[pct-l] Do you plan?

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good afternoon, Sir Mixalot,


Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “I have always found that plans are
useless, but planning is indispensable.”  I have PCT preparation pretty
well figured out and I could leave to hike on about an hour’s notice, but
every time I plan anyway.

Consistent with what Eisenhower said, planning is important to me even if
nothing changes before the hike and if everything changes after the hike
begins.  Planning pushes me to consider options, try new things, challenge
beliefs, and be prepared to react and change; but mostly I just enjoy the
planning process.

Steel-Eye

-Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/


On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 4:17 PM, Sir Mixalot <atetuna at gmail.com> wrote:

> I don't see much of a point once you have the basics.  That is, carry
> enough water to go 15-20 miles, have a sleeping system that's good down to
> 20°F, and carry a bear canister in the required areas.  Beyond that, I
> think everything else can be planned on the trail if you carry something
> like Yogi's book and Halfmile's maps for the next 3 sections or so.  Even
> for mail drops, but you and your support crew needs the same address list.
>  This gives you enough information to see what's ahead to figure out how
> much food to carry, how to get it, and how to do a zero.  Planning can be
> done during breaks or at night, although it'd help if the support crew
> calls your mail drop locations to verify that they're open and accepting
> packages.  That provides plenty of time for adjustments as well.
>
> What say you about this?
>
> Sir Mixalot
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