Sounds like you're getting super dialed in! Darwin just posted a video about the umbrella being a waste and often failing in the desert wind. The water carry change sounds super smart. I too loathe sunscreen and just cover with clothing. 👍 I cannot imagine how excited you must be getting to start! ☮️❤️🤝
I started the PCT 3 weeks ago. Currently 200 miles up waiting out the rain and snow before heading into Mission Creek. The sunny days are brutal hot. I threw away my black leggings and black shorts and bought light gray leggings and lime green shorts. I love my white sun hoodie. I just bought a white wide full brim sunhat! Dark clothes are way to hot in the sun!!! I shipped my microspikes and ice axe to the Idyllwild post office without any issues. We skipped from Apache Springs to Black Mountain road because of all the ice on Mount San Jacinto. After Baden Powell, I'll ship them to KMS. Please bring all the same cold weather stuff you had on the A T. The cold winds at night have been brutal! I've been colder here than I was on my March start of the A T in 2022. The trail is much easier on the climbs and decents than the A T. The water carries have been farther apart. Currently 12 - 15 a day and no sore legs like at the start of the A T. Maybe I'll run into you two at KMS.
That's how I wear my sun hoodie over my ball cap and it works well. If it's even windier and your ball cap has a lot of elastic to hold it on your head you can put the ball cap over the hoodie. It looks dumb but it works really well. The insulated booties are a great idea. It's crazy how much keeping my feet warm helps keep the whole body warmer in my experience. It really sounds like you are very well prepared!
Some people complain that they don't get enough airflow when wearing the hood over the hat. So they remove the hood and burn their ears. Mineral based sun screen is a terrible idea for hiking, unless you want to have the stuff everywhere. The minerals are supposed to form a protection layer on top of your skin. If you sweat it basically forms a sauce (like the dust in the dessert when combined with sunscreen). I would wear as much as I could in terms of long sleves, pants and sun gloves and just put sunscreen on my nose. 4 Liters is more than enough if you move a little bit, the water situation in the dessert is highly dramatized everywhere. There are caches with tons of water, restocked several times per day. Before you die of dehydration, you get poisoned by water. The right place to send your spikes would be Paradise Valley Cafe but I don't know if they accept packages at the moment (last civilization before Jacinto). If you want to be really cool, ask Timmermade for the battle shield umbrella. Nobody will ever mess with you. There is a lot of shade even in the dessert. No need to start walking at two in the night at the aquaduct. People take brakes in the dessert but most of them hunker down in shade or they hang their Tyvek into the trees. Just have a close look before sitting down, sometimes it snakes.
Looks like you are ready And I think you're going late enough that the trail will be good and hammered in, so you won't have to worry too much About sliding off the mountains in the snow 👍👍
I work outside all day in the humidity of the south and find that a titanium/ zinc oxide sunscreen with an SPF of 45-50 keeps me from burning. It is fairly thick though so a makeup removal type wipe per day or so might be a nice addition to your kit. Good luck.
You need to check out Collin Fletcher’s method for rigging a shade cloth in the desert. Basically from at least one corner (maybe two if very windy) you suspend a rock on a line that is long enough so that the rock touches the ground (assuming you are dealing with strong wind) to dampen the effect of the wind on your canopy. What was shown in your video will likely be toppled in the desert wind since the canopy and your poles and guy lines are attempting to absorb every gust.
Cinnamon and cayenne pepper both help with blood circulation to stay warm at night. Last year on the PCT, I had a 40F EE quilt. I used that same liner when it dropped down to 25F up at Mount Laguna one night and then shipped it home next day as I was too hot and restricted. We are at 100% snowpack, so you don’t need more than 1-2 liters of water to carry if you hydrate properly and plan out your water sources. Of course late May start will see many of those sources dwindle.
You've got this! A great adventure with Lil Chap begins!! I hope to see you both when I'm hiking my Oregon section or when I trail angel a couple of spots. Totally agree with your avoidance of sunscreen using clothes. I use a solid stick type sunscreen on my lower face so the heat doesn't turn the lotion to the consistency of olive oil. Some other thoughts: Using a bandana under my baseball cap let's the wind blow through while covering my cheeks, ears, and back of neck-and it's useful for everything else on the trek. Be sure to stop wind noises with a furry windscreen for your microphone (the furry windscreen are often called a "dead cat") Great pronunciation: San ha-sin-toe (ha-SEEN-toe is too gringo if you're not speaking Spanish sentences)
Hey, thanks for the video. Good changes. Zinkoxyde is the best for keeping on your face and less toxic. The sun hood will trap heat and you'll probably get sick of the lack of ventilation. Check out a sun mullet or sun cape which makes your ball cap a real winner. Umbrella is personal, the light montbell one (3oz) is worth it in my opinion. I'd be shocked if you ended up pitching the Tyvek like that more than three times. The desert has a lot of wind, it was the hardest new factor for me compared to the AT (other than getting bad blisters), lol. You'll figure it out, just my 2c. Happy trails!
I live in San Diego County and I use a trekking umbrella a lot, but it might be kind of cumbersome if you're vlogging. Gossamer Gear makes a cool umbrella clamp, but that only works at midday. The sun hoodie should be fine. Though you're not actually in desert for quite a while, there isn't as much shade in the chaparral as in a forest. I would recommend sun gloves if your hands are exposed using trekking poles and sunscreen on your knees and behind them on your upper calves. The Tyvek shade is not a bad idea, but for rests you won't be in an exposed desert like on the CDT in New Mexico. There are usually large boulders and big shrubs like manzanita, scrub oak, and laurel sumac to shade under. Oh, and when it's hot, long midday siestas are a real thing to consider.
Sounds like great choices! Looking forward fo following your PCT journey! I would like to order a 'River Crossin' shirt, but should I wait until after you get back from PCT? I know you must be very busy with your preparations for the PCT so I completely understand if it is better to wait.
I understand the sunscreen conundrum. The only one I have found that doesn't give me hives is Kinesys. It's a Canadian brand, but it is available in the US. It is free of known top allergens, and paraben free. I don't like insect repellants either, but I'd rather spray my clothes with permethrin than get West Nile, Lyme disease or alpha-gal! I'm an omnivore, and enjoy a steak now and again (when I can afford it!)
The tyvek is fine if you are resting, but with moving you will wish you had it. Start with it and mail it home at the end of the desert section. PS I live in the desert and am pretty sure you won’t regret it. Stay safe and hike on.
I feel the same way about the permethrin. Id rather take my chances getting a tick bite 😆 I love that tyvek idea, its absolutely brilliant. Ive never seen that done before! Also, the sun hoodie and baseball cap works perfect. Youre really dialing in your gear to the best proficiency, you and lil chap are going to crush this PCT hike. Have you considered waterproof socks for when youre trekking thru snow? I cant wait for your daily vlogs to start ⛰️ ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
I have never heard of anybody carrying 6 Liters and the PCT. Some other desert trails yes, but not on the PCT. But you will never have to worry about running out. Which is good. 😎👍
Getting cold feet eh? If you haven't already thought of it, hiking in extended snowpack (likely in the Sierras?) will also be cold for your feet. You might consider taking something like heavier waterproof socks. They will not totally eliminate cold feet, but can help. They might also serve as sleep socks (when not wet). Have a GREAT hike !
Be ready for some of the water cashes To be used up before you get there .Perhaps sacrifice some food for extra water... I think you would hate the umbrella. That being said I have used the reflective tarp As a shade And emergency shelter It is a little bit heavy...good luck
I have a few comments about your method of sun-hoodie HOOD + CAP this has been a long-time problem I have dealt with since i prefer Wide-Brim hats in the desert to avoid sunscreen ------------------------ -- with your hood that far over , you will pull it back with your pack shoulder straps -- with your hood that far over, you will lose peripheral vision -- it is windy in the desert, your hood will keep getting popped back -- the long brim + the area under the hoodie (in the way you plan to wear it) will cause it to cavitate, bloom and Everything! fly back & off quickly -- bring sunscreen .. and at the end of the day, plan to wash alot of dirt off of your face; the biggest downfall of sunscreen -- guys with beards can get away with sunscreen on just their noses and under their eyes -- grow a beard (smile) ------------ I use a long-wide brim hat, with a much longer brim than your floppy brim sun hat wind in front .. and your blind .. so you get a stiff front and floppy everywhere else ANY full brim hat only works for me with a Ribbon strap .. around the top .. and then tied down (granny goose style) over the side of my ears and under my chin the wind can get so strong that it will rip the little sewed straps that are on many hats like your boonie hat There's always problems, no matter what hat you decide to take
Check out the Mont Bell Trekking Umbrella 50. It’s light and durable and not so large in diameter that it tries to turn you into Mary Poppins 😅 in the wind.
California pronunciation is like "san hasinto." And I also dislike permethrin and sunscreen! I switched to a sunshirt and sun gloves last year and I was totally comfortable on warm days in the Sierras (80ºF+).
Never understood the point of the umbrella. Where it could be most useful it's often windy. For breaks you can usually find shade and if you don't - didn't you bring one of those super thin Gossamer Gear pads? They are long enough to sit on and fold over your head. Helps for both sun and rain during breaks, just don't let go of it in strong winds. I hiked the PCT with shorts, long sleeved shirt and caps. To get enough cover with only a cap I had to turn the brim around all the time to get the most protection, worked but annoying. Combined with a sun hoody a cap should work extremely well as long as you don't mind using the hood. I brought sun screen (of course) but didn't use much. The sun is high enough that the legs don't get too much sun. Long sleeves protect your arms. I didn't use trekking poles so the hands didn't get that much sun. Might be different with trekking poles. I got burned once and that was on a day when we got 3-4 inches of snow before it cleared and the sun shone from a clear sky the rest of the day. Didn't get burned on legs, hands or face but on my ears because the cap didn't protect form all the reflected light (and I didn't think about it until it was too late). I don't like sleeping bag liners. IMO they are single purpose gear and if you want extra warmth (or to protect you sleeping bag) sleep clothes are better and can also serve as emergency extra dry clothes/layer and around camp/town clothes.
Sounds like you're getting super dialed in! Darwin just posted a video about the umbrella being a waste and often failing in the desert wind. The water carry change sounds super smart. I too loathe sunscreen and just cover with clothing. 👍 I cannot imagine how excited you must be getting to start! ☮️❤️🤝
I checked out Darwin’s video after you mentioned this
@@hikingdancer, find anything helpful?
Other hikers have said that umbrellas are a god send in the desert like dixie
I'm a fan of convertible hiking pants. I call my bucket hat my ugly hiking hat but it works for me!
Pronunciation of Jacinto was good.
Thanks
I started the PCT 3 weeks ago. Currently 200 miles up waiting out the rain and snow before heading into Mission Creek. The sunny days are brutal hot. I threw away my black leggings and black shorts and bought light gray leggings and lime green shorts. I love my white sun hoodie. I just bought a white wide full brim sunhat! Dark clothes are way to hot in the sun!!!
I shipped my microspikes and ice axe to the Idyllwild post office without any issues. We skipped from Apache Springs to Black Mountain road because of all the ice on Mount San Jacinto. After Baden Powell, I'll ship them to KMS. Please bring all the same cold weather stuff you had on the A T. The cold winds at night have been brutal! I've been colder here than I was on my March start of the A T in 2022. The trail is much easier on the climbs and decents than the A T. The water carries have been farther apart. Currently 12 - 15 a day and no sore legs like at the start of the A T. Maybe I'll run into you two at KMS.
That's how I wear my sun hoodie over my ball cap and it works well. If it's even windier and your ball cap has a lot of elastic to hold it on your head you can put the ball cap over the hoodie. It looks dumb but it works really well. The insulated booties are a great idea. It's crazy how much keeping my feet warm helps keep the whole body warmer in my experience. It really sounds like you are very well prepared!
I may never do what you do, but I thoroughly enjoy following you as you plan your journeys.
Yay 😀
I love your ball cap! It's your trademark and what first drew me to your channel 😂 Havea great hike🎉😊
Awesome! Thank you!
You have done these hikes enough to know what works for you. These are useful tips for people new to this type of hike.
I feel like I second guessed this gear more than my AT gear
Some people complain that they don't get enough airflow when wearing the hood over the hat. So they remove the hood and burn their ears. Mineral based sun screen is a terrible idea for hiking, unless you want to have the stuff everywhere. The minerals are supposed to form a protection layer on top of your skin. If you sweat it basically forms a sauce (like the dust in the dessert when combined with sunscreen). I would wear as much as I could in terms of long sleves, pants and sun gloves and just put sunscreen on my nose.
4 Liters is more than enough if you move a little bit, the water situation in the dessert is highly dramatized everywhere. There are caches with tons of water, restocked several times per day. Before you die of dehydration, you get poisoned by water.
The right place to send your spikes would be Paradise Valley Cafe but I don't know if they accept packages at the moment (last civilization before Jacinto).
If you want to be really cool, ask Timmermade for the battle shield umbrella. Nobody will ever mess with you.
There is a lot of shade even in the dessert. No need to start walking at two in the night at the aquaduct. People take brakes in the dessert but most of them hunker down in shade or they hang their Tyvek into the trees. Just have a close look before sitting down, sometimes it snakes.
Looks like you are ready And I think you're going late enough that the trail will be good and hammered in, so you won't have to worry too much About sliding off the mountains in the snow 👍👍
Fingers crossed!
No umbrella? Much easier and quicker than a tarp no? I’m shocked.😂. Happy trails.🤘🏻🥾🤘🏻
Same to you!
I work outside all day in the humidity of the south and find that a titanium/ zinc oxide sunscreen with an SPF of 45-50 keeps me from burning. It is fairly thick though so a makeup removal type wipe per day or so might be a nice addition to your kit. Good luck.
Thanks for sharing!!
You need to check out Collin Fletcher’s method for rigging a shade cloth in the desert. Basically from at least one corner (maybe two if very windy) you suspend a rock on a line that is long enough so that the rock touches the ground (assuming you are dealing with strong wind) to dampen the effect of the wind on your canopy. What was shown in your video will likely be toppled in the desert wind since the canopy and your poles and guy lines are attempting to absorb every gust.
Thank you for sharing.
Cinnamon and cayenne pepper both help with blood circulation to stay warm at night. Last year on the PCT, I had a 40F EE quilt. I used that same liner when it dropped down to 25F up at Mount Laguna one night and then shipped it home next day as I was too hot and restricted. We are at 100% snowpack, so you don’t need more than 1-2 liters of water to carry if you hydrate properly and plan out your water sources. Of course late May start will see many of those sources dwindle.
Very good point
Can’t wait to follow your PCT adventure! ❤
Yay! Thank you!
Oh, and sun glasses. Really good sunglasses.
Got that
Thanks!
Thank you so much 🤗
You've got this! A great adventure with Lil Chap begins!!
I hope to see you both when I'm hiking my Oregon section or when I trail angel a couple of spots.
Totally agree with your avoidance of sunscreen using clothes. I use a solid stick type sunscreen on my lower face so the heat doesn't turn the lotion to the consistency of olive oil.
Some other thoughts:
Using a bandana under my baseball cap let's the wind blow through while covering my cheeks, ears, and back of neck-and it's useful for everything else on the trek.
Be sure to stop wind noises with a furry windscreen for your microphone (the furry windscreen are often called a "dead cat")
Great pronunciation: San ha-sin-toe (ha-SEEN-toe is too gringo if you're not speaking Spanish sentences)
Hope to meet you too
Hey, thanks for the video. Good changes. Zinkoxyde is the best for keeping on your face and less toxic. The sun hood will trap heat and you'll probably get sick of the lack of ventilation. Check out a sun mullet or sun cape which makes your ball cap a real winner.
Umbrella is personal, the light montbell one (3oz) is worth it in my opinion. I'd be shocked if you ended up pitching the Tyvek like that more than three times. The desert has a lot of wind, it was the hardest new factor for me compared to the AT (other than getting bad blisters), lol.
You'll figure it out, just my 2c. Happy trails!
Happy trails
It's starting to get real!
Yes can’t wait to get started
I live in San Diego County and I use a trekking umbrella a lot, but it might be kind of cumbersome if you're vlogging. Gossamer Gear makes a cool umbrella clamp, but that only works at midday. The sun hoodie should be fine. Though you're not actually in desert for quite a while, there isn't as much shade in the chaparral as in a forest. I would recommend sun gloves if your hands are exposed using trekking poles and sunscreen on your knees and behind them on your upper calves. The Tyvek shade is not a bad idea, but for rests you won't be in an exposed desert like on the CDT in New Mexico. There are usually large boulders and big shrubs like manzanita, scrub oak, and laurel sumac to shade under. Oh, and when it's hot, long midday siestas are a real thing to consider.
I can’t wait to get started
AND SO IT BEGINS!!!!
Can’t wait
I think the bucket hat is cute!
It’s not too bad.
Sounds like great choices! Looking forward fo following your PCT journey! I would like to order a 'River Crossin' shirt, but should I wait until after you get back from PCT? I know you must be very busy with your preparations for the PCT so I completely understand if it is better to wait.
I understand the sunscreen conundrum. The only one I have found that doesn't give me hives is Kinesys. It's a Canadian brand, but it is available in the US. It is free of known top allergens, and paraben free.
I don't like insect repellants either, but I'd rather spray my clothes with permethrin than get West Nile, Lyme disease or alpha-gal! I'm an omnivore, and enjoy a steak now and again (when I can afford it!)
Absolutely
Microspikes and booties… great additions!
Thanks
The tyvek is fine if you are resting, but with moving you will wish you had it. Start with it and mail it home at the end of the desert section. PS I live in the desert and am pretty sure you won’t regret it. Stay safe and hike on.
Thank you.
I feel the same way about the permethrin. Id rather take my chances getting a tick bite 😆 I love that tyvek idea, its absolutely brilliant. Ive never seen that done before! Also, the sun hoodie and baseball cap works perfect. Youre really dialing in your gear to the best proficiency, you and lil chap are going to crush this PCT hike. Have you considered waterproof socks for when youre trekking thru snow? I cant wait for your daily vlogs to start ⛰️ ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
We are happy with our tyvek contraption
Let’s go! 😎
Woot woot
I have never heard of anybody carrying 6 Liters and the PCT. Some other desert trails yes, but not on the PCT. But you will never have to worry about running out. Which is good. 😎👍
That is really good news
Getting cold feet eh?
If you haven't already thought of it, hiking in extended snowpack (likely in the Sierras?) will also be cold for your feet. You might consider taking something like heavier waterproof socks. They will not totally eliminate cold feet, but can help. They might also serve as sleep socks (when not wet).
Have a GREAT hike !
If you get back near Spivey Gap, let us know, so we can provide you with some trail magic again. Semper Fi, gapple
Be ready for some of the water cashes To be used up before you get there .Perhaps sacrifice some food for extra water... I think you would hate the umbrella. That being said I have used the reflective tarp As a shade And emergency shelter It is a little bit heavy...good luck
Thank you
😊😅 Good luck
Thank you
I just saw a commercial about a mineral based sunscreen. Have you heard of it? Maybe a consideration for you.
No I haven’t. Do you know the name?
@@hikingdancer Cerave (CVS and Walgreens) I tried sending a link but not sure it went through.
Sunbum mineral stick is a good one that comes in 30 and 50 spf . It's the perfect size for fanny pack or hip belt pocket.
I have a few comments about your method of sun-hoodie HOOD + CAP
this has been a long-time problem I have dealt with since i prefer Wide-Brim hats in the desert to avoid sunscreen
------------------------
-- with your hood that far over , you will pull it back with your pack shoulder straps
-- with your hood that far over, you will lose peripheral vision
-- it is windy in the desert, your hood will keep getting popped back
-- the long brim + the area under the hoodie (in the way you plan to wear it) will cause it to cavitate, bloom and Everything! fly back & off quickly
-- bring sunscreen .. and at the end of the day, plan to wash alot of dirt off of your face; the biggest downfall of sunscreen
-- guys with beards can get away with sunscreen on just their noses and under their eyes
-- grow a beard (smile)
------------
I use a long-wide brim hat, with a much longer brim than your floppy brim sun hat
wind in front .. and your blind .. so you get a stiff front and floppy everywhere else
ANY full brim hat only works for me with a Ribbon strap .. around the top .. and then tied down (granny goose style) over the side of my ears and under my chin
the wind can get so strong that it will rip the little sewed straps that are on many hats like your boonie hat
There's always problems, no matter what hat you decide to take
Snow peak umbrella 4.7 Oz is the lightest
Check out the Mont Bell Trekking Umbrella 50. It’s light and durable and not so large in diameter that it tries to turn you into Mary Poppins 😅 in the wind.
I have the gossamer gear one
Brand of flamingo shorts.
start in April?
Yes
What brand is your floppy hat thanks?
Kavu
Thanks. Looking forward to your hike. 😊❤
I love your ball cap as well! It's your trademark and the reason l watched the first video 😂 Best of luck - go get it! 😊
When do you start?
In April
@@hikingdancer I’ll be watching! I’ll be hiking in the PNW
California pronunciation is like "san hasinto." And I also dislike permethrin and sunscreen! I switched to a sunshirt and sun gloves last year and I was totally comfortable on warm days in the Sierras (80ºF+).
Cool 😎
Sun gloves?
My sun hoodie helps with the hands
Cold feet is just circulation. Stretch out the hips and Legs. You can try Cream with Cayenne pepper in it or take Natto supplements. It usually passes
Nice tip! Thank you
@hikingdancer when I wrote that, I forgot your a dancer. You know all about stretching. Lol
Never understood the point of the umbrella. Where it could be most useful it's often windy. For breaks you can usually find shade and if you don't - didn't you bring one of those super thin Gossamer Gear pads? They are long enough to sit on and fold over your head. Helps for both sun and rain during breaks, just don't let go of it in strong winds.
I hiked the PCT with shorts, long sleeved shirt and caps. To get enough cover with only a cap I had to turn the brim around all the time to get the most protection, worked but annoying. Combined with a sun hoody a cap should work extremely well as long as you don't mind using the hood. I brought sun screen (of course) but didn't use much. The sun is high enough that the legs don't get too much sun. Long sleeves protect your arms. I didn't use trekking poles so the hands didn't get that much sun. Might be different with trekking poles. I got burned once and that was on a day when we got 3-4 inches of snow before it cleared and the sun shone from a clear sky the rest of the day. Didn't get burned on legs, hands or face but on my ears because the cap didn't protect form all the reflected light (and I didn't think about it until it was too late).
I don't like sleeping bag liners. IMO they are single purpose gear and if you want extra warmth (or to protect you sleeping bag) sleep clothes are better and can also serve as emergency extra dry clothes/layer and around camp/town clothes.
FYI: also mice do not like peppermint either..
Interesting
Hey Road Runner
Just wondering how we can help with your PCT hike? I’d like to send you a REI card. Let me know how we can help.
PCT. WATER WATER WATER. 😱
Yes indeed