[pct-l] What the PCT is really like?

[Seth Jacobs]

Hi Josh,

You forgot to mention being stalked by a mountain lion, eaten by a bear,
bit by a rattlesnake, falling off a mountain, being struck by lightning,
and dying of thirst (or drowning in a river)...

Unless you're trying to talk yourself OUT of hiking the PCT I think you're
approaching the issue the wrong way.  What you want to learn is how to
AVOID those things.  And the best way to learn how to avoid those things is
via a series of short practice hikes.  Most people CAN'T learn all they
need to know about hiking just from books and videos.  You need to read the
books AND go hiking.  Heck, take the book with you hiking.  And if you have
to choose between one or the other, choose hiking.  Plus, I'd recommend
joining a hiking club in your area.  My intuition is telling me that you
have very little if any hiking experience (and I'm curious as to whether
I'm right or not about that).  By short I mean a series of two to three day
weekend hikes some of which should be done solo.

Cheers,

Seth





> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:41:40 -0700
> From: Josh Breslow <jbreslowsubs at gmail.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] What the PCT is really like?
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID:
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> FyJEquuhKPkmBRfRTA at mail.gmail.com>
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>
> Hello,
>
> I am planning for my first thru-hike in 2014 so I have been reading trail
> journals and watching lots of videos on the matter; Class videos, Wizards
> of the PCT, Tell it on the Mountain, Cactus Eaters, Four Boots One Journey,
> Yogi's Handbook, etc...
>
> I feel like everything I have read/watched seems to show the good side of
> the PCT, the polished version. I want to see what the PCT is really like
> (preferably a movie vs trail journal or book but either is fine), the
> trials and tribulations of doing such an adventure. Is there something out
> there that will show me this stuff? Show me the difficulties of having to
> poop in the woods for 6 months, the achy blistered feet, the moments where
> you don't want to take another step. The difficult times, not just the good
> times.
>
> Can anybody recommend something that will show me these things?
>
> Thank you,
> Josh
>
>
>
>