Began at Campo, CA: April 26, 2008 - completed in Manning Park, Canada: August 24, 2008
Total days hiked: 105
Average hiking miles per day: 24
Total zero (no hiking) days: 16 (includes 2 days hitching around forest fires)
Total weight lost: 25 to 30 lbs
Side trips completed: Mt. Whitney, John Muir Trail, Half Dome in Yosemite
Base gear:
Pack: ULA Catalyst
Tent: Tarptent (Rainbow)
Sleeping Bag: Feathered Friends (20 deg.)
Pad: Montbell
Rain gear: Montbell rain jacket
Jacket: Marmot Dri-Clime Windshirt
Shirt: Helly Hanson, long-sleeve, to sleep in
Pants: Montbell Ultralight Nylon, to sleep in
Socks: Smartwool (2 pair), one pair to sleep in
Sunglasses
Deet
Favorite:
Gear - Marmot Dri-Clime Windshirt
Trail towns - Agua Dulce and Wrightwood
Trail magic - Wrightwood Trail Angels
Town meals - Stehekin, WA
Trail food choices - Mountain House Lasagna, Nido Milk Substitute
Shoes - Merrells Ventilators
Tree - Too many monstrous and beautiful to mention
Breathtaking trail sight - Summit trail to Mt. Whitney
Memory - Clear, cold mountain streams, tasted soooo good
Food I craved the most: Cold milk
Bears sighted: 3 black bear, zero Grizzles (thank you Lord)
Snakes: 20 (6 rattlers)
Most unusual trail sighting: A man on the trail with 6 suitcases, a day pack & a 5-gallon, and a plastic Jerry can for water.
Electronics: Olympus Camera, Garmin GPS (eTrex HC), cell phone
Best decision made: Teaming with others, particularly when safety is a concern.
Worst decision made: Hitching around wildfire areas when I could have tolerated the smoke and road walked much of it.
Current plans: Head back to the Smoky Mountain National Park as an Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner March 2009.
Successful fund raiser for Home of the Innocents: almost $6,000.
Future plans: Hike the PCT fire-closed sections and The Sheltowee Trace Trail in Kentucky, http://www.sheltoweetrace.com/.
Final thoughts on hiking the PCT: It was a fleeting dream for this 67 year old after having hiked the Appalachian Trail nine years ago. I have been so blessed to do the PCT, and particularly on behalf of the Home of the Innocents (http://www.homeoftheinnocents.org/ ). The words of encouragement from fellow hikers and the prayers of friends and family back home were so important to me.
I am always amazed at how close thru-hikers become and how everyone wants to see the other guy make it. I am forever thankful just to be a part of the hiker community.
To all those whose paths I crossed, thank you.
God bless and keep hiking.
KY Greybeard
