This is how much it cost me to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2019
- In this video, I show you exactly how much it cost me to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail (with nerdy graphs and all). I also give tips on how to save money along the way! - What money saving tips do you have for the trail!?
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/ thewhimsicalwoman
MY TOP FAVORITE GAME CHANGING HIKING ITEMS:
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Garmin inReach: amzn.to/2msUMCj
Buff: amzn.to/2oEHYt4
Anker Rechargeable Battery Pack: amzn.to/2oHyKfG
Sawyer Water Filter: amzn.to/2n5zWJB
I also got a new camera! What do you think? You can find it here:
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8,500 is really not bad for a 6 month adventure of a life time.The memories you created are worth way more than money could ever buy. Going in to town eating good food with all your new friends is part of the experience.Your life is forever changed. I think I watched everyone of your video and flooded you on instagram.
Matt B That’s right!!
I agree, that's not a bad expense, but on the other hand, just as encouragement to those for whom even that might be an expense--I did the PCT in 2012 on 3k, including gear, lodging, transportation, etc., and I didn't feel like I missed out on anything.
Great video about explaining PCT expenses! It cost me 12k USD this year, I bought everything as I go, drank lots of beer, stayed in many hostel, motel and hotel, changing gears but I don’t regret anything, this was the trip of a lifetime, just really hard to comeback to reality after it.
It was hard for me, too! But so glad we did it. :)
You say that your expenses were on the high side but you did save up $10,000 for the hike. Now if you were in advertising instead of engineering, you could have titled this video "How I saved $1500 hiking the PCT".
budrunner131 Hahahaha exactly!!! 🤣🤣🤣
a trick: watch series on Flixzone. I've been using it for watching loads of movies recently.
@Nathanael Mario yup, I have been using Flixzone} for since november myself =)
@Nathanael Mario yea, have been using flixzone} for years myself :D
This is why I love your videos. “I made them look like mountains with snow. Is that really nerdy?!” I LOVE IT!!! You’re one of my favorites ever.
Hahaha thank you for getting my humor!!
"Because I'm a nerd and an engineer" 🤣🤣🤣
#nerdforlife
The one thing I have enjoyed the most is how you made it so real for any person. Including the financial part. As you said there are times when you want a place to warm up ,dry off, and have a gear explosion. Have a wonderful wedding. Thaw I’ll simple and beautiful.
Erick Van Veen Thank you, Erick!! So much.
This sounds really helpful for anyone contemplating a thru hike. When you think about it where else could you go for a 5 1/2 month "holiday" for this amount of money. You obviously had a great time, so money well spent.
That is so true! It’s not that expensive for the adventure it was!
“I’m not ashamed”. I had to comment after that. It made me smile cause she saved 10k cause she knew what she wanted and she enjoyed herself. Love it
And I subscribed at buying $200 in pizza for a hikers birthday. I am just north of 4 mins in to a video that should be dull and have laughed 6 or 7 times.
I’m a garbage disposal....gold
Owen is a hero...
Your comments have officially made my day!!
Great Video. Thanks for all your hard work.....and we all hope that at some point in the future you do more thru-hiking.
Thank you so much! And I definitely will be. #2020
Thanks for the information!
You, truly hiked your hike. It was worth every penny.
I remember following and you had fun!!!
Thank you, John!!
"That number is not the point of this video" Yes!!! I loved the disclaimers, always good to get out in front of trolls and dummies. Thanks much for the info, and looking forward to a PCT run in the next few years.
I’m learning 🤣 and you are very welcome! Also, good luck to you!!
Thanks for posting this!!!
Loved this video! I’ve had the PCT in my mind for a couple of years now and you’ve been a really big inspiration for me to follow through on my dream!
Hi Michelle! Thank you! And that means a lot. I hope one day you can set foot on the trail as well!
I think you did it the right way. You made it an adventure, an experience, not just a hike. I liked how you interacted with other hikers, made friends, and made good times along the way. Experiences, and people that you will remember the rest of your life.
That’s right! It was so much more than hiking and it was amazing.
Thanks Jennifer, very interesting to see where the money goes and how much fun you can have off trail along the way. Cannot wait to do this in 2021.
You are so welcome! Good luck to you!!
Hi Starburst!! Thank you so much fir this breakdown of expenses! Loved following you on the trail and congratulations on your engagement! ❤️
Thank you for all of your support always. 💜
Man, I love the transparency and the admission right off the bat that she knows she was on the high end. I wish every youtuber was like this! Kudos, Starburst, Kudos
Thank you!
I was hoping you'd do a video like this! Your videos are the reason that the PCT is on my bucket list. Love ya girl!
Oh thank you, Jolisa!! That makes me so happy!!
What a fantastic video. The breakdown of the costs really help those numbers make sense.
Thank you!! I’m glad it helped!
Your transparency is refreshing. Thanks for some honest intel!
Of course!! I am glad it helped!
First, congratulations on your engagement! I really enjoyed watching all the videos of your hike/adventure and learned so much from them. This seems like quite a reasonable number to me. Have fun in New Zealand! 😃
Thank you, Marni!!
LOVE your complete honesty! I also love how you kept track of expenses. I hiked half the trail - 3.5 months - in 2016 and have literally no idea how much money I spent haha
I'm commenting as I'm watching lol and now I have to comment on your sock use.. and two words.... DARN TOUGHS! I had 2 pairs of socks that lasted me the entire 3.5 months of my hike, and to this day (3 years later) they are still going strong. Plus... they have a lifetime guarantee, so they'll send you a free pair if yours get holes. I can't say enough amazing things about them and I've got my entire family hooked haha.
I sleep in Darn Toughs, but I LOVE Injini’s for hiking!! Helps keep my blisters down I found!! But I obviously go through them way faster than darn toughs!!
The Whimsical Woman I tried ininjis toe socks and while I liked them, they only last 3 weeks before they got holes
Best cost analysis video of them all and I think Ive seen them all.
Actually I watched this when you posted it and again today.
Just sitting here waiting for hiking season again LOL
Thank you!! I really appreciate that.
Thanks for this! I’ve seen others expense reports but this sounds more realistic for my hiking style. Yes to hotels, food and beer!
Dana Miller Woohoo!
"I'm not ashamed." That made me LOL. 😂 Great video.
Hahah thank you, Carl!!
Great video. Very informative. Thanks for taking the time to share and educate us.
No problem! :)
Yo your videos are super helpful 👏 I've been leisure hiking since I was a kid but am just now able to afford getting into it doing backpacking and just made my first big purchases of a backpack and cooking set up plus I made big personal leaps because of reseach and videos like yours ❤
Thanks for this info. Very helpful seeing it broken down and displayed in a pie chart.
You are welcome! Glad it helped!!
I miss your videos so much. You set the bar so high. This last year nobody had a decent on trail vlog
Oh thank you, Jack!
Great job. I've watched many videos about this subject, and googled just like you did at the start. This in all honesty is the best one I've seen. I suspect I will spend similar to you except probably more on resupply. I'm your Dad's age. I suspect a super cute young girl like you is going to get way more people sending gift boxes and cash gifts than an older man. Seriously! Great job on this video. This goes with your "Last Day" video, which is by far the best, most amazing last day video I've ever seen!! I'm counting the days till my 2021 NOBO.
John McNeeley Thank you, John!! I really appreciate it! And that is so exciting for you!! 2021 will be here before you know it!
thanks, you mentioned things no one else has and has given me some extra things to consider.
You are welcome!
Me: I'm doing the PCT in April 2020
My savings account: .....erm maybe April 2035.......
Literally!
Hahahaha no you can do it!
😂
It can be done at a reasonable cost. Seen many do it with very low costing gear and avoiding hotels. Good luck, it's an amazing adventure and experience. As they told when when I did it, you'll either do it once; or you'll be hooked and do it multiple times. I'm hoping to do a PCT Flip Flop in '20 also. Maybe I'll cross paths. - Salt Lick PCT'05
Don't forget, a lot of these expenses are expenses you'd still have even if you weren't through hiking... such as food. And you are saving on other expenses such as rent. Of course, you also aren't working during that time so you also won't have income, but I think it helps to look at it holistically.
Food and drinks in town! Hell yeah! Fun trip!
It definitely was!
Thank you for this. This is very helpful. 🙏❤️
Of course!!
Love your new camera! I also learned a lot with this video, thanks!
Thank you to both!! Glad to have helped. :)
Wonderful vid! This is one of the most honest vids for PCT costs I've seen. It's all based on HYOH. :) Thanks!!
Thank you!! Glad it helped!!
Very interesting Jen....allot of great information in one video....this will be invaluble info for the novice or beginner thru hiker...thx for sharing in such a professional way....I watched you from Campo with yur dad to Manning....Im just an old guy that still dreams...I couldnt help but tear up a bit when you finally arrived at the terminus....a life altering experience completed by your own tuffness....take care Ms Starburst...!!!
Thank you, Jimbo!
I love it. I think it is great that you included a full spectrum of the expenses. Letting hikers get an idea of what luxury expenses can run and entertainment etc. I think even with all the luxury you did well. When i did 6 months in Belize Mexico i was up around 15k but boy did i live it up. Partied alot ate out alot. Great video as always. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Bill!! Sounds like we both had an adventure!
@@JenniferMabus That we did.
This is the most informative video I have seen on the PCT. Thanks for sharing and helping to identify those hidden expenses and what it could cost to make the experience more than just hiking.
You are welcome! I am glad you enjoyed it! 😃
not pertaining to any of this.... we have the same last name (mine is maiden lol)
@@KristinHartleyy Such a great unique last name. LOL My dad's family is mainly out of Texas.
Phil Westmoreland mine too! weird lol, are we related?? 😂
@@KristinHartleyy Maybe. East Texas (Houston) going back in time to Virginia?
VERY HELPFUL VIDEO !!! it clarifies, some unknowns for hiking this TRAIL !!! but each TRAIL is DIFFERENT & COSTS even in the same COUNTRY, SPECIALLY moving from STATE to STATE ....
Yes, very true!!
Excellent breakdown of costs, Starburst! Thank you for the info.
Being a trail angel here in Big Bear, I am
Sorry! Clumsy fingers! I am constantly asked questions about the trail and related stuff. This gives me great info to share!
Congratulations on the engagement!
Diamond Dave
Thank you so much!!
And thank you for being a trail angel!! 🙏🏻
This was kind of like a “behind the scenes” video. Very interesting!
elaine markey Awesome! Hope you liked it!
This was very informative. 🍺🚶⛺🍺Looking forward to more videos, I loved the nighttime chart😹
Thank you! And I’m glad sometime like the chart 🤣
This was so helpful thank you!! Haha the graphs really help for the visual!!
You are very welcome! :)
I had forgotten how hilarious you were! Great video!
Hahah well thank you!! :)
Thank you for the breakdown of expenses on trail. Will you be making another video on gear that you started the trail with and the expense?
Tanya Weller You are welcome! And yes there will be!
Beer and food is a must! $8400-$8500 equates to a less than $20k/yr., given the PCT is 5-6 month endeavor! So pretty cheap and drink up!
That's right! Cheers!!
Outstanding data. I'm an engineer too and appreciate pi. watched your entire adventure last year and wish I could follow in your footsteps.
Thank you, Mark!
Lol 😂 space x launches are definitely cool, but the landings are even more awesome. Put that on your bucket list. 😉
Oh it definitely is!!
Great info. Thanks for compiling. Congratulations on your engagement!
Thank you, Mark!
Nerd + America’s next top model of thru hiking! 🥾
Hahahaha thank you!! 🙈
Super helpful tip about bouncing your resupply box to yourself for free--thank you!!
You’re very welcome!!
Excellent video Jen! Very informative. I loved all the "whimsies" you threw in as well: "I'm a nerd and an engineer." "I'm a garbage disposal." "If you purposely role your ankle because you don't want to hike anymore." LOL
HAHAHAAH that’s me!
I am a huge gragh fan. Is there any way to see a monthly breakdown of each category? I think it would be extremely helpful for those of us planning a through hike. Thank you for yet another great video!
Thank you so much! Unfortunately I don’t have a chart for each month, but I spent on average $1500 a month. :)
Hey love your video! Curious did you notice any changes in how much you needed based on location? Like like more in the dessert or the sierras?
You speak truth and that’s why I enjoy following you. I’m a nerd too. I can relate and 200 dollar pizza I would have done it to. 😱😱 I’m just nice. This budget looks legit. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome, Jennie! :)
I love hearing all your thoughts. They are so interesting! I am going to watch all your PCT-videos again. Have a wonderful wedding 🐖🐖
Oh thank you so much! Enjoy! 😃
@@JenniferMabus you are welcome. If you and Owen ever come to Munich, contact me if you want.
Nice... usefull information about money on trail. Thank you :D
Love from Czech Republic
You are very welcome! And hello!
Great overview. Very informative. thanks.
You are welcome!
Very good information. Thank you
I know this is old so I doubt you’ll see this but I just started watching thru hikes and your quick comment about rolling your ankle on purpose (after that being one of the first vids I saw) made me snort 😂 The shade was swift but brutal lol
I don’t remember this 😂
The one thing I can control is not running out of money. I'm currently planning on doing the AT in 2022, and would love to do the PCT in 2023 but that means I'd have to save for two thru-hikes. Yikes. Great video! Love your insight!
If you have a plan and a goal then you can totally do it! Good luck to you! So exciting!!
Super impressed you remembered all this! I remember you finding a quarter and keeping it haha. I wonder what you spent it on lol. Prolly a laundry machine. Cool vid thx.
😂😂 sounds very much like something I’d do
It's hard to believe how many of these events I could remember from the videos. Even dirty legs and Face shots as you were coming in to towns! Can't wait to tell my friends at work about the breakdown of cost. (whether they want to hear it or not.)
Make sure they know and contribute to your beer fund! 😂
Great video and advise... and Congratulations with your engagement!!!
Semper Fi!!!
Thank you!!
Whimsy, great to see you again and hear about the nuts and bolts of the trip. It does cost alot wow, I had no idea. Also, you have the rent for the apt or home and all the monthly bills too, while you are away, and that can be over $6000.00 for that alone on top of all the hiking expenses. One almost needs over $15,000 if you live by your self, huh Yikes-sad life costs so much. It is no wonder everyone is so stressed out!
That is why I moved out and didn't have any rent to pay! But it can get trickier if you have a mortgage for sure!
Excellent always been curious of the cost to hike. Thanks
Of course!!
Thank you for this! 👍❤️
Of course, Karen! 😃
"I'm not ashamed" 👏🤩
Hahah you just have to own who you are, right!?
How much cash do you recommend carrying?
P.s., I'm currently taking a Statistics class & love how you presented the data 🤓
Yo.u had a great time and could afford it so money well spent. Great vid thanks for the information.
You are welcome! Thanks for watching.
Wow you are so smart ! And knowledgeable!
Thank you! 😃
“I’m like a garbage disposal - I’ll eat anything .” You kill me! 😂😂
Tootsla 125 Thank you for accepting me. 🤣
@@JenniferMabus We love you, Starburst. You ARE hilarious, though.
Thank you, that was very enlightening. Yes, you may be a nerd, but nerds deserve to have fun too, and as long as you enjoyed yourself on your hike and the other activities the cost is irrelevant, and I know that is not why you did the work on the video. When I do my hike, I am not planning any "0" but I know I will take them, when I feel the need not just because. The point to me is ENJOY, for me not anyone else. I eagerly look forward to your future videos, Take care and stay safe.
John Davidson You are welcome! Thank you for watching! And that’s just right with the zero logic.
Just very grateful for you taking us along on a great journey! It was worth every penny you spent! Ha kidding - your spirit and amazing vids have been inspiration to many of us and we wish you the very best on your future journeys! Start a Patreon page please.
ps.
You hiked the perfect hike. Just the way I would have wanted to do it. Had fun and completed the hike!
Thank you, Dave!!! I had so much fun!! And a Patreon might be coming soon. 😃
well done Skittles:) enjoyed it. I plan to be on the low end but will make sure to have enough in case I change my mind. I too plan on making my PCT adventure a pleasure trip, enjoying both nature and the small town you come across. Questions 1-do you drink coffee? warm drinks? I would think those can be morale boosters :). 2-Future hiking plans? 3-what would you recommend for a-get our bodies ready for PCT hiking b-female needs while hiking PCT, not sure if you did a video on that subject or not, Thanks. Congratulations on your Wedding. Thank you for your video. PS-You have beautiful eyes. Safe&Happy Trails
Hi Martin! Thank you so much!! - And I do drink coffee but not on the trail because I didn’t have a stove! But in towns I sure did. And I will be hiking again but not sure when or what. And I don’t have a video on that! Maybe I can do one. :)
Knowledge!!! Nice one like your style got eat!! Cheers
Cheers!
@@JenniferMabus your welcome...big smiles🌱👣
Excellent review of the trail finances, cheers
Thank you! Cheers 🍻
Great content! One day I’ll save and hike the PCT! I’ll save more money for beer in town 🍻😂
Yes you have to! Lol
Call yourself a nerd if you like, but this is the best nerdy video on expenses I’ve seen! And, immaterial perhaps, but you look stunning in this video...plus, you’re funny...and an engineer! That makes you a smart, gorgeous, and funny nerd. Oh yea, you finished a solo thru-hike on the PCT. That makes you a badass. A stunning, smart, funny, badass nerd! Whimsical Woman for President! 🙌🏼
Oh Gretchen you are seriously the SWEETEST 😭 thank you! 😘
I don’t know about that, I just call it as I see it. 💟
What do you think the minimum number of miles per day you could practically thru hike with if you wanted to spend more time camping and less time walking? Also if you don't need to make it from end to end but just hike along the trail during the hiking season regardless of end point. Like what's the average distance between resupply spots and how many days' food could you carry with you?
That's a tough question to give you a simple answer. In the Sierra Nevada, you could go 6+ days without a town. In the desert, there could be towns every 2-3 days, and that means 40-60 miles. I would take the total amount of miles (2,650) and divide that by how many days you would want to hike, and see the average amount of miles a day you'd need to hike.
Great video. Thanks for the info. How did you handle being without income for 5 months? Did you have to save money for your "normal life" bills that keep incurring while you are on the trail. Rent or mortgage, car payment, insurance, utilities etc.
I took care of it all before I left!! But I didn’t have any rent/mortgage since I moved out before I started the hike. 😀
Great video, thanks!
Thank you, Wendy!
I did a thing ... I just spontaneously signed up for the 2022 PCT. I considered it in the past but when I heard the website was open I did a forcing function to make myself do it instead of thinking about doing it by signing up. I picked a March 2nd start with no pre-planning. It fit into my window but way early from what I understand. Now, I'm subscribing to all the PCT videos I can but still naive on all the details.
Anyway, how far did you go (where?) and how many days before your very first resupply? I'm just wondering how many days' worth of grub PCT'ers on average should pile into their pack from the start (southern terminus) to the first resupply point. I see a lot of videos talking about the best resupply towns or best places to send pre-packaging boxes but not much about chow from the get-go and the most common first stop to resupply??? Apologies if it's trivial or common knowledge ... still figuring stuff out.
Thanks for sharing your journey!!!
Just in case you change your mind (just saying) please please please make sure to OFFICALLY cancel your permit with PCTA so they can open the date up to other hikers!
Great break down thanks! Hey - what sleeping bag did you switch to?
Thank you! I started with a 15 deg Nemo Rave and switched to a 17 deg REI Magma. I like both!
You remain in a category of your own. Pls do another Major Thruhike!
😃😃
hiker box queen!
🙋🏼♀️
You're amazing!
Oh thank you so much!
Congratulations on your engagement. When is the wedding? Really enjoyed all your hiking videos.The videos with the cougar staking and sightings kind of made me think, every time I am hiking in the woods. Best wishes.
Mike Klungland Thanks Mike! Wedding is soon! 😏
I love that you’re not ashamed of drinking beer 🤣😂
Life as a Basic Millennial You know me lol
The Whimsical Woman - I still think you should of sold your socks. 😂 its a way to make money on the trail. Hahaha
How is it possible for anyone to be ashamed of drinking a beautiful frosty cold one after a hard days work?
When you finished the Trail hike how long did it take you to go camping again . Nice videos !
Thank you! And it took me months because winter came and I was trying to still warm up from the end of my hike haha
Thanks for the video! Super helpful. Just a note I think people should factor in (at least how I like to think of it): You already buy food when you're not doing a thru-hike, so it's not much of an additional expense. For me, living in NYC can really rack up money from just expensive groceries, meeting up friends and going out to restaurants. I figure most people already spend close to $200 a week on food anyway, so don't let that number discourage you!
This is very true and a great point!!
Hey there! I came across your channel while I’m doing my research for my PCT 2021 thru hike. Right now health insurance is my current investigation. I watched Dixie’s health insurance video and I’m looking for others. I have two questions for you I was hoping I could get your thoughts on? 1. Were you covered though your employer throughout your hike? $15 X-ray co pay sounds like a dream. 2. Were there any plans you have heard other US hikers use that I could look into? Thanks again!
Did you complete it?
My daily laugh, thanks!
Garry Collins Haha you’re welcome!! 😃
Super helpful.
Oh good! I am glad it helped!
As someone who plans or do the PCT in three years and I will be retired I think your numbers are how I plan on doing my hike. I would spend over eight grand over a few months anyway. Nice video, thanks.
Thank you! And good luck to you!
As a fellow engineer, I appreciate the graphs and charts. We speak the same language. :)
Oh hi! 🙋🏼♀️
The way i see it your project came in under budget with a lot of wow factor. Not many engineers accomplish that, you still rock Starburst
Thanks, William!!!
I know on the AT eating in town was one of the most fun parts of it. even just fast food.
Excellent video!! (And I totally agree with you on the hotel rooms - and getting one to yourself. A total bit of sanity on the trail!!! Sitting in one right now. 😁)
A few other things to consider from a financial perspective:
One - if someone is employed at a good paying job like you were before your hike and you knew you were going back to that immediately. That gives a person a much bigger cushion than many of the hikers on the trail that don’t have an established career path yet. Someone who is a bartender may not be able to recover as quickly.
Two - since you stopped working while you hiked, that actually cost you a huge amount. E.g., if someone quits their 100 grand a year job to thru hike, that’s 60-80 grand or more in earnings they are out (depending on how long it takes before they return to work.) It’s also 401k contributions they will never make. (Just throwing 100k out there because it’s an easy number. 🙃)
Yes, this is so true! For 6 months I didn't contribute to my retirement fund and also wasn't making any money. All great things to consider. But still worth it to me and to a lot of people of course. I may not make it to retirement age so adventure on!
This bartender never has problems recovering financially. I can work double shifts and tips are gooooooooooood...cause beer ya know!
Your thru hike experience sounds very easy and luxurious from all the other people stories I’ve heard. What did you do about getting time off work to do the trail?
Haha what about it seems easy and luxurious? It was anything but that lol and I took a sabbatical from work.