[pct-l] preparation

[Ned Tibbits]

L-Rod said:

"You have to find what works for you, through trial and error."

This is what preparation is all about!  Whether it is equipment, clothing, 
food, knowledge, skills, physical strength, or emotional preparedness, 
you've got to take the time out on the trail to see what works for you in 
the conditions you expect.  People are all different.  When I was a 
Paramedic, the maxim was, "never say Never and never say Always" when it 
comes to the signs and symptoms a person will present for a particular 
diagnosis.

As I weed through all the responses about "Reasons for Quitting," I'm 
finding that those who made it all the way had the right balance of all the 
ingredients required to do so, no major injuries, deep personal motivation, 
emotional security, no off-trail reasons for leaving, sufficient finances, 
enough food, correct gear, etc..  Those who had to abandon their trip 
usually did so because of personal reasons like injury, discontent, 
off-trail family matters, finances, lack of realistic preparation (not being 
prepared for what to expect), and so on.  The numbers are not all in, but 
most of the reasons mentioned, with the exception of off-trail family 
matters, can be avoided.  We're continuing the research with further 
questions to each respondent to find out how the event came to happen (say 
in the case of an injury) and whether it could have been foreseen and 
planned for (as in the case of Achilles tendonitis caused by too many miles 
too soon and continued too long or the twisted ankle caused by insufficient 
ankle support on an already known weak ankle during an accelerated sierra 
downhill because they were pushing for more miles to keep up with friends). 
The former could have been minimized by slowing down and allowing the body 
to strengthen, or as Paul Mitchell said, "Another common one [reason for 
quitting] is not being physically fit enough at the start."  The latter one 
could have been avoided with better footwear, better knowledge of your own 
weaknesses, and being more careful when pushing the daily mileage envelope. 
But how are you going to know how you're going to respond to trail 
circumstances if you haven't put in the time and miles in preparation 
beforehand?  Know yourself and the conditions you'll be encountering before 
you waste time and effort trying to accomplish something that you'll find 
out later was doomed from the start.

So, get out on the trail and get prepared!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
To: "Carl & Judy Rush" <elisenme2 at gmail.com>; "matthew lesniewicz" 
<mlesswicz at yahoo.com>
Cc: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2006 10:29 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] shoes


>I pondered shoe selection more than any other choice, and finally reached a 
>compromise.  I hiked the majority of the KM to YV stretch in my Chacos, 
>which absolutely rocked (for me).  But I also brought my Merrill Vibrams.
>
> The sandals, which are adjustable and designed for hiking, were so 
> comfortable and practical for the countless water crossings.  They molded 
> to my foot providing perfect support, great cushion for the downhill 
> pounding, and zero friction points.  I wore socks, too.
>
> I swapped out to my boots for anything that was "hairy" to me, like 
> vertical exposure on intimidating passes, and long stretches of snow. 
> They were not as comfortable and caused my only blister, but they kept my 
> toes warmer and for some reason gave me a greater sense of security 
> mentally (when at times I needed some extra courage).
>
> The extra weight was worth it to me.  I considered the boots a tool, like 
> you might think of an ice axe. They were a part of my strategy for the 
> snow. I did not carry an axe, and used my trekking poles instead, 
> shortened and sans baskets.  Ultralight is great, but I'm a fan for 
> gearing-up to meet the conditions you might face.  With the mix of the 
> conditions that were out there this year, the mix of the footwear made 
> sense to me.
>
> All that said, I consider footware one of the most individualistic of 
> choices, and there is no one right way.  You have to find what works for 
> you, through trial and error.
>
> L-Rod
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: Carl & Judy Rush <elisenme2 at gmail.com>
>>Sent: Nov 17, 2006 6:53 PM
>>To: matthew lesniewicz <mlesswicz at yahoo.com>
>>Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
>>Subject: Re: [pct-l] shoes
>>
>>IMHO, boots are not a good choice for this trail. You need something well
>>ventilated for the desert, preferably white or at least a lite color as 
>>not
>>to absorb to much heat from the sun, and a shoe that will dry fast when 
>>wet
>>and it will get wet. My 4 point crampons fit well on my NB shoes, but we
>>won't know until April if we will even need crampons or ice axes.
>>Carl
>>
>>
>>On 11/17/06, matthew lesniewicz <mlesswicz at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> in regards to boots or trail shoes, I undestand the concept and benifits
>>> of wearing shoes with in mind carrying a lighter pack, lacking the 
>>> needed
>>> ankle support. Ultimately it comes down to what works for the 
>>> individual.
>>> I've always worn boots for my hiking experience, but thinking about 
>>> finding
>>> a shoe, probably use both throughout.My question is, do people actually
>>> wear shoes when they hit the snow fields early on and do they use 
>>> crampons
>>> with there shoes? That's another thing, whats the reality of crampons 
>>> and
>>> ice ax? What about substituting ax for trek poles,or is that just
>>> ridiculous. It probably varys season to season and at what time you 
>>> arive.
>>> I'm begining my research and don't own any of the books. Are the ones on
>>> pcta.org the essentials and the best way to start?
>>>
>>> ---------------------------------
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