 2015 3:06 pm 
Trail runners in the Sierras work really well. I was worried about the snowfields too but it's not a big problem. The air is so dry and there is enough bare trail that even if your feet get wet your shoes will dry fairly quickly. Same goes for creek crossings. I would usually take my socks and insoles out before the bigger crossings, cross, then squeeze out my shoes as best I could and replace insoles and socks. I'd hang damp socks on the outside of my pack to dry and rotate with the dry ones. Sometimes my shoes would still be damp in the evenings so I would line them with an empty bread bag to keep my socks dry. Boots do give better confidence with sun-cupped snow but the trade of is that they don't dry very fast when they get wet. And they will get wet eventually no matter what. You'll honestly forget about things like this when you're on trail and wonder why you were worried. smile.gif

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Lilredexpress
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PostMon Jan 12, 2015 5:41 pm 
That makes sense. Going to try a different shoe this weekend. Anybody have input on Merrill Moab's? Or several trail runner models I shoe try? I tried some Brooks from Super Jack and Jills but they didn't have much for trail runners so I am bringing them back tomorrow. They said if they didn't work they would steer me to another store. Yaaa Got my Yogi book ordered today!

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Nancyann
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PostMon Jan 12, 2015 11:52 pm 
I use Second Skin blister protection pads for my big toes when I'm covering a lot of downhill miles. I put them on in the morning before I even start hiking. Have you considered Tevas as an option for river fords and long downhill stretches? I almost always bring mine on long hikes as backup. I love my Merrill's, but if I think they are going to get soaking wet, I will just put on my Tevas and wool socks if it's cold. They aren't useful on very rocky trails or gravelly, pebbly trails, but there are lots of miles on the PCT which aren't like that. I thru hiked the Oregon PCT in the early '70's before comfortable, lightweight hiking boots were developed, and the instruments of torture I subjected my poor feet to caused much misery. Trust me, taking good care of your feet on a long distance hike is essential! Good luck with your adventure. I hope it turns out to be one of the highlights of your life. Mine was. smile.gif

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Lilredexpress
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PostTue Jan 13, 2015 10:03 am 
Jeff wrote:
They dry out 15 minutes later
Ahh I wouldn't have thought that. I have to stop thinking with my Washington head and think about where I am going. Thanks Nancyann, I have seen some pictures of people doing that very think on the PCT. I have done that myself in summer conditions just not when it's colder.

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Brucester
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PostTue Jan 13, 2015 10:35 am 
I started in June, I never trained and I worked the day before my flight to the trail. Sort of a shock to go from work mode to temporarily unemployed hiker mode. Running shoes for sure. Make sure you break them in a little before hand if you are sending them to town stops. Superfeet are nice. I hiked with Yogi through Washington, she wore liners of which is a good idea I learned from her. It's important to take care of the feet. Take two pairs of socks and liners. Wear a pair of each while the other pair dries on the back of your pack. Keep your shoes clean. Sand can destroy socks if left inside shoes. Also wash inserts in town. Gaiters! I didn't use Yogi's handbook in 2002, there was a guy from Seattle who had a town stop list online. I forget his name. Free, of you can find it. I also used a PCT townstop booklet. Nothing fancy, I kept it simple. Ray Jardine's book helped quite a bit. Good stuff to check out. One thing I regret, take pics of ALL THE PEOPLE. Sure scenery is nice but there are spectacular folks on and off the trail. Real genuine folks. Some characters, too. Selfies are fun or exchange cameras with a trail buddy for the day for pics you might not get otherwise. You'll cherish these pics, you were there, 2015!!! Four months if you can spare the time. Why rush, life isn't a race.

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bkellygr
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PostTue Jan 13, 2015 9:40 pm 
A friend completed the PCT last year. He put together this site to offer classes/information. http://www.doubletaphikes.com/home.html Just sharing. He is a great guy and hiking partner. Thanks, Bryan

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hikerman77
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PostThu Jan 15, 2015 10:24 am 
Try these sites. I am starting to plan for the PCT in 2 years when I retire. These sites have a lot of info and the last one is a video of the PCT, very inspiring. http://www.pcta.org/ http://www.halfwayanywhere.com/pacific-crest-trail/final-complete-pct-gear-list/ http://www.pmags.com/pacific-crest-trail-planning-info http://vimeo.com/78531041

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Lilredexpress
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PostSat Jan 17, 2015 1:47 pm 
Thanks Bryan, I did contact him on his web site. We did a online conference call this morning to review his PCT 101 course. I have lots lf gear I need to update so it was awesome to talk live with someone to discuss what works on the trail and things I don't want to change to see if it makes sense. Definitley realized I need to be open to different thought process on gear. Be opened minded on gear but also stick to your guns if you need to have something for a certain reason. It was a great session thanks for the tip. I also got my Yogi book Friday. So I have 2 weeks to make my final decision. Sucks now because I wanted to switch jobs after the hike and I already got job offers but have to start immedialty. Decisions decisions. Thanks for all the tips and links. Sam

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Lilredexpress
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PostFri Jan 23, 2015 11:34 am 
I have been leaning towards not doing the PCT this summer as it is looking like it might be hard to pull off for me this year ( schedule issues, larger crowds due to WILD movie/book, and work not giving me a leave of absence for that long meaning I have to quit and look for a job this fall). So I got this email yesterday from REI. I signed up for the PCT basics free class next Tuesday. It originally had 20 spaces, I signed up 3 weeks ago to help me make my decision and gather info on the planning. Here is the update email. Tuesday, January 27, 2015 | 7:00 PM PST - 8:30 PM PST | Seattle REI Hosted by: REI Outreach Instructor: REI Specialist Hello! Thanks for registering for our class on Tuesday 1/27, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Hiking Basics! We are excited to announce that we are taking this class to the next level! We'd like to invite you to show up early to enjoy a beer (donated by New Belgium Brewery) and chat with our instructor and a volunteer from the North 350 Blades, chapter of the PCTA. We've even opened up more spaces, so invite your friends to register as well! Reception 6:00-7:00, Class 7:00-8:30. I rechecked the REI web site and now it shows 101 open spots. WOW! plus previous people who signed up. So this is just my opinion and I don't knock anyone for doing what they want to do, but I am a solo hiker plus dog and if this is any indication of what the " Herd " will be coming up the trail I think I am going to pass for at least this year and the next. That's just me. I was looking to get away for a few months not walk in a single file line of bodies from Mexico to Washington. banghead.gif Good thing is I already started assembling new gear ( planning on a upgrade this year anyway ) and Just by getting a new Tent, pack and water system I have shaved 4.5 lbs off my normal base weight. I think I will just use this summer to explore the North Cascades since I haven't done a single hike or back packing trip in the North Cascades ever. Maybe take a week or two and do a huge loop hike in the Pasayten Wilderness in August. Or I could just do the PCT from hwy 2 to the border before the MOB gets that far north, although I expect it would be fairly thinned out by Washington from what I hear. Thanks for all the good advise, it is actually good to think about my current set up and what I have been wanting to upgrade anyway.

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RichardJ
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PostFri Jan 23, 2015 12:16 pm 
I would highly recommend just doing the Washington PCT from Cascade Locks to the border. You would learn so much to prepare you for the CA and OR sections later. Better than any class. I did that in 2012 starting Aug. 4 and it was the greatest outdoor journey of my life, so far. The weather could not have been more perfect. I never experienced any mob scenes. The weekends in the Snoqualmie to Stevens section was busier, but they were mostly section hikers like me and very friendly. If you have to do the PCT all at once another time, then the N. Cascades option would be unbelievably amazing. Can't go wrong with either choice.

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