[pct-l] Traffic and Solar Panels

[Seth Jacobs]

Spouses worry.  It's  what they do.

You can help them by talking about the trip and how you've planned for
various contingencies.  For example, that you can put up your tent in the
dark and in the wind.  That you know how cold it will get and that you have
the clothes and the bag to stay warm.  That you know where the water is and
you'll carry enough water to get you to the next reliable water (with some
left in reserve).

You can help them by providing them with a map of your trip.  Use a
highlighter to show your route, and explain that you'll be hiking an
average of X miles per hour, and indicate each night's expected campsite
and when you expect to be in a town.

Tell them that phone coverage is very spotty and it's likely they'll only
hear from you when you're in town, and that anything else is a bonus.

When you wake up send a brief text.  It might not go out right away, but if
you leave the phone one while you hike it's likely it'll go out when you go
over a ridge.  One text message a day is very reassuring, and if something
does go wrong it'll help narrow down the search area.

Spouses also worry about what they should do if you're seriously overdue.

If you're seriously overdue what they should do is call Search & Rescue and
the sheriff's office in the county that you're in is who coordinates that.
So the county lines should be clearly marked on the map and the itinerary
you give her.  Write out who she should call if you're X days overdue.  And
by "write out" I mean the name, address, and telephone number she should
call and also what she should say, word for word.

You don't want her to worry, and you don't want to worry about her
worrying.

Do a bang up job of this and it'll reassure her that you're properly
prepared for the hike.

Seth

P.S.,

I tested my solar panel for 6 months before staring out on my section hike
last year, and then it promptly failed.


> Message: 12
> Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:49:01 -0800 (PST)
> From: James Stringer <jimstringercontracting at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] PCT traffic and solar panels
> To: PCT Forum <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID:
>         <1358390941.11358.YahooMailNeo at web122604.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi all,?
>
> I'm doing the John Muir Trail for the first 3 weeks in July. ?I've done
> 3-4 day hikes in the Cottonwood and Mt. Whitney areas with someone,
> however, I'm planning on doing this one alone. ?I have some worry warts
> around me saying that it's not smart. ?I re-assure them, that there are
> plenty of people hiking the trail if anything would happen. ?
>
> Am I right? ?What's the typical traffic during the month of July?
>
>
> My wife gave me a solar panel from Costco to carry along for my phone (in
> case of emergency, and of course, to check in every few days with her and
> my 3 kids). ?
>
> What are your thoughts? ?Batteries or solar panel?
> ?
> Thanks!
>
> Jim Stringer
> Jim Stringer Contracting
> 5256 So. Mission Rd. #703-197
> Bonsall, CA 92003
> Ph: 760-802-2309
> Fx: 760-643-9064
>
>
>