Preparing for the PCT Adventure
so here we are, counting down to our departure, 39 days give or take till our eager lil feet hit the ground running, or hobbling under the gravity of 30lbs and thoughts of what are we doing out in the desert with the scorpions and snakes...
anyways, mostly excitement with a lil trepidation, would be how i'd describe the mood at base camp. the biggest challenge currently is getting our food and last minute preparations completed, we have had our hiking gear together for years, given we love to get lost in the woods, this particular trail has some additional gear we may/may not need, like ice axes and gaitors, but they are just a roadtrip to REI away.
food though, from our plan we have 165 days'ish to be out in the woods, with 102 of those eating out of trash cans and mailed boxes. so that's 102 breakfasts, lunches, dinners, each, along with several snacks per day at interval. sure.. sounds easy... but then find items that can sit in a box for 6 months (starting now go!!) and still be edible, and that you hopefully wont puke at the thought of after the 92nd meal of it.. i mean, outside of a snickers bar.. what else can you eat forever without being sad? .. food for thought, so to speak, then make sure you hit some level of calorie requirement for the journey so you can fuel the machine for its efforts that day. the rough math that seems to be around 4-6,000 calorie burn per day, depending on effort, fitness, weight carried and terrain, we will be trying to balance our intake with enough base nutrients to not be run into the ground, but not to carry 3lbs of food per day either, as we have our base pack weight, water, and food weights to be managing. for the other 63 days we'll be buying food locally at lil towns we come across etc which should add some much needed variety and.. adventure? never quite knowing what will be left behind in a convenience store by the other 3000 hikers ahead of us.. i fear a weeks supply of canned anchovies being all that's there.. with a jar of pickled pigs feet as snacks
such is the adventure of the unknown, so exciting
happy trails
anyways, mostly excitement with a lil trepidation, would be how i'd describe the mood at base camp. the biggest challenge currently is getting our food and last minute preparations completed, we have had our hiking gear together for years, given we love to get lost in the woods, this particular trail has some additional gear we may/may not need, like ice axes and gaitors, but they are just a roadtrip to REI away.
food though, from our plan we have 165 days'ish to be out in the woods, with 102 of those eating out of trash cans and mailed boxes. so that's 102 breakfasts, lunches, dinners, each, along with several snacks per day at interval. sure.. sounds easy... but then find items that can sit in a box for 6 months (starting now go!!) and still be edible, and that you hopefully wont puke at the thought of after the 92nd meal of it.. i mean, outside of a snickers bar.. what else can you eat forever without being sad? .. food for thought, so to speak, then make sure you hit some level of calorie requirement for the journey so you can fuel the machine for its efforts that day. the rough math that seems to be around 4-6,000 calorie burn per day, depending on effort, fitness, weight carried and terrain, we will be trying to balance our intake with enough base nutrients to not be run into the ground, but not to carry 3lbs of food per day either, as we have our base pack weight, water, and food weights to be managing. for the other 63 days we'll be buying food locally at lil towns we come across etc which should add some much needed variety and.. adventure? never quite knowing what will be left behind in a convenience store by the other 3000 hikers ahead of us.. i fear a weeks supply of canned anchovies being all that's there.. with a jar of pickled pigs feet as snacks
such is the adventure of the unknown, so exciting
happy trails
Its going to be once in a life time adventure with your soulmate, God bless :)
ReplyDeleteIm going to enjoy following along with your suffering!! See ya in Canada!
ReplyDeleteSending lots of love! Bring me back a rock!!!
ReplyDeleteYou kids have fun and try not to get lost.
ReplyDeleteAll the best guys, my prayers and wishes are always with you
ReplyDelete