While hiking 38 days non-stop on the Pacific Crest Trail sounds like a long time, the planning and preparation that went into it took much longer. I first received Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon by Eli Boschetto as a Christmas Present a few years ago, and when the time came, I began by taking notes on the margins and breaking down the journey day-by-day. I wanted to take my hike at my own pace…that being enjoying everything there is to see and taking my time to make a connection with nature and the outdoors I have missed so much over the past two years. My plan was to average about 13 miles a day while making sure to end my day at the prettiest campsites as possible. Additionally, I had to map out each and every source where I could get water as well as which off-trail adventures were worth the extra miles on my tired feet. If anything, my ideal calendar let my family be able to follow along and know roughly where I should pitch my tent every night and when that would be. Not to mention, this plan allowed for my lovely Trail Angels to meet me along the way so that I could resupply and get a taste of the civilized world I left behind. In the end, I had planned out 38 days on the trail with zero rest days and five resupply days. Each section, six in total, had me hiking on the trail for an average of six days between resupplies. During that time I had to carry my own shelter, clothing, food, cooking and water filtration gear, and any other odds and ends on my back.
After I had a reasonable plan of where I was going and how I was planning to get there, it was time to get all of my gear in order. My goal was to have as little weight on my back as possible, so making multiple uses out of single items was my goal. Below is a list of what I brought to begin with:
Due to the fact I had so many wonderful Trail Angels and was able to resupply with them along the way, I made sure to prepare all of my food ahead of time. With each resupply box I made sure to compile and pre-package all of my meals on the trail — while at the same time making sure I wasn’t over packing! For breakfasts I prepared options of either oatmeal or granola, and a side of dried fruit. Lunches were simple having been comprised of either salmi or a packet of chicken or tuna on a tortilla with a snack of either salted almonds or jerky. I always made sure to prepare more options for dinners. I had purchased a large kit of Mountain House from Costco which I in turn re-packaged into single serving sizes, and to supplement I had instant mac-n-cheese and beans and rice. In the end, I would have a resupply box full of only necessary foods thereby not over contributing to my base weight. A typical resupply box and food plan would contain something like this:
I am certain that there will still be items I will not use and items I wished I had. However, I am confident in my basics and whatever I don’t have I will learn to either live without or improvise on the way. Now, all there is to do is start walking.
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