Pacific Crest Trail 2007FAQ
This is a basic FAQ to help answer some questions about my hike. These are the questions I get asked most frequently. If you have a question, feel free to email it to me.Q: About me.
Q: What are you doing and why?
Q: What's the Pacific Crest Trail?
Q: What are you doing to get ready for this trail?
Q: How much will this cost you?
Q: You're quitting your job and leaving your home for this?
Q: Are you scared at all?
Q: How long will this take you?
Q: What are you going to do after you're done with the trail?
*********While I'm On the Trail********
Q: Will you be hiking with someone else?
Q: How far do you have to walk every day to make it in your timeframe?
Q: What are you going to be carrying in your backpack?
Q: How can people get in touch with you if they need to?
Q: Are you going to be taking photos or video of your trip?
Q: What about bears?
Q: How will you get more supplies if you're going to be in the wilderness?
Q: About me:
My name is Stephanie Wilson. I currently live in Arkansas and work in an office doing management-type things. I've enjoyed the outdoors since I was a kid. I've never done a long-distance hike before; this'll be my absolute first. I love computers, old Craftsman-style homes, the outdoors, travelling, exploring, music, and writing. If you're in need of more exciting trivia about me, go here. (If you need still more, send an email to me here (remove the symbols) and I'll get back to you as soon as I can).
Q: What are you doing and why?
A: I'm going to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.
As for why I'm doing this? Lots of reasons. The challenge, the exercise, the fun, the hard work, the opportunity to see part of America's vanishing wilds. To do something that'll have an unforgettable impact on my life. And to remember my aunt Debby, who died of breast cancer in November 2005. She had a great influence on me and this is my small way of paying homage to her. I actually decided to hike and began this journal when she was beginning to undergo treatment for her second battle with cancer.
I'm hoping to help raise some money for my local affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation before I go. If you're interested in that, please visit this page and read more.
Q: What's the Pacific Crest Trail?
A: The "PCT" is in the western US and runs north and south from Mexico to Canada. It's approximately 2,650 miles long hiked, and around 1,000 as the crow flies. On average takes about 4-6 months to complete, and about 300 people attempt it every year (about 25% of them finish). Here's what the Pacific Crest Trail Association says:
"Zigzagging its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) boasts the greatest elevation changes of any of America's National Scenic Trails, allowing it to pass through six out of seven of North America's ecozones including high and low desert, old-growth forest and artic-alpine country. Indeed, the PCT is a trail of diversity and extremes. From scorching desert valleys in Southern California to rain forests in the Pacific Northwest, the PCT offers hikers and equestrians a unique, varied experience."
The PCTA's website tells in detail what can be expected in every section of the hike.
Q: What are you doing to get ready for this trail?
A: I live in a nice little neighborhood, so I go out walking. It's also about two hours to walk to work and back. There are also campgrounds and hiking trails nearby that come in very handy.
Q: How much will this cost you?
A: My estimate is around $4000 to cover my expenses. This money comes out of my own pocket. Expenses can be broken down this way:
* Gear purchases before the trail
* Transportation before and after the trail
* Insurance while on the trail
* Stops in town every 3-7 days for groceries and post office visits and the occasional motel
* Payments for any bills left behind
* Cost of setting up life again after the trail.
(and so on)
I saved up for a long time to be able to do this. Many, many people (including me) have to quit their jobs and close out their apartments or houses, in order to hike a long-distance trail.
Q: You're quitting your job and leaving your home for this?
A: Yep. It took a lot of thought and I had to resolve to just do it. Some might view that as irresponsible, but then again we all only have one life, and you never heard anybody say on their deathbed that they wished they'd spent more time at the office.
Sometime before she died, my aunt summed up her philosophy with a favorite quote:
Q: Are you scared at all?
A: It's a long trail and a big wilderness out there. That's a little scary. But I'm sure that with my training and preparations and gear, I should be okay.
Q: How long will this take you?
A: I'll leave in late April, 2007, and I expect to be done in late September or early October, 2007.
Q: What are you going to do after you're done with the trail?
A: My current plans are to live somewhere in the Pacific Northwest and get a job, and see about getting back into school and finishing my degree.
*********While I'm On the Trail********
Q: How far do you have to walk every day to make it in your timeframe?
A: About 20 miles a day, give or take. This will help me meet all the necessary weather windows along the way. Not being able to meet those windows can make hiking far more difficult and dangerous, so everybody that hikes the PCT will leave around the same time (late April, early May) and try to finish around the same time (mid September, early October). That equals around 20 miles a day.
Q: Will you be hiking with someone else?
A: I'm going alone, but I'll know some other hikers, and will get to know other hikers along the way. Every year around 300 set off on this journey.
Q: What are you going to be carrying in your backpack?
A: About 35-40 lbs. of gear, which includes:
* Food and water
* Clothing
* Tent and sleeping bag
* Cooking gear (pots, stove, fuel, utensils)
* Maps, guidebook information, and compasses
* First Aid
* Repair kits
* Hygiene and personal care kit
* Survival kit
* Flashlights
* Batteries
* Photography equipment
* Entertainment (notebook, sketchbook, music player)
I will post a complete gear list before I leave.
Q: How can people get in touch with you if they need to?
A: My mom will have all of that information. That'll include my itinerary, and a list of numbers to call and people to email if there's a problem. I'll check in at regular stops so she'll know everything's status quo. Otherwise, since I'll be making journal entries along the way, people can leave comments on the entries if they like.
Q: Are you going to be taking photos or video of your trip?
A: Yes. I plan to carry a digital camera with me.
Q: What about bears?
A: There are ways to protect yourself and your food when you go, including not camping in established campsites, and hanging your food high up in a tree. The PCTA's website has more on that.
Q: How will you get more supplies if you're going to be in the wilderness?
A: Every few days my itinerary will lead me close to, or through, a town or city. I can resupply there, or get packages sent from home to me at post offices. I'll post my itinerary online before I leave.
Got a question? Send it to me!
