General Gear

• Anker, 10mAmp. White. With my phone on airplane mode and used as a camera/GPS I can get ten days of life out of the phone and pack.
• Two port wall charger, iPhone, long lightning cord and usb cord. I can charge my phone and my battery pack at the same time.
• NiteCore NU25 headlamp. Yellow dry bag for electronics and medication.
• Smartwater bottles, 1 liter & .7 liter.
• Gossamer Gear bottle caps.
• Core Water bottle, 1 quart — the cap makes a great scoop.
• 2 platypus 3 liter bladders. I have these for long water carry locations. They are very light.
• 2 liter CNOC & BeFree filter. We have two water filters. The CNOC is easy to fill.
• Water purification chemicals (back-up).
• Medication (vitamins, vitamin D, ibuprofen).
• Vargo Trowel, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, blue sil-poly stuff sack.
• Tenacious tape. Some metatarsal support pads for adding into shoes when I have new ones.
• Compression sleeves for my calves (the smartwool compression socks were ok but they really snag and develop holes quickly so I am returning them to REI). Tommie Copper
• Tiny scrub/sponge. Backup cigarette lighter. I’ve taken over cleaning the pot after dinner.
• Microfiber washcloth (also used as a towel).
• Camp shoes. I have clone crocs and actual croc water sandals. And I left a pair of clone crocs in a hiker box (that set hurt my feet). I go back and forth on camp shoes. Some gear is just for some weather or parts of the trail.
• Gen 3 Spot GPS. Carried as a back-up for my wife’s and for the extraction insurance coverage. Otherwise I just use Guthooks/Far Out. Note that her Garmin is very functional and has great weather and fire updates. The Spot is 4.2 ounces. I hate the extra weight but it is what it is.
• Hilltop bags bear bag for hanging food. Smellyproof food bags for storing food. Hilltop, Smellyproof
• https://zpacks.com/products/pack-liner and a thermarest pump sack. I put my sleeping bag in the pack liner and my spare clothes (base layer and second pair of socks, pillow and sleeping pad) in the pump sack.
• I used to carry my sleeping bag in a compression dry sack. Did the Appalachian Trail that way. https://www.rei.com/product/730882/sea-to-summit-event-compression-dry-sack. However, I started not to trust the dry compression sack. That is why I changed to a different waterproof bag for my sleeping bag. I can (and have for some water crossings) put everything in it.
• Usually my sleeping bag is in the Dyneema and everything else is in the pump sack. At night I set up the tent, then I pull my sleeping bag out. Then everything in the pump sack goes onto the pack liner and I inflate my pad. Then I inflate Win’s pad. Whatever clothes, fleece or puffy I’m not wearing goes in the liner and is part of my pillow.
• https://www.rei.com/product/768902/bearvault-bv500-journey-bear-canister. The BV 500 Bear canister which I have for the Sierras. We currently have four of them due to the way things worked out.
• Black Diamond Raven and Raven Pro ice axes. I use one and Win uses the other.
• iPhone XR with Pelican case. I got the XR because it had longer battery life. I’m envious of the camera built into my wife’s iPhone 13 pro.
• Micro spikes. I’ve trained with them in the Virginia winter.

Additional Clothes

• OR Sun Gloves. May change.
• No t-shirt. Big change from the Appalachian Trail. There I lived in a t-shirt.
• Sunglasses. Reading glasses. 2022 class bandana. On the PCT I actually use sunglasses.
• Flex-fit ball cap (poly—sheds moisture) Hats-lots of colors. Very inexpensive. You can pay a lot for a hat or pay much less.
• Misc zip lock baggies.
• Dyneema wallet. Replaced my nylon one that was wearing out. The Dyneema has worn better and is waterproof. I’ve used it for 2-3 years now.
• Shoulder holster for water bottle. Shoulder pocket for sun glasses, head lamp and reading glasses, in case.
• Black baggy for pack it out toilet paper sections.

I used to have a chest pocket I carried everything I have in the shoulder pocket and snacks. It was just too warm and a pain when taking my pack off or putting it on.

On Sun Hoodies

I had originally planned to hike in my silk weight base layer top, with a bandana tucked in with my hat. It just didn’t quite keep me from being burned around the neck so I picked up a Rab hoody on the trail. Very pretty. Snagged like a mother bear, so to speak.

I just left it, washed, in a hiker box, when my Black Diamond hoody came in (mailed from home). The BD has every feature but that means some weight. It also fades out color wise.

That I left the Rab rather than send it home should tell you something.

My wife picked up a Mountain Hardware hoody on trail. On sale at REI —and only four ounces. You can tell that tempts me. I saw a number of people wearing that hoody on the trail.

The pattern hides dirt and REI used to have it in blue as well as green. Since we really try to avoid the “twinsies” look, the current one they have is a no-go. It wears well though. Has thumb holes.

There are both sun shirts and sun hoodies. I own some shirts. Heavy. Same problem with burning around the edges the base layer had.

For sun protection:

• Patagonia 6.2 ounces, with thumb holes.
• 32 Degree Cool Sun Shirt. No hood. No thumb holes. Kind of shows wear quickly. Inexperience.
• REI Sahara —weight unknown, with thumb holes.
• Sombra—weight unknown.

Honestly, I’m in favor of shopping sun hoodies on color, weight and price. The longer I was on the trail, the less I was impressed by all the fancy features. Everyone has a color they prefer. Or a pattern.

So pick by weight and appearance as long as it has durability under a backpack.

And if you aren’t carrying a pack, this one is great. That Rab Hoody. Or OR Echo–5.8 ounces. But those aren’t what I would choose for use on a long backpacking trip.

Also, you need avoid those sun hoodies with reduced SPF. Some hoodies will let you burn while wearing them. The worst combine being heavy with SPF of 15-30 or less.

Other

My wife carries both our long handled spoons, our stove and Stanco pot, with cozy. I have the tent, she has the cook gear. The Stanco grease pot is extremely competitive ignoring price. That it costs so much less is even more impressive.

I carried an Imusa cup for a while to supplement the pot. It was only 2.4 ounces. However, I never used it and just sent it home eventually. If I were by myself I might use it instead of the Stanco. Imusa also makes a bigger cup and I had a larger titanium one (that I gave my brother).

Both are almost, but not quite, large enough to replace the Stanco at about the same weight. As a result the extra size/weight is just wasted for me.

On spoons, I like a polished bowl. Spoons are > sporks. Long handled spoons > short handled ones. Titanium is barely > Aluminum (and only a few grams heavier). A spork is like a spoon, but not as functional and the tines really don’t work for me. I don’t like the mouth feel of aluminum.

Light my fire 🔥 “sporks” (spoon at one end and fork on the other) are kind of neat but a long handled spoon works better. Ultimate spork—I have it in lexan and titanium.

I use Guthooks/Far Out. That app is critical.

Web sites I use(mostly weather or closure related):

• https://pctmap.net/2015/05/23/pacific-crest-trail-weather-forecasts/
• https://www.atweather.org/
• https://www.postholer.com/snow/Pacific-Crest-Trail/1 Snow Report.
• https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/closures/
• https://pmags.com/pacific-crest-trail-planning-info
• Link collection
• https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/backcountry-basics/pct-transportation/

Coda

There are so many little pieces of gear. I used to carry a camera but now I use the phone for that. I loved my Gerry shorts but they weigh more than the hiker box shorts I found. Costco hiking socks are really good. I liked the new Sahara zip offs but really dislike the pockets and the two ounces the pants gained.

Sunglasses are too expensive. And many really don’t cut it. I’m conflicted on sun hoodies.

And shoes. I’ve tried Speedgoats and ATRs. I like the cushion. The uppers kind of wear quickly. The soles start to break off. They actually hike slower than the Moab 2s when I have a pack on but are really comfy.

Moabs don’t have the same fit across mid/lows and different color ways. I have a pair with built in metatarsal support. Others haven’t had that (resulting in a lot of foot pain until I could add pads).

Had a pair that had bad build quality and really borked my ankle bone. Heel fit differed between shoes. Quality control obviously really slipped for Merrill.

Reviewers, of course, don’t report on that.

As soon as the pair I picked up to train in gets replaced, I’ll look at Moab 3s to see if the quality control is back. For kicking a boot track they are great. The same for rough trail.

They both handle road walks much better than other shoes I’ve owned.

That’s why I did not include shoes on my gear list. I’m still working out what I’ll do next.

Here is what I just asked Merrell:

Have you fixed the quality control problems the Moab 2 developed?

I’d like to use the Moab 3 but when I get replacement shoes on the trail I want them to have the same fit as my last pair and not have defects that cause injuries.

I’ve got about 900 miles to hike next year and as I train I need to decide if I’m going to change shoes.

Moab 2s don’t have the same fit across mid/lows and different color ways. I have a pair of mids with built in metatarsal support.

Others, like the lows with the sloppy heels or the next set of mids haven’t had that (resulting in a lot of foot pain until I could add pads).

On the PCT this year I had a pair that had bad build quality and really borked my ankle bone.

Again, heel fit differed between shoes resulting my first heel blisters ever.

Quality control obviously really slipped for Merrill.

Reminds me of what happened to Nike’s trail runners—or how Nike turned into a “must avoid” trail shoe.

Anyway, I’d really like to know what, if anything, Merrell is doing about the problem.

I’ll update if I get a response.

My Current Gear

I’ve updated and changed my gear (a little) and thought I would do a post on that.

Backpack, sleeping bag, pad and tent (100 ounces or about 6 1/4 pounds).

• Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 3400 31.7 oz. | 899g
• Custom sized Feathered Friends Swallow 20 degree (zips to my wife’s Egret). 1 lb 11 oz / 761 g — includes the weight of the zpacks dyneema pack liner. I saved a small amount of weight by downsizing the bag to fit my 5’5″ height.
• Thermarest NeoAir 12.5 ounces | 353 g.
• Zpacks Triplex with pole cups and MSR groundhog tent stakes. 28.9 ounces | 818 grams — it is 21 ounces without the stuff sack, pole caps and tent stakes. The pole cups are a major improvement on the Triplex in use.

Thoughts. I’ve used a Gregory Baltoro (before they started shrinking the weight), an Osprey Exos and then a Levity before moving to the Hyperlite. The Baltoro was heavy — an expedition pack, not a thru-hiking pack. The Exos was ok, I was able to sell mine (with hip belt pockets) for more than the new ones were selling for. The Levity just did not hold up and Osprey didn’t repair it completely. The Hyperlite is an ounce heavier, but so much more durable.

The Triplex replaced our Copper Spur 2p. The Copper Spur was 48 ounces and only 28^2 feet. The Triplex is larger and lighter. It also is made from Dyneema and as a result does not absorb water from the ground or mist or rain. That meant I could skip the polycro tarp/rainfly I was using, saving additional weight.

Clothing

• Polartek Silkweight Baselayer. 10.4 ounces (for a top & bottom). I’ve worn baselayers on the trail and sent them home too. This set is lighter than most of the baselayers I have (I weighed the bottoms against my wool and capilene bottoms and the top against my midweight wool top. The Silkweight set was lighter).
• Timmermade Fleece. 5.0 ounces.
• Lightheart Gear Rain Jacket with stuff sack. Sil-poly, will not wet out. 6.6 ounces
• Montbell Rain Pants with Stuff sack. 4.0 ounces.
• Two pair Darn Tough Socks. 5 ounces.
• Buff & Beanie. 4.8 ounces (alternative, two buffs, 4.2 ounces). I have a wool beanie that is just not quite as useable as the one I’ve switched to. Both were found on the trail, abandoned off to the side.
• Sun Hoody. 9.1 ounces. I keep considering a lighter (about 4.1 ounces) sun hoody. I’ve tried out some sun shirts, including the new 32 degree one, since I’m going to carry a hat and a bandana anyway. In practice, the hood has been worth it.
• White Sierra Convertible Pants, with my own belt. 12.6 ounces.
• Pillow. The cover is separate from the pillow and that allows me to wash the cover easily. 4.3 ounces.
• Gaiters I’ve reinforced mine where they had holes wearing through. They really make a difference in just how much in the way of rocks and twigs and such end up in my shoes. 1.1 ounces.
• Hiking Shorts. Umbro. (lighter than my other hiking shorts). Got them from a hiker box. 4.6 ounces.
• Two pairs of shorts. 5.2 ounces.
• Sleep socks. (InsectShield treated). 2.0 ounces.
• Eos Puffy. 12.4 ounces.

I go back and forth with the baselayer, or just using my hiking top (the sun hoody) and convertible pants to sleep in. The same for just unzipping the convertible pants or using the hiking shorts instead. Long pants are great for colder weather and for sun exposure. The shorts are great for laundry days, if nothing else. The long pants are great for whenever the mosquitoes are significant.

When I’m wearing the pants as pants, I don’t need the gaiters. But they are pretty significant when I’m in shorts.

Other Gear

[this post will be updated. I’ve my bear cannister, trowel, power pack, etc. to include.]

Link to a long discussion on starting the trail in March. My thoughts and plans below.

At the moment, Win and I are planning to start the desert section of the PCT in late March, right after GaryCon.

Given our various time commitments, between GaryCon and NTRPGCON is when we can do it.

Additionally:

• It is cooler than an April start.
• Water is more available.
• The bubble isn’t as heavy.
• Fewer mosquitoes 🦟.
• Fewer and less active snakes 🐍
• Our chances of getting a permit are better.

A contrary view.

As to going further? A lot depends on whether it is a high or a low snow year. High snow years make the Sierras look like Alaskan winter into the middle of June.

Low snow years and everything is clear in May.

Right now, who really knows how the Sierras will be? All I know is I don’t want to do anything foolish. I already did that at Goat Rocks. We are lucky that our schedule is flexible.

The truth is also that I’m currently expecting/planning/hoping to do the Sierras in early September.

So the plan is to do the desert in late March through April.

After that we plan to do Lionshead just before PCT trail days followed by Stehekin and the terminus right after trail days.

Following the Northern Terminus we do the Sierras. That skips the snow (other than in the desert section) and the crowds and the bugs (somewhat).

We might go home for two weeks of altitude training first.

Of course our plans are all subject to the vagaries of weather.

For example, this year the Sierras had a killing heat wave (as in people actually died) right when we had planned on them (though we got there right afterwards) and then early freezes and snow.

As for our start, it got derailed by record breaking snow fall in the north.

[Reprise. Our original plan was Ashland to the terminus then Ashland to Campo. Too much snow so we did just north of Fish Camp to Yosemite until the smoke and fire and ash was too much then Fish Camp north, some fire reroutes and to Stehekin where fires finished the trail.

Then back to Tuolumne Meadows and altitude sickness and snow/early freezes. Yes. Weather was unpredictable.]

Next year we will do our best to finish the trail.

Blog by someone who started the trail in March (in a high snow year).

Aluminum grease pots are light, inexpensive and they heat better (faster and more evenly) than titanium. After my wife picked up a Stanco grease pot and we did about 1600 trail miles with it, I was doing some research and came across the Imusa grease pot.

Amazon has it at less than half the weight of the Stanco (which is 3.2 ounces, with lid) so I thought I’d give it a try. Especially since it has a handle, something that would really make using a pot easier.

With the knob removed, etc. the Imusa weighs a little more than twice what the Stanco does. The Amazon and on-line reviews are misleading when they give the weight as less than half of what the Stanco weighs.

Physically, it is stiffer and has a little more volume. That makes it more robust, much like the anodized aluminum pots out there. The size is nice, but the Stanco proved big enough for two person meals (~1600 trail miles of camping).

Sometimes just barely big enough, but it is big enough.

The added robustness is nice, but the Stanco has survived well enough.

The Imusa does have a handle, which is nice, and cost me only about $14 which is far less than titanium pots of roughly the same weight and volume. Suitable for cooking for three.

So against titanium the Imusa is very competitive. Against the Stanco it is nice but heavier by three-four ounces. If it weighed less I’d be sold. The bottom line is it doesn’t offer enough to offset the extra weight when boiling water for two peoples’ trail meals.

They do make a large (1.25 quart) mug that can be used with a homemade aluminum foil lid. Mug. With the lid it basically makes it within half an ounce of the Stanco. Basically 3.8 ounces, but you get a handle. Review of mug from a Thru-Hiker

The Imusa is going off to the thrift store to be donated with a load of other items. I won’t get the extra large mug. I own the .7 liter mug which I got to use with the Stanco out of fears the Stanco was too small.

The Stanco is just large enough so I mailed the .7 liter mug home. People do use that size on the trail in lieu of a pot when solo.

This is a rough draft for resupply for next year’s Campo to Kennedy Meadows South leg of finishing the PCT.

Mile 0 to Mile 702.2. Train as we did before so we can start with 20 mile days. Arrive, spend the night near Mile 0. Day count does not count zeros–only hiking days.

Mile 0. Start at Campo with two days of food in pack. Mile 0 to Mile 41.5

Mile 20. Consider some town food at Lake Moreno.

Mile 41.5 (day two) Mt. Laguna. Buy two days of food.

Mile 77 (day four) Julian. Buy two days of food. Pie at Mom’s Pies. Consider laundry and showers.

Mile 101.2 (day six) Montezuma Market. Buy food for three days.

Mile 151.9 (day nine). Paradise Cafe. Mail box with food for two days.

Mile 179 (day eleven). Idyllwild. Buy food for five days — 96 miles to next resupply. Campground with showers. Hitch to Idyllwild from trailhead.

Mile 275.1 (day 16) Big Bear City. Hostel for a zero, showers, laundry, shuttle back to trail. Grocery Store. 67 Miles. 3.5 days of food.

Mile 341.9 (day 20) Cajon Pass. Nero in. McDonalds. Buy a day’s food and nero out. 27-28 miles to the next stop.

Mile 369 (day 21) Wrightwood. Hitch into town. 75 miles to the next stop. Four days food.

Mt Baden Powell. Will probably have packed snow on trail.

Around Mile 425 it hits five thousand feet and below freezing even in May.

Mile 443 (day 25) Acton KOA. Showers. Laundry. Food for a day. Next stop is Agua Dulce at Mile 454.

Mile 454. (day 26) Hiker Heaven. Iconic stop. Nero. Buy food. Next stop 31 miles.

Mile 485.5 (day 28) Lake Hughes or Mile 478 Casa De Luna (the Anderson’s). Buy food. 30-40 miles to the next stop, so buy two days of food.

Mile 517 (day 30) Hikertown. Showers available. Mail Box (fee) with food to get to Mojave at mile 566.5. 49 miles. Three days of food.

Aqueduct starts.

Mile 566.5 (day 33) and you are at Mojave (or Tehachapi). Local bus at Mile 566.5. Grocery store. Next stop is 86 miles or 4-5 days away. Good place for zero or nero.

Mile 652.1 (day 38) Kernville. Next stop is Kennedy Meadows South 50.1 miles away.

Here we re-evaluate Sierra weather conditions and snow melt. We either head to Kennedy Meadows South or head home for a weather break. I expect to head home prior to entering the Sierras as the snow pack will probably still be prohibitive.

Weather is so variable. But odds are that it is going to still be snow covered in the Sierras for May.

If the weather is such that it is a go for the Sierras, we buy food for 2.5 days in Kerrville or hitch 37 miles to Lake Isabella for a break and resupply.

Mile 702.2. Kennedy Meadows South. Pick up bear cannister. Nero or zero. Showers. Pancakes. Free camping.

Useful blog that has a day by day record of the desert portion

I used to use a carabiner and tab for a water bottle. The carabiner always died and the bottle tended to bounce a little. Not surprisingly, the set up was really popular on the trail and eventually has disappeared altogether.

I ended up replacing mine with what is called a water bottle sleeve or holder or holster or … depending on the vendor.

My first was https://www.etsy.com/listing/1099227829/read-item-description-justins-ul-125g?fbclid=IwAR0naIlVmZAFXwKixFfmMUD942XbfWiiCbSNRXzGqk3R5GfEVIsYKkTxp7Y&load_webview=1&bid=nnb843kpi75LAHX1A0GyrFfqgEnW

$17. Light. Win’s is still going strong. Mine died on me as the straps gave out. Now it is held together with duct tape.

https://www.ula-equipment.com/product/ula-flow-water-bottle-pockets/?fbclid=IwAR263QJmMItb2hs-oejpzo8m8RhqvmaviHh1VXjubhIlM4RjnTW_Lwq6RII gets used by a fair number of people. $24.99.

Then there is the $13 Etsy one.

https://www.triplecrownoutfitters.com/product/chicken-tramper-1-liter-water-bottle-sleeve/1376?fbclid=IwAR2wcoARzZ7c4t5WwxhYrpjIlBTCl3E8x430b3TE-w0bRujPLSXKhsZukVw. $35.95 with postage.

Zpacks and Hyperlite both sell them as well. ZPacks $29.95. Hyperlite $39.95. Small vendor version. $9.99 minimalist version

Hilltop also sells one that is a bottle holder plus a mesh pouch. Hilltop shoulder pouch $31.

REI has all sorts of holders. Some you might even use (and a lot that don’t work for backpacking).

Do it yourself pattern —for the ambitious DIY types.

I probably made the wrong choice on what I got though I’ve plenty of time to try things out and replace my purchase.

Neat lid replacement