Great advice and greatly appreciated, looking at doing the PCT in 2025 and getting kit finalized or so I believe a consistent adjustments. Again thanks for your content, have a great weekend.
Every time you pulled out gear, I was seeing where the extra weight was coming from, then as I was thinking to myself "he could save weight by..." then you would acknowledge it was excess weight and that you're already working on removing it. 😂 I'm glad you acknowledge you were carrying a heavy haul, it doesn't seem like it until everything is all packed up. As you pointed out, the more miles you hike, the less food/bulk you need to carry. I see why a few others I follow are doing 25-30 mile days. What I recommend is making a spreadsheet and have a weight column (there is a website that does this), have a formula add the column, etc. Then start stripping away the unnecessary items you don't need that should be shipped ahead. That ice axe may be light, but it's still extra weight that adds up and should only be used in snowy terrain, use a rock that you don't have to carry to drive in your tent stakes! Haha I had recommended the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L framed pack. As you already know, most backpackers are so used to packing/unpacking, they usually have a pack with a single compartment and just stuff everything in layers ordered by importance, you can shed a lot of weight and gain more space by adopting that system. Just roll stuff up, shove it in the bag, ditch the sack organizers and save time! I have a new Arc Haul 60L that I was going to offer you to use hoping to save your hike, but your back and health needed attention and you needed the break. Hope you weren't close to getting rhabdomyolysis. I notice that my back has to adjust 1-2 nights when I switch a sleep surface, like if I sleep on a bed, my back hurts for a couple nights then adjusts, but if I sleep on the couch, the process starts over. Did you have any issues when you went back to sleeping on the mattresses on your zero days?
I like a firm bed. For instance, our couch at home is very firm, and when I have slept on the couch my back felt great! As for my overall health, I would say I am very close to 100% again. I have gained back some weight and I can do my usual amount of chin ups and push ups; so my strength has also returned. I will be getting out soon for several day hikes. It will give me a chance to test the new pack weight and see how it goes.
Nutrition on trail is difficult. I started the PCT 6'2" 209 lbs. I was in great shape a runner and 6 days a week in the gym. When I reached Kenedy Meadows, I weighed 185. I couldn't eat enough to maintain my weight. I eventually had to force myself to eat more and almost continually snack while hiking. The increased unfortunately was a lot of unhealthy calories like candy bars, peanut butter, and cookies that I never eat in normal life. Resupply on trail and eating healthy is difficult unless you are in bigger towns or send yourself resupply boxes.
Absolutely. NUTRITION will be one of the biggest problems thru hikers will face. I was hoping that I could supplement my hiker diet with wild edibles, and though I was able to do that, it was just too early in the season for an abundance.
Nice overview. Hope more hikers talk about nutrition. Thx. Your right. The unnecessary stuff added to food is terrible. IMHO, 3000 calories per day is not enough esp in the Sierra where burning more than 5000 is common. My strategy is carry less/Resupply more often. Even so, I carry between 1.5-2 lbs of food per day. Most jumps are 2-4 days for me. Kearsarge to VVR is my longest @ 5.5 days. I cold soak. Another commonly overlooked area is electrolytes (esp sodium & potassium). My “meal” nutrition does not cover all electrolyte needed so in the afternoon I have to supplement to be ok. I like the Salt Stick, LMNT, Nuun products. See the Gear Skeptic for the facts. 👍 Altra Lp, Solar, umbrella 👏
@@elizabethtipton4193 The brand in the video is WYSI brand, but I also have used a brand called Minis Magic. There are several brands on Amazon. The key is to get the non-scented and then add your own favorite essential oil. Don't use citrus oils though, they are photo toxic meaning you must avoid sun exposure for 24 hours.
I am a whopping 60! LOL I have found that a lot of people have a different opinion on what base weight is. I will simply say that before adding food and water I was 35 pounds with all my gear and clothing. I am confident I could get that down to 25 pounds with some of the things I mentioned in the video.
Great advice and greatly appreciated, looking at doing the PCT in 2025 and getting kit finalized or so I believe a consistent adjustments. Again thanks for your content, have a great weekend.
Thanks for the comment! When is your preferred start date for the PCT?
Every time you pulled out gear, I was seeing where the extra weight was coming from, then as I was thinking to myself "he could save weight by..." then you would acknowledge it was excess weight and that you're already working on removing it. 😂
I'm glad you acknowledge you were carrying a heavy haul, it doesn't seem like it until everything is all packed up. As you pointed out, the more miles you hike, the less food/bulk you need to carry. I see why a few others I follow are doing 25-30 mile days.
What I recommend is making a spreadsheet and have a weight column (there is a website that does this), have a formula add the column, etc. Then start stripping away the unnecessary items you don't need that should be shipped ahead. That ice axe may be light, but it's still extra weight that adds up and should only be used in snowy terrain, use a rock that you don't have to carry to drive in your tent stakes! Haha
I had recommended the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L framed pack. As you already know, most backpackers are so used to packing/unpacking, they usually have a pack with a single compartment and just stuff everything in layers ordered by importance, you can shed a lot of weight and gain more space by adopting that system. Just roll stuff up, shove it in the bag, ditch the sack organizers and save time! I have a new Arc Haul 60L that I was going to offer you to use hoping to save your hike, but your back and health needed attention and you needed the break. Hope you weren't close to getting rhabdomyolysis.
I notice that my back has to adjust 1-2 nights when I switch a sleep surface, like if I sleep on a bed, my back hurts for a couple nights then adjusts, but if I sleep on the couch, the process starts over. Did you have any issues when you went back to sleeping on the mattresses on your zero days?
I like a firm bed. For instance, our couch at home is very firm, and when I have slept on the couch my back felt great! As for my overall health, I would say I am very close to 100% again. I have gained back some weight and I can do my usual amount of chin ups and push ups; so my strength has also returned. I will be getting out soon for several day hikes. It will give me a chance to test the new pack weight and see how it goes.
Nutrition on trail is difficult. I started the PCT 6'2" 209 lbs. I was in great shape a runner and 6 days a week in the gym. When I reached Kenedy Meadows, I weighed 185. I couldn't eat enough to maintain my weight. I eventually had to force myself to eat more and almost continually snack while hiking. The increased unfortunately was a lot of unhealthy calories like candy bars, peanut butter, and cookies that I never eat in normal life. Resupply on trail and eating healthy is difficult unless you are in bigger towns or send yourself resupply boxes.
Absolutely. NUTRITION will be one of the biggest problems thru hikers will face. I was hoping that I could supplement my hiker diet with wild edibles, and though I was able to do that, it was just too early in the season for an abundance.
Nice overview. Hope more hikers talk about nutrition. Thx.
Your right. The unnecessary stuff added to food is terrible.
IMHO, 3000 calories per day is not enough esp in the Sierra where burning more than 5000 is common. My strategy is carry less/Resupply more often. Even so, I carry between 1.5-2 lbs of food per day. Most jumps are 2-4 days for me. Kearsarge to VVR is my longest @ 5.5 days. I cold soak.
Another commonly overlooked area is electrolytes (esp sodium & potassium). My “meal” nutrition does not cover all electrolyte needed so in the afternoon I have to supplement to be ok. I like the Salt Stick, LMNT, Nuun products. See the Gear Skeptic for the facts.
👍 Altra Lp, Solar, umbrella 👏
I did use electrolytes most evenings as well; I should have mentioned that!
Great stuff, I like the foot routine. I’ll be buying the wipes.
I found the wipes to be a great addition in my pack. I gave several to my fellow PCT hikers and they loved them.
@@PlantPapaJohn what is the brand?
@@elizabethtipton4193 The brand in the video is WYSI brand, but I also have used a brand called Minis Magic. There are several brands on Amazon. The key is to get the non-scented and then add your own favorite essential oil. Don't use citrus oils though, they are photo toxic meaning you must avoid sun exposure for 24 hours.
Age? What was your Base Weight? Overall Pack Weight? Thank You
I am a whopping 60! LOL I have found that a lot of people have a different opinion on what base weight is. I will simply say that before adding food and water I was 35 pounds with all my gear and clothing. I am confident I could get that down to 25 pounds with some of the things I mentioned in the video.
@@PlantPapaJohn Thanks for the reply, I'm 65 & heading out on the Colorado Trail in August. Just getting some ideas.