Pacific Crest Trail - June 26-28, 2000

Conclusion - Deep? Thoughts

After the long trip, I was beat up, tired, and hurting. I was also really itchy from all the mosquitoe bites. But did I learn anything?

Well, sort of...Here's my "Deep Thoughts" (yeah right, who'm I kidding?) after the trip:

  1. "Getting in shape" for a hike of this magnitude requires more than walking from the couch to the fridge for a beer during commercial breaks.
  2. Hiking shoes can cause blisters, and the "blister stopping" socks don't (stop blisters, that is). Try to prevent the blisters before they start, but since that probably won't work, bring lots of Neosporin and Band-Aids and be ready for the pain. Or maybe I should just wear my old beat up 6 year old Nike's next time.
  3. 60 pounds in your pack is way too much. Shoulders don't like to carry that much. Try not to bring two of every piece of equipment if you can help it. Freeze-dried food is much lighter than granola bars, Nestle' Crunch, and Pop Tarts. Just because you can fit something in your pack doesn't mean you should.
  4. Freeze-dried food is really bad. Especially if you look at it before you eat it. Unfortunately, it's also really light, easy and quick to make, and pretty good for you.
  5. Next time, I'm doing a 5 day or so trip, and only walking about 6 miles a day. Screw this 10 day, 115 mile stuff!
AND MOST IMPORTANT: Despite all the problems, it was still really fun. Putting this web page together is making me want to go do the rest of the hike right now. Or maybe I'll go get a beer and watch TV instead...

We will be back. Oh yes, we will be back. We'll finish that section of trail, even if it takes us 3 trips over 3 years. But I will make it to Donner Summit someday!

OK, hope you enjoyed the story of our PCT trip. Feel free to check out the rest of my photo album.

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