My PCT gear list

The gear I'm going to carry on the trail is going to get me through months and months of hiking, so putting together the perfect pack is no easy feat. Over the past month my gear choices have gone through several different iterations, based on what I already own, what other PCT hikers recommend, and most important, how much it weighs.

If I'm going to have to carry it every day, I for sure don't want to be lugging around fifty pounds of stuff. Weight plays a big factor in what I choose to bring and not bring. You'd think that a longer-length hike requires more gear, but actually, (besides food) it tends to require less. The best thing of being out in the wilderness is realizing how well you can live with so few personal commodities.

So, without further ado, here is the (revised!) list of stuff I brought on the PCT and how well it worked or didn't work!

PACK: REI Flash 52 liter

Prehike: Although Gregory is my favorite pack brand, they don't really have a good "ultralight" pack on the market at the moment. REI packs tend to fit me well, too, so I opted for the lightest weight pack they make. I generally backpack with 65 liter packs, so dropping to 52 liters is going to make packing a bit more of a challenge! (I like bringing the kitchen sink. No judging.)

Posthike: This pack worked really well for me. It fit nicely, carried the right amount of gear, and withstood some serious abuse over 2,000 miles. You get really attached to your gear when it's your whole world, and I can safely say that I loved my pack. The REI Flash was also the third most common pack on the trail after the Granite Gear and ULA brands. A lot of thru-hikers shed weight by ditching the top loader, but I like having a "junk drawer" for snacks and my headlamp, so I kept mine on the whole trek. No regrets.

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SLEEPING BAG(S): 
REI Joule 20 degree (through SoCal, Sierras and WA) and REI Flash 32 degree (through NoCal and OR)

Prehike: After a lot of back and forth (this was a tough decision for me) I ultimately decided at the last minute to change up my sleep system. Southern California is supposed to have very cold nights and very prickly (read: cactus thorns) ground, so I'm going to have a 20 degree sleeping bag with a closed cell foam sleeping bag, and then switch after the cold Sierra mountains to the not-as-warm but lighter weight 32 degree bag and blow-up sleeping pad.

Posthike: I LOVED my sleep system. The REI Joule (though slightly on the heavier side) is one of the best sleeping bags I have ever owned. I was never cold in it, and usually didn't want to get out of it in the morning! It was also nice to switch to a much lighter sleeping bag once I was out of the Sierras. The only thing I would change would be to switch back to my 20+ degree bag in Washington. In the last two weeks of my hike, the weather got drastically colder and I had a few chilly nights sleep in my 32+ degree bag. Otherwise, I loved everything about my choices.

TENT: Big Agnes Scout UL 2 (through California) and Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2 (through OR and WA)

Prehike: The BA Scout UL 2 is brand new from Big Agnes, and having taken it on a couple gear shakedown hikes, I really like it! It's basically a glorified tarp, without poles (you use your trekking poles, to save weight) and the rainfly is integrated into the tent itself ("single wall"). It's surprisingly roomy on the inside (fits both of us and our gear!) for how small it is - only 1 lb 9 oz and it packs to the size of a Nalgene bottle - and the mesh running around it keeps it ventilated. Still, I think having a warmer single-wall tent will be good for those colder nights.

Posthike: Katie and I called the Scout tent our "Taj Mahal" because it was so gloriously roomy and lightweight and everyone was jealous. Besides these obvious pluses, it did have a few downsides. In damper conditions, it condensates pretty badly on the inside (being a single-walled tent, this is expected), and in a Pacific Northwest downpour it can be uncomfortable and leaky. I recommend this tent for California, as the conditions there are perfect for it, but I was glad to switch to my double-walled Fly Creek UL 2 for Oregon and Washington. A lot of people on trail had the one person version of this lightweight tent, but since the two person version is only 4 oz more and has a lot more space, it was totally worth it to me to get the bigger one. The only issue I had were some finicky zippers, otherwise, I loved it and would totally do another long distance hike with the Fly Creek.

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STOVE: Jetboil Titanium Sol (with isobutane fuel) + matches and lighter

Prehike: I know a lot of people opt for alcohol stoves on long distance treks, but I didn't like that they are finicky and have a limited ability to simmer. The Jetboil Titanium Sol stove + cup boils water lightning fast, requiring less fuel in the long run, and more time for relaxing. Plus, the attached cup acts as a pot and a storage unit for the stove, fuel, and accessories.

Posthike: Jetboils and alcohol stoves were the two most common cook systems on trail. Since all I was doing each night was heating up a bag of Pasta Sides, the Jetboil was more than enough for me and I had a ready-made meal in no time flat. Plus, the canister fuels lasted much longer than expected so I didn't have to worry very often with replacing them. The only downside to the Jetboil is its bulky shape and weight. And we did end up with a burner that had a broken lighter, so bring some sort of lighter/matches with you! Toward the end of the trail (due to long hours hiking and exhaustion) a lot of people were growing tired with cooking and went stoveless through Washington. I considered it, too, but it was nice to have something warm on a cold night.

SLEEPING PAD: Thermarest Z-Lite pad (through California), and Thermarest NeoAir XLite (through OR/WA)

Prehike: Since Southern California has lots of prickly stuff to sleep on, taking my favorite, comfy 3" thick insulated sleeping pad is not going to be the best option (WAHHH!). Instead, I'll be taking the lighter weight Thermarest Z-lite, which is a closed cell pad (ie, foam) so that it won't accidentally pop in the backcountry. Once I get out of cactus country I hope to change to the NeoAir (11 oz!) insulated air core and sleep in luxury again.

Posthike: This system worked really well. I highly recommend taking a Z-lite pad through California. Not only will you avoid popping an inflatable pad on prickly things, but you have an instant afternoon siesta mat to sleep on in the middle of the day. In the desert you can spend up to five hours hiding from the heat of the afternoon, and the Z-lite is a perfect nap pad. Don't worry about comfort - you'll be so tired at the end of each hiking day that lying on a closed cell foam pad will feel like heaven. And once you get to Oregon and switch to that inflatable NeoAir.... ahhhhhhhhhh. (Hint: cut off three panels of your Z-lite once you switch to a NeoAir so you can use it as a lightweight sit pad!) Can you tell I was in love with my sleep system? It's important to be happy at night!

FOOTWEAR: Brooks Cascadia 7/8 Trail runners

Prehike: This trail running shoe is apparently the most popular choice for footwear on the PCT. It was also one of my hardest decisions. Although they are unfailingly comfortable to wear, I have never backpacked in anything less than a waterproof mid-hiking boot, so switching to a more flexible, meshy running shoe is something very different for me. Paired with some green Superfeet insoles, hopefully these will keep me going in the hot desert of Southern California. I have a total of five pairs so I can switch every 500 miles or so.

Posthike: Unsurprisingly, I had some bad blisters my first month on trail. (I think this would be true for any shoe/boot, however.) Once my feet were used to walking 20+ miles every day, the Cascadias worked wonderfully. I got a new pair every 500 miles and the green Superfeet insoles are a MUST. Granted, my feet were always, always sore, but I never had any debilitating problems. I do know that those people with plantar fasciitis and other foot issues were much happier in true backpacking boots. And if I did the trail again I might consider boots, myself, once out of the desert. My only regret this time was that I didn't get a pair of waterproof boots for Washington. It rained so often and my wet feet were so miserable that I would highly recommend swapping for boots for the last stretch of trail.

TREKKING POLES: REI Traverse Power Lock poles

Prehike: I adore trekking poles. They're one of my favorite pieces of gear to hike with. But truthfully, I don't like these trekking poles very much, only because of the cork handles, which tend to rub my hands the wrong way. But this pair has locks on the outside of the pole, which is subject to less frequent breakdowns than the inner locks. And I don't really want to buy another pair, so... cork-handled poles it is.

Posthike: I had a love/hate relationship with my trekking poles. On the one hand, they saved my ass every time I had a brutal hill to climb, and they saved my knees every time I had a steep descent. But on the other hand, I tripped/ kicked/ hit myself/ dropped/ stumbled/ banged into my trekking poles so often while walking that I was usually cursing their uselessness. Sometimes I threatened to throw them off a ridgeline. (Just kidding, trekking poles. I would never do that to you.) I will say that they were lifesavers for river crossings and poop-hole digging, and overall, I wouldn't dream of hiking without them. My tip: get a pair with external locks. They tend to break less. And you will most likely need to replace the tips during your journey. I wore mine completely down before I even left California.

WATER STORAGE: Platypus Big Zip 3L, Nalgene Canteen 48oz, and 1L Gatorade bottles

Prehike: The best thing about the Platypus water bladder is that when empty, it weighs practically nothing. I integrated my Sawyer filter into the hose line so that the whole system works as a filter. I can simply fill up the bag with dirty water and drink straight from the tube with the filter attached. These bags do have a tendency to break over time, so I have a couple of smaller backups, just in case.

Posthike: This was a great water system. It allowed me to carry up to 6L of water through the desert, which was usually more than enough. I kept only filtered water in my Gatorade bottle for drink mixes and the canteen was for holding "extra" water directly from a water source to be purified later. Once out of the desert I got rid of the Nalgene canteen and carried instead another 1L Gatorade bottle that I used as my extra "dirty" bottle to fill up my water bladder. Usually it was empty, as 2L was enough to carry through OR and WA.

WATER FILTER: Sawyer 3-way Inline filter + AquaMira drops

Prehike: This filter integrates right into my water bladder and doesn't need replacement filters - you can simply backflush the filter to clean it. The only tricky thing is you have to make sure the filter doesn't freeze, or it breaks. I generally just sleep with mine at night. I'm also taking AquaMira drops as a chemical backup in case something happens with my filter.

Posthike: I was extremely happy with my water filter choice. It saved time and effort to simply fill up my bladder and drink as I hiked without worrying about chemicals or pumps. I carried AquaMira but only used it once or twice with a few sketchy water sources. Generally, using my inline filter as a gravity filter or directly drinking from it worked perfectly.

HEADLAMP: Black Diamond Spot

Prehike: Not the lightest headlamp out there, but it's bright and has several good settings: spot, diffused light, red light, and a range of brightnesses. Plus, mine is lime green. My favorite!

Posthike: Yes, there are much lighter weight headlamps out there, but you sacrifice brightness to cut ounces. We did a lot of night hiking in the desert and trust me, you want a headlamp with a good spot beam so you can see. I was happy with mine, though be warned it does eat through batteries faster than I thought - the brightest setting won't stay that way long. I changed batteries three times over the course of my thru-hike.

BATTERY CHARGER: Goal Zero Guide 10 (through California) and Anker (through OR and WA)

Prehike: Initially I started with the Goal Zero Adventure Pack solar charger and Guide 10 battery pack. After my first day on trail I sent the solar charger home since it weighed a pound. I kept the Guide 10 battery pack as a back-up battery to charge my phone in between town stops.

Posthike: The Guide 10 quickly turned out to be too much weight for its use. It gave me almost one full charge on my phone, not quite worth it. Halfway through my hike I swapped it for an Anker backup battery, since that's what everyone else seemed to be carrying once they ditched their solar chargers. The lighter weight Anker gave me two full charges, which was more than enough. On airplane mode I could get my phone to last 4-5 days, which was often enough to get me to the next town, but it was great having the Anker battery as a quick recharge on trail so I could keep using my mapping apps in the field. I would tell anyone to forget the solar charger (too much weight and hassle, unless you have several things you're needing to charge) and just go with an Anker battery.

FOOD/ WATER:

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ELECTRONICS/ BOOKS:

  • iPhone 4
  • Canon Powershot A260 + SD cards
  • Extra batteries and phone charger
  • Lifeproof iPhone case
  • Permits, cash, ID

Clothing

HIKING CLOTHES/ ACC: 

WARM LAYERS: 

RAIN PROTECTION:

On that note.....

GEAR I WISH I HAD BROUGHT:

GoLite Chrome Dome Umbrella

If I were to do the PCT again, I would bring a GoLite umbrella. Hands down. For some reason I thought they were too expensive (they're not) or every time I thought about getting one on trail I would tell myself,

well, I've gone this long without one....

But the truth is, this piece of gear is amazing for everything from 100 degree blasting desert sun to freezing cold Washington deluges. Not a day went by in the desert that I wasn't envious of those who carried their own shade with them, and in the northwest I was envious of those who were dry without rain jackets. I finally got myself a travel umbrella for the last part of the trail, and it was the best decision I could have made. Hiking with an umbrella is AMAZING. Plus, you look awesome. Dayhikers will laugh at you until they are suddenly hot and/or drenched, and then they will be jealous. Trust me. GET ONE.

Extras and Accessories

FIRST AID (in a small waterproof bag):

Ibuprofin, Benodryl, Immodium, Nail clippers, Tweezers, Moleskin, Bandaids, Sunscreen, Bug net, Bug spray, Ear plugs

TOILETRIES (in a small waterproof bag):

Travel toothbrush/paste, Folding hair brush w/mirror, Diva Cup, Toilet paper, Contacts, Small bottle of saline solution, Biodegradeable wet wipes, Dr. Bronner's concentrated soap

LUXURIES:

Notebook paper and pen

Total pack base weight: 15 pounds
Weight with a week of food and 6 L water: @ 35 pounds

Dehydrated Food for the PCT

One of the most painfully tedious and annoying things about preparing for the PCT is figuring out the food situation. Not only do you have to prepare in advance for five months of hiking, but if you're trying to mail drop food to yourself (like I am) you have to pre-buy, pre-package, pre-sort, and pre-label every breakfast, lunch and dinner you're going to eat for @160 days. That's.... a lot.

This is one of those moments where I would literally pay someone lots of money to arrange all my meals for me and have them shipped to me on the trail, just so I wouldn't have to do it. It is a royal pain.

And because I don't want to do it, I keep putting it off. But apparently fueling your body for a 2,650 mile hike is... um... slightly important. (So they tell me.)

Since I'm trying to save some money by doing a lot of my food prep before I leave, I have to suck it up and just spend the time it takes to get everything organized and prepped. Hopefully doing it now means less stress about food on the trail, too.

Granted, I know I could be making way more of a big deal of this than I am. I'm in envy of Bacon Bit's amazing PCT food spreadsheet, which I could never reproduce even if I wanted to. I have a more lackadaisical approach, which involves a lot of cerebral prep, such as: "I'm hungry for a chocolate chip granola bar. Maybe I should buy 50 of them, while I'm at the store. Just in case." And then I proceed to go to awesome grocery stores like WinCo and get lost in the bulk food bins, shrieking, "TWO BUCKS FOR A POUND OF COCONUT?! DONE!" And wind up with more coconut than I could ever want in a lifetime. (P.S. - is that even possible?!)

Such was my afternoon when I came home with $150 worth of bulk foods but no real rhyme or reason to why I bought it. Case in point: somehow I left WinCo with fourteen dried pasta sides, two boxes of PopTarts, two pounds of dried bananas, a 24-pack box of Ramen, and 28 packets of instant mashed potatoes. I blame the potato thing on Tanner. He said, "how many should I get?" and I said, "I don't know." And he said, "ok, I'll get four of each." I said, "ok," not realizing that there were seven different flavors of potatoes. I have a feeling I'm going to really hate potatoes.

Once the shopping bit was done (more or less) I dug my dehydrator out of the closet and got to work dehydrating all kinds of fruits and vegetables: mushrooms, peppers, carrots, onions, apples, mangos, bananas (this was before I realized it was waaaay easier to just buy them in bulk at Winco). My favorite thing to dehydrate is green and red peppers. One, because it's fun to see those huge slices of peppers turning into tiny little colorful trinkets, like pieces of candy, and two, because dehydrating them for two days straight makes your whole house smell like pizza. Mmmm.

Then I put together the little snacks and dinners in ziplock bags. So many ziplock bags.

So many.

I tried my best to create little meals that had a variety of dried veggies and spices in them, since I know my options on the trail will be limited to the pre-packaged pasta dinners you can buy at the convenience stores. Some of my favorite backpacking meals come from a book written by a couple of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. They're quick, easy, and taste delicious after a full day of hiking. My favorite is one of the simplest, for vegetable curry:

{Vegetable Curry}

Mix in one large ziplock:
1.5 cups of minute rice
1.5 tsp curry

In a smaller ziplock:
2 oz dried vegetable soup packet

In another small ziplock:
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup coconut

Place the smaller ziplocks in the larger one and zip together with cooking instructions.

When in camp: boil 2 1/4 cups of water with the soup packet. Add rice/curry mix and simmer until cooked. Add raisins and coconut on top.

Serves two.

I write the instructions to each of my meals on a small scrap of paper and then include it with my ziplock packages.

After the ziplocking, there were Priority USPS boxes to fold and tape and fill with food. I printed off the shipping labels for all the places I'm sending food drops, and wrote down how many days I'd be hiking in between each one, so I'd know how much food to pack. My entire kitchen was filled with foot-high stacks of food bags, and once I got them sorted into boxes, all that food only filled five of them. FIVE! That only accounted for 30 days worth of food. That left 130 days to figure out. NOW can I pay someone to do the rest for me? ...Please?

Looks like I'm going back to WinCo tomorrow.

FAQs about hiking the PCT

I've had some requests to answer questions about what life will be like on the trail. As my friend Rachel so eloquently puts it, "so are you going to bring all your own food/water with you, or will you Oregon-Trail it up and periodically hunt for bison and forge a river for drinking water?"

(Answer? No to hunting bison. Yes to forging rivers. No to dying of dysentery.)

While I'm sure my own experience will give me better answers to these questions, I thought I would share some of the "how the hell I'm going to do it" responses for those inquiring minds. Feel free to ask more if there's an aspect about thru-hiking that you're curious about.

You're doing.... what, again?

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. Yes, it's going to be hard. No, I'm not crazy (well, maybe a little). No, I'm not just doing this on a whim. Thru-hiking is something that has always appealed to me, I just never had the time/ability to pull off a long-term trek before. About 500 people hike the PCT every year, so even if you are hiking it alone you're surrounded by other hikers attempting the same thing you are. I'm fortunate in that I have a hiking buddy and a good support team at home.

How much/often are you hiking every day?

Thru-hikers average about 20 miles a day in a five month period. The PCT is fairly well graded (unlike the AT, which tends to go straight up and straight down mountains over and over) so you can cover a lot of ground in a full day of hiking. Obviously to start with, most people hike slower, but once you hit Oregon you can average anywhere from 25-35 miles a day. Harder areas like the Sierra mountains can mean smaller mileage. Some days are longer than others, and some shorter, and sometimes you need to take a "zero" day, which is a day off in town to rest and recuperate before hitting the trail again. PCT thru-hikers generally take 10-30 "zero" days in a five month hike.

Sierra Mountains, John Muir Wilderness {source}

Isn't that expensive?

It can be. They say it costs $2-$3 for every mile you hike, so a full thru-hike can be upwards of $6,000 or more. But that is taking into account a lot of factors: gear, food, mail drops, permits, hostel-stays, and other incidentals like what you spend in town: laundry facilities, a night at a hostel, lunch at McDonald's, etc. I'm fortunate to own a lot of backpacking gear already, so most of that expense is taken care of. My big expense will be food, but hopefully if I get it figured out mostly ahead of time, I won't have to spend too much on the trail. Unfortunately, my other expense will be bills/rent that I still have to pay while I'm gone. It definitely works out in your favor if you are between leases and don't have to manage bills, but I don't have that luxury. To read some more about how to finance a thru-hike, here is a great article.

What gear are you taking?

I promise I'll do a separate post about the gear I'm taking, I just haven't written it all up yet (and it keeps changing day to day - especially after my practice hikes!) I'll update the link here when I get it posted. Until then, keep reading to get more info about the logistics of my gear choices...

Where are you going to sleep?

Unlike the Appalachian Trail, which has volunteer-built shelters every 8-10 miles, the PCT has no such thing. It's imperative to bring your own tent/tarp to camp along the trail. Generally the weather in California/Oregon/Washington is very good during the summer (it rains very little, even in the Pacific Northwest) but storms can crop up quickly, so having some sort of shelter is important. Even so, a lot of hikers enjoy "cowboy camping" (under the stars) on those nicer nights. You'll need a long-distance hiking permit and a fire permit in order to camp and cook, but these are easy to obtain through the PCT website.

How are you going to get enough food along the way?

Food is tricky. The PCT is fairly remote, so it only passes through towns every 4-10 days. You have to be careful about your food and water supplies as you go. You don't want to take too much, because one day of food can weigh up to 2.5 pounds, and a liter of water weighs 2.2 pounds. So for five days of hiking, you could be carrying up to 25 extra pounds on your back. And if your gear already weighs 20 pounds without food and water, that can be quite a burden. But you also don't want to take too little, because hikers burn a lot of calories and you'll need to be adequately hydrated to keep you going.

You have a couple options for food: you can buy a week's worth of food at every town you stop through, or you can "mail drop" yourself pre-prepared meals and food to each town. If you go the mail-drop route, all you have to do is go to the post office, pick up your box of food, and pack it with you. The downside can be timing (what happens if you arrive in town on a Sunday?) or cost (postage rates are quite high these days) or variety (if you pack all your meals early, won't you get sick of them two months in?). If you stop in town to buy your food, you run the risk of paying higher costs for food, or getting limited options in towns with smaller convenience stores. But you're able to buy the foods you crave at the time, and you may save yourself postage and hassle at the post office.

A lot of people do a mix of the two, since either route has its pros/cons. I plan to mail myself some dehydrated meals that I'm making (especially to the smaller towns) and then supplement with food in town. Once you leave town, you gotta carry it... all of it... until your next trail town, or until you run out along the way. So plan wisely.

Golden Trout Wilderness, San Jose, CA {source}

What are you going to eat?

Probably a lot of stuff that is light in weight but high in calories. Thru-hikers burn anywhere from 6,000-10,000 calories a day, so even when you're packing in the calories, you're burning them off just as fast. "Hiker hunger" is a phenomenon where thru-hikers can down two entire pizzas in one sitting, order dessert, and still lose five pounds that day. Sounds like the best diet ever, except that you're working your ass off for it. It can be hard to strike a good balance between carrying enough food/water, or carrying too much that it makes your pack too heavy. Most thru-hikers eat a lot of pasta/rice meals for dinner and high protein/fat snacks throughout the day.

How will you cook your meals?

These days, backpacking stoves are quite a wonder. The one I'm carrying only weighs 3 oz and fits in my 0.9 liter pot. It's an isobutane stove, which means I'll need to bring fuel canisters to keep it running. A lot of thru-hikers opt for the lighter-weight alcohol stoves, which can be fashioned out of a coke can in a pinch. Denatured alcohol tends to be an easy fuel source to find in local stores, making it easy to resupply. Paired with a small titanium pot, you can boil two cups of water in just a few minutes, allowing you to make a hot pasta meal for the evening.

What about water?

Finding water can be tricky. The first half of the PCT is through desert, so water sources can be up to 20 miles apart, sometimes. You have to be very careful to carry enough with you so that you don't dehydrate looking for your next water source. Depending on how dry/wet the season is can determine how well the rivers/water sources are flowing, too. You always want to carry a good guide to current water conditions on the trail. Often there will be water caches (stockpiles of water jugs) left out on the trail by volunteers and trail angels to help make up for the lack of water supply. This year looks to be a dry year (bad for water, but good for lack of snowfall in the mountains). You also want to be sure to treat all water you come across - waterborne diseases like giardia and cryptosporidium are no joke. I plan to bring a small water filter and some iodine drops so the water is safe to drink.

Three Sisters Wilderness, Oregon {source}

What's a trail angel?

A trail angel is someone who does thru-hikers a favor out of the goodness of their heart. Perhaps they're a volunteer of the trail, or they hiked the trail themselves way back when, or maybe they just love helping out. Either way, there are some amazing people who sit by the side of the trail and cook free food, leave out free water, give hikers rides into towns, let hikers stay in their homes (or camp in their backyards), to help them through their walk. The goodness of people on the trail is part of what makes the thru-hiker journey so amazing. It's a real community of people helping each other out.

What about trail dangers?

Statistically speaking, you're more likely to get hurt in a car accident than on a thru-hike. That being said, there are some things to be aware of when on a journey through wilderness areas. Wildlife (ie, bears and rattlesnakes), snowfall, dehydration, navigation, river crossings, and illness are some things to be aware of. Generally, the wildlife will leave you alone, but proper food storage is important (hanging/bagging food away from camp and use of bear canisters in Yosemite are required) and being aware of your surroundings keeps you on your toes. Snowfall, river crossings, navigation, and dehydration are a matter of knowledge, research and understanding. Have an ice axe and crampons ready when you hit the Sierras if the snow is high that year (and know how to use them!) and always travel in groups. There is safety in numbers. Fortunately, a great part of the PCT are the friendships you make along the way. Make good decisions as a team and you'll be fine.

What's a trail name?

A trail name is a nickname that a hiker "earns" while on a thru-hike. Generally it has to do with some aspect of your personality, or some little quirk that shines through to the people who hike with you. Most people do not choose their own trail name, but are "christened" by someone else. It's like a rite of passage, a way to redefine yourself on this journey you're taking. It's also a lot of fun to hear the stories behind why someone got the trail name they did. To see some past names of hikers, visit the 2,600 miler list. Some of them are pretty entertaining.

I hope that helps answer some of your questions about my hike! Let me know if you have any others!

Staying Wired: iPhone Apps for the Trail

Gone are the days when people plundered through the woods with nothing but a battered map and a compass to find their way. While tales of Man vs. Wild still keep us entertained, it's no surprise that with today's technology, it's becoming easier and easier to have a wealth of GPS information right at your fingertips, even outside of wi-fi hot spots and 4G.

While I am aware that hiking is an activity designed to forget technology and live "off the grid", it can also be a matter of safety and convenience to have your phone doubling as a resource and lifeline.

Here are some apps I have on my phone that will be greatly beneficial during my hike. I plan to review them again afterward, so check back for the full testimony.

Guthook's PCT Guide: $4.99 per section (there are five total for the PCT)
* Website * App store *

I am already really impressed with this app! I think it'll be a huge resource while on the trail. Guthook has provided photos of trail waypoints, GPS positioning, distances to the nearest water sources (a big deal in the desert...), elevation profiles, and trail registers so that fellow hikers can comment on current trail conditions. It comes in five downloads: southern California, central California, northern California, Oregon and Washington.

PageOnce: FREE
* Website * App store *

To keep up with finances on the trail (yes, when hiker hunger kicks in, I'll probably be spending lots of money on peanut butter and pizzas) this app seems to do the trick. Like the popular Mint app, PageOnce pulls your data from your online bank accounts to give you an updated view on how your money is doing. You can even pay bills through this app.

Another finance app I have is Checkbook, which requires manual entries, but it's a good way to see exactly how much money you have in each of your accounts and on your credit cards, and it makes spending/income graphs for you.

BlogGo: $2.99
* Website * App store *

Dana of Wonder Forest is a web designer/blogger that I have been following for a while, and lo and behold, just recently she piloted her own Blogger app for mobile posting on your phone. It's streamlined, classy, super user-friendly and fun to blog with! I can't wait to try this baby out on the trail. Hopefully it'll make updating posts even simpler.

Halfmile PCT map app: FREE
* Website * 

This app doesn't have Halfmile's maps on them, but it is set up for use in tandem with a printed set. This app helps keep you on trail, and if you happen to stray, it helps get you back to the trail.

PCTHYOH: FREE
* App store *

PCTHYOH stands for Pacific Crest Trail Hike Your Own Hike. It's the trail mantra of any long-distance hike: don't hike for any other reason than yourself. This app is the keeper of many helpful PCT resources: Halfmile's maps (in PDF form), water source reports, compass readings, current weather conditions, fire reports, trail closures/conditions, phone book, snow reports, and PCT journals. A wealth of info all in one spot.

TopoMaps: $7.99
* Website* 

This is a great app not only for the PCT, but for hiking trips in general. It downloads USGS topo maps onto your phone and seamlessly links them together so you can plot your exact position on them. It allows for shading of slopes, dropped waypoints, compass readings, lat/long coordinates and a very accurate pin-point of location. You simply choose which maps you want to download before your trip and then you don't need 3G or wi-fi in order to access your location and data. The phone pulls info straight from satellites so you can be off the grid and still find your way back. This is a great alternative to a full-powered GPS unit.

One additional note: the PCT is hard to distinguish on the TopoMaps, but fortunately Halfmile has downloadable waypoints you can integrate into the app so you can see the whole trail! Visit here to download the zip files onto your phone or GPS unit.

As for the technology to keep the technology running, here is the gear I'm carrying to keep my phone in tip-top shape:

Goal Zero 7 Adventure Kit + Guide 10: $120
* Website *

This solar charger is portable enough to carry in your backpack, but powerful enough to charge your phone many times over. You connect the Guide 10 battery pack (which also recharges AA batteries for your camera!) to the solar panel, charge the battery pack in 4 hours under direct sunlight, and then charge your phone with the battery pack in 2 hours. Brilliant.

LifeProof case: $80
* Website *

Waterproof, dust proof, shock proof, snowproof... what more could you want?

I hope this has been helpful for your next outdoor adventure with your phone!