Disclaimer:
These notes are designed primarily for our own use and are based on our
experiences on the PCT. You are welcome to read them but please remember these
are only our opinions based on our own experiences.
Footwear
Neil
Please note
I have a flattened arch on both feet, pronate badly and I am also prone to
Plantar Fasciitis on the right.
Boots
Scarpa ZG65
GTX Size 8 (UK
Modified
Green Superfeet insoles.
Miles: 109
(Campo – Warner Springs)
Very hot
section, found the boots far too hot and feet boiled and blistered, in spite of
airing at regular intervals. Basically not enough room in the toe box and not
suited to the hot desert conditions.
Patagonia
Drifter AC Size 8 (UK
Modified
Green Superfeet insoles
Miles: 449
(Warner Springs – Techachapi)
Good shoe,
well suited to the hot desert climate, deteriorated badly due to wedges glued
onto the bottom of the Superfeet insoles, feet too high in shoes and collapsed
inwards. Worth trying again, half size larger with different insoles, possibly
go for a mid next time for better support.
Hi-Tec (Uknown mode < 50$) Size 9 (UK)
Spenco
Insoles
Miles: 231
(Techachapi – Bishop)
Very
comfortable and best held together with lots of ShoeGoo. OK for under $50 a
pair
Merrel Moab
Ventillator Size US 10 Wide Mid
Montrail
thermo moulding insoles
Miles: 584
(Bishop – Drakesbad)
Too big a
fit, required second insole, very comfortable but also too flexible especially
for arch support. Would work better with a stiffer insole or custom orthotic as
I developed plantar fasciitis during this stage of the hike.
Merrel Mojab
Ventillator Size US 9.5 Wide Mid
Green
Superfeet Size E
Miles: 152 (Drakesbad
–Mt Shasta)
Better fit
than the previous pair. Experienced major discomfort in my right foot due to
lack of stiffness in the boot and high arch of the green superfeet.
Lowa
Renegade (Gortex) Size US 9.5 Wide
Miles: 649
(Mt Shasta – Cascade Locks)
Excellent fit and a very comfortable boot, worked well for me especially when fitted with a pair of Superfeet COPPER DMP insoles. These insoles mould to the shape of your foot and are ideal for a low-medium arched foot.
Lowa Focus (Gortex) Size US 9.5
Miles: 550 approx
A stiffer boot than the Renegade, offered very good ankle support and also very comfortable but maybe too stiff for the PCT trail. Feet felt tired at the end of a long day, also developed sore tendons in both ankles, maybe due to the stiffness. The soft rubber of the sole also broke down and started to fall apart after only 200 miles, I continued hiking another 300 miles and finished the trail wearing these boots.
Excellent fit and a very comfortable boot, worked well for me especially when fitted with a pair of Superfeet COPPER DMP insoles. These insoles mould to the shape of your foot and are ideal for a low-medium arched foot.
Lowa Focus (Gortex) Size US 9.5
Miles: 550 approx
A stiffer boot than the Renegade, offered very good ankle support and also very comfortable but maybe too stiff for the PCT trail. Feet felt tired at the end of a long day, also developed sore tendons in both ankles, maybe due to the stiffness. The soft rubber of the sole also broke down and started to fall apart after only 200 miles, I continued hiking another 300 miles and finished the trail wearing these boots.
Tanya
I have
bunions behind my big toes on both feet (hallux valgus), and medium arches. I
picked up a fungal foot infection somewhere before mile 1092 which made me very
prone to blisters.
Boots
Scarpa ZG65
XCR Size 7 (UK
Manufacturer’s
insoles.
Miles: 109
(Campo – Warner Springs)
Feet boiled
and blistered. Little toes suffered particularly as not enough room. Swapped out
for Inov8 Fly Roc 310 UK size 7 for short sections – these were too soft for
carrying heavy pack for long periods, but provided some relief.
Patagonia
Drifter AC Mid size 41.5 (Euro)
Manufacturer’s
insoles to Tehachapi, Spenco insoles to Bishop, then green Superfeet.
Miles: 833
(Warner Springs to Tuolumne Meadows)
Great boots.
Relaced then with parallel lacing for first two pairs of holes to give more
space for toes. Very comfortable until went spongy on instep behind toes as
they got worn out.
Salomon Exit
Aero men’s size 8.5 (UK
Green
Superfeet insoles
Miles: 150
(Tuolumne Meadows to South Lake Tahoe
Terrible
grip on wet rock. Very rough trail – missed support of a boot. Rubbed on arches
of feet.
Patagonia
Drifter AC Mid men’s size 42 (Euro)
Green
Superfeet insoles
Miles: 261 (South Lake Tahoe
A big
mistake. Heelbox too large, also pressed on tendons on back of right angle.
Tried different lacing configurations, couldn’t get them comfortable at all.
Blisters and sore tendons.
Patagonia
Drifter AC Mid women’s size 41.5 (Euro)
Green
Superfeet insoles to Mt Shasta, then purple DownUnder insoles
Miles: 373
(Drakesbad to Ashland
Should have
been perfect but weren’t. I suspect the fungal foot infection was to blame.
Cleat at front of right boot started splitting off within 50 miles – common
problem reported by Knut (with my old Drifters) and Chief (two pairs). Offered
a trade-out for faulty shoes at Ashland
Oboz
Sawtooth? Women’s shoe
Miles: 281 (Ashland
A mistake
from the word go. Sole too soft, could feel everything on the trail, no support
/ leverage on uphills.
Vasque
Breeze Mid Womens 7.5 (UK), wide fit
Pink
Superfeet
Miles: 660
(Sisters to the end)
One extreme
to the other. A generally good fit, but soles a bit too stiff and got blisters
on back of heels. On advice of lady in REI, locked by backthreading at angle of
foot.
Clothing
Wicking tops
Tanya
1.
Lightweight longsleeve
Marmot top in white, worn Campo to Bishop, when it was varying shades of brown
and grey. Very lightweight, kept sun off arms, cool enough, but looked like a
dirty rag by the end.
2.
Lightweight shortsleeve
Arc’teryx top in pink, worn Tuolumne to
Cascade Locks.
3.
Longsleeve Marmot top in
blue – Crystal model? Worn Cascade Locks to the end. Good colour but a little
heavier and hotter than white one.
Neil
1. Lightweight longsleeve Patagonia top in Skye blue. Excellent wicking top especially in very hot desert climates, coped very
1. Lightweight longsleeve Patagonia top in Skye blue. Excellent wicking top especially in very hot desert climates, coped very
with the intense heat. Only downside was thinness of the weave meant mosquitoes could bite through it. Would of swapped
out for a cotton shirt from Kennedy Meadows onwards due to mosquitoes.
2. Lightweight shortsleeve Patagonia top in luminous green. Ultra light weight, again no good when mosquitoes were around.
Wore from Kennedy Meadows to Echo Lake and also in Washinghton, only advantage over longsleeve is weight.
Thermal tops
out for a cotton shirt from Kennedy Meadows onwards due to mosquitoes.
2. Lightweight shortsleeve Patagonia top in luminous green. Ultra light weight, again no good when mosquitoes were around.
Wore from Kennedy Meadows to Echo Lake and also in Washinghton, only advantage over longsleeve is weight.
Thermal tops
Tanya
Smartwool lightweight merino
longsleeve top in jade colour. Warm, and warm to touch. Worn over wicking top
on cold mornings, also in bed. Could almost pass as normal clothing when worn
in town.
Neil
Odlo Evolution base layer in navy blue. I have used this top since 2010 and prefer this over my marino tops, especially in a wet climate. I find it great for hiking especially in cold mornings, offers some wind resistance and doesn't stink as much as my other tops. I also used this an extra layer for sleeping in on cold nights.
Neil
Odlo Evolution base layer in navy blue. I have used this top since 2010 and prefer this over my marino tops, especially in a wet climate. I find it great for hiking especially in cold mornings, offers some wind resistance and doesn't stink as much as my other tops. I also used this an extra layer for sleeping in on cold nights.
Thermal leggings
Tanya
Smartwool lightweight merino
leggings in black. Felt nice, warm in bed, could be worn under trousers if
required (only done once or twice). A bit thin – got a hole when stuck fingers
through while pulling them up.
Trousers
Tanya – Millet Peuterey? Light
khaki stretch trousers
Fleece pullovers
Down jackets
Hats and gloves
Waterproofs
Sleeping bags and mats
Neil – Mountain Equipment Xero 550 down bag (new), and
Thermarest Ridgerest (old when started PCT)
Tanya – Rab Neutrino 600 women’s (done Cape Wrath Trail),
and Thermarest Z-Lite (new at start of PCT).
Both happy with warmth of bags. Needed to wear thermals in
bed some nights.
Rab Neutrino is a good bag but has thick heavy bungee cord
at the neck baffle and in the hood, and giant toggles. Sewed toggles to bag –
didn’t end up lying on them as much that way. Could get lighter bag for same
warmth? Also often damp on outside when Neil’s was dry.
Stoves
Requirements:
Boil a litre
of water in 1 ltr MSR Titan titanium pan with lid. Used MSR gripper.
Alcohol /
HEET chosen as fuel because of easy availability along the trail.
The Trangia burner worked well all the way. Basic and easy
to refill. Alcohol / HEET easy to come by and carry.
For future consideration:
Began with a Trangia Triangle pot stand. Heavy and hard to
put together / keep together, so stored in pan – bulky and inefficient use of
space. Required additional windshield – used disposable foil cookie tray.
Tried Vargo Triad XE Titanium from REI – very lightweight
stove / potstand, but too small capacity and hard to refill when hot.
Had thrown away Trangia Triangle so used 3 tent pegs plus
foil windshield until the end of the trail.
Tent
Used Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo tarptent. Silnylon single
skin construction, mosquito net inner, two short poles to give spread at apex,
sets up with two trekking poles. 1.1kg. Spacious two person tent with door and
porch each side.
Large, comfortable tent which we really liked, but it had
limitations:
Large footprint – difficult to set up in small spaces
Not freestanding – hard to put up in sandy soil. Additional
guying out required to back up guylines holding trekking poles (this done every
night), also added guylines for strong winds. Additional guylines for trekking
poles made by tying 2mm accessory cord to free end of supplied guyline, with
prusik knot for adjustability.
Zips – lower zips on inner doors on both sides gave way
(gapping) in the final 3 weeks on the trail.
Tent performed fine in heavy rain (one night only), slight
leakage at seams – sealant possibly failing after 5 months of use in dry
conditions.
Condensation – manageable by careful choice of campsites and
allowing ventilation.
Rucksacks
Neil – Aiguille Verte rucksack, 2.13kg minus trimmings (cut
off one side strap each side plus some daisy chains)
Tanya – Aarn Natural Balance bodypack to Drakesbad (mile
1353) then ULA Catalyst, medium back and medium hipbelt, standard J-straps.
Neil wanted his pack to die so that he could buy a new
lighter one. It showed no signs of doing so by the end. It has done the Pennine Way Haute Route
Tanya’s Aarnpack – good balance for heavy loads, but
uncomfortable shoulder straps – sore collar bones. Modified by Dr Sole at
Kennedy Meadows – added sheepskin on shoulder straps, helped a little. Stays in
backpack wore through reinforced patch at bottom of pack before Belden, making
for unbalanced load.
Replaced with ULA Catalyst. Good alternative with following
drawbacks: sweaty back compared to Aarnpack, which had mesh and small gap
between pack and back, leading to chafing. Shoulder straps tend to slide off
padding when straps to stays tightened, some wear and tear on padding
noticeable by the end. Failed to find suitable waterbottle for fitting to
shoulder strap bungees, kept falling off.
Rucksack organisation
Walking Poles
Neil – Leki Makalu carbon fibre twistlock.
Tanya – Leki Makalu titanium leverlock. Replaced one tip
when end dropped out.
Poles were fine. Leverlocks a bit heavy but durable. Keep
salty straps away from deer!
First Aid Kit
Ciprofloxacin (not used)
Metronidazole (not used but given to Copernicus)
Imodium
Ibuprofen
Neosporin
Iodine
Antiseptic wipes
Strip plasters
Wound dressings
KT Pro tape
Bunion rings
Safety pins
Needles
Compeed
Cetirizine (antihistamine)
Hydrocortisone cream
Vaseline
Eye drops
In bounce box – thrush treatment, athlete’s foot powder,
aspirin.
For future hikes, would have aspirin in first aid kit,
stronger broad spectrum anti fungal cream in bounce box.
Neil’s Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever was treated with
doxycyclin, got on prescription.
Spares and Repairs
Duct tape wound around pen
Tie wraps
Spare lids for Platypus
Cotton
2mm accessory cord
Bounce box – spare buckles for Neil’s rucksack, bungee cord,
cordlocks
For future hikes – ShoeGoo in bounce box
Miscellaneous
Penknife (Huntsman’s)
Hand sanitiser
Trowel
Camera
Spare camera battery
Spare memory card
Memory sticks
Camera battery charger and adapter
Camera USB lead
Passports
Baby wipes
(Tanya) 2 ltr+ 2 x 1.8 ltr Platypuses
(Neil) Nalgene bottle plus Source hydration pack (3 ltr),
plus 1 ltr Platypus for southern California
Water scoop (cut down Platypus)
Fabric cone water filter – fitted into wide neck of Nalgene
Micropur tablets
Food hanging bag with cord for bear country
SPOT device
Compass (not really needed)
Diary
Pen
Mobile phone (charger in bounce box)
Spare insoles
Travel towel (MSR) and cut down towel for flannel
No comments:
Post a Comment