[pct-l] Why Hike Wet at all?

[Steve McAllister]

Not hiking in the rain on the PCT is probably an option and this list
is about the PCT, but many on this list hike other trails.
Not hiking in the rain is not an option on many other trails as you'd
spend several days at a time in your shelter and would go loony.

On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 1:59 AM,  <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com> wrote:
> I realize that it may not be realistic to consider this take on the subject,
> but how about not hiking in the rain at all?
>
> When I planned my schedules for the pct and cdt, I made my daily mileage so
> low that I could easily catch up to it if I had to wait out multi-day rain
> events. I was able to allocate 5 1/2 months for the crest and 6 months for
> the divide. Daily mileage for the crest was 17 while actual was 24, so it
> didn't take long to catch up to a day or three off for rain. Even for
> afternoon thundershowers, if I called it quits during the storm, pitched the
> tent and cooked up a hot meal inside, I was easily able to restart after it
> ended (if I felt like it!) and hike 'till sunset.
>
> With intentionally low planned average daily mileage requirements and a
> stronger and stronger body the further north I went, the more miles I was
> naturally accomplishing in a given day over my planned average, so I was
> usually ahead of schedule and, thus, had lots of extra time to sit out
> storms, do wilderness laundry, climb peaks, go fishing, enjoy extra days at
> pretty lakes, and so on.
>
> Hiking in the rain with a poncho worked for me, but I rarely had to do it.
> I'd rather take a hot lunch and a nap! So, more planned trail time solved
> this one.
>
> Did anyone consider your caloric requirements necessary to hike hard enough
> to keep you warm when wet? Did you plan for this contingency and bring extra
> food? The same issue exists for hiking in soft, afternoon snow and enduring
> the exhaustion of postholing.
>
> Mtnned
>
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