[pct-l] hike cost

[Ed Jarrett]

I am a long section hiker rather than a thru hiker, but if I was going to thru hike I would probably use the same gear.  I am also retired with a modest amount of disposable income and have been working on my gear for many years.  That being said, I would guess that I carry between 2000 and 3000 dollars worth of stuff when I am out. Some of it, phone and camera, are not technically backpacking gear, but most of it very much is.  Hammock, underquilt, topquilt, tarp, backpack, SPOT, poles, shoes, down coat, shell, pants, etc.  None of them were cheap.
As a rough guess, I would estimate $10 a day for food, and for me, the cost of having my wife moving along the trail in the car for support.  We have a Prius and she spent a lot of time in campgrounds, but there was still a considerable expense there, although one that most thru hikers would not have.
All-in-all, hiking the PCT is a fairly expensive operation for me.

Ed Jarrett (Eeyore)http://aclayjar.blogspot.com/

> From: dm at quixnet.net
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:45:09 -0500
> Subject: [pct-l] hike cost
> 
> I just saw a post that gave a low-dollar cost for a thru-hike at $500.
> SURELY they must mean just extra money spent on the hike on zero days, not
> the overall cost.  Can you eat 5,000 calories a day for $3?  No way.
> 
>  
> 
> Will someone please post their OVERALL cost for thru-hiking?  I am a novice
> planning a thru-hike in 2013.  That means I have to buy almost all the gear
> PLUS trail food, transportation from MO, etc.  I'm guessing it will be
> somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000.   I would love to be wrong as I am on
> social security and it ain't much!
> 
>  
> 
> An honest, reasonable answer would be appreciated!
> 
>  
> 
> Dwane Koppler
> 
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