Gear List for the PCT

[norts]

I thought people might be interested in what gear I am taking for my PCT thru hike
*gear that I used on my AT thru hike.
Total weight -12.5kg - not including Sierra gear.
Pack -*Exped Lightning 60
Tent - Tarptent Moment DW & tyvek footprint.
S/Bag -*S2$ Talus 1 & *MD silk liner
Mat - * Thermarest Neo air all seasons & *Exped M pillow
Sit pad – *blue ccf a (new piece but I did use it on the AT)
Headtorch - *petzel eLite
Stove –Kovea Titanium, homemade windshield
Pot – 1 L Trangia Al / homemade lid/ billy grips
KFS & Mug – *Snowpeak TI spork, plastic knife, plastic t/spoon; * Snowpeak Ti mug.
Water Filter - * Sawyer Squeeze; 3 x2L Platypus; 2x 1L Platypus; 750ml coke bottle
Repair/first aid kit - *leatherman ps4; leukotape; pole repair sleeve with duct tape,;*dental floss and needle;
Mossie head net -*S2S
Umbrella – Euroschirm Liteflex
Tooth brush/tooth paste( small travel tube)
Phone – Galaxy S4 Active with Otterbox- I will be using this as my camera and my main way of navigating
Navigation – compass, Halfmiles maps(paper back up of what’s on phone)
Charger- Ankers 1300mah
mp3 player – Dick smith – music, podcasts, audio books
Hiking Poles – BD Zpoles Distance Cork
Sunglasses
trowel
*Bear bag hanging kit( more for rodents than bears)
Numerous stuff sacks and waterproof bags.
Passport/hiking permit/California fire permit/ permit to enter Canada via the PCT.
Clothing
Worn
Hat - *Macpac Legionaires Cap
Shirt- MD Long sleeve
Fleece - *Macpac bush shirt
Shorts –*Mont Adventure Light( new pair same model)
Jocks –* kmart coolmax ( new pair same model)
Socks - * Darn tough ( new pair same model)
Shoes – Dr Comfort with custom orthotics(this is a bit of a test) if they don’t work I will go to *Merrell Moab Ventilators Mid cut
Camp
W/proof jacket- *Marmot Preclip
Windproof - *Patagonia Houdini
Down Jacket - *Macpac
Beanie –Lowe Alpine
Spare Socks – *Darn tough
Thermals Top/Bottom – poly pro
Sleeping Jocks - *Macpac merino( new pair same model)
Long pants- parachute trackies with lining cut out
Camp shoes * knock of crocs
Gear to be picked up at Kennedy Meadows( as I enter Sierra Nevada)
bear canister /waterproof pants/gloves

[whitefang]

Nice list there, norts. Not as light as some of the other lists I have seen, but just as practical. I hope the drought in California doesn't burden you too much, especially in SoCal. Good luck and happy trails!

[Nuts]

Can you buy mace?
Looks a good list norts, good luck.

[norts]

Thanks whitefang, . I am not a real light weight walker, I like some comforts. That gear list is a lot lighter than what I started with on the AT.
Major differences in my gear from the AT to the PCT is my stove and tent. I carried a Jetboil Sol on that, I really liked it except it wouldnt simmer. That why I have gone back to my old Kovea system. I used a Hilleberg Akto on the AT. It was very good, especially with all the rain. I decided to go the lighter Moment for the PCT. I will get more ventilation with the Moment ie two doors but I dont think it will handle heavy rain as well as the Akto. The Akto's fly sits on the ground you do not get any splash back.
My umbrella is something I am not sure about. It will be interesting how it performs for me.

Mace lol I would probably spray myself , just walk with someone you can out run is my strategy.
norts

[whitefang]

Switching to the Moment seems like a good idea to me. From what I've read there's not usually too much rain before you hit Oregon. I know a lot of people go without tents completely until the pesky mosquitoes get them in the Sierras.

Did you buy the umbrella to use as rain gear or as sun protection in the desert?

[norts]

Sun protection , but it will be interesting to see how it handles the rain too.

[Turfa]

Good luck Norts.... you must be only a week or two from starting ! Looking forward to hearing about it. Are keeping an online journal this time ?

I was in the Sierra Nevada a couple of weeks ago (up near Tahoe) & there was not a lot of snow on the ground. You should have a relatively easy time with the snowpack, but it looks like water will be the big challenge this year.

Have a great hike !

[norts]

Thanks Turfa. Take my first step on trail on Sunday.
I am not keeping an online journal. Yes water is the biggest problem this year.

[Nuts]

Mace lol I would probably spray myself , just walk with someone you can out run is my strategy.
norts

hahaha.
hey, no plb/beacon? (I'm guessing there's decent phone coverage)

[norts]

I am not sure how good the coverage is, but there is alot of ppl on the trail. At the moment the start days are booked out, that is 50 ppl per day. And that is only the ppl who have registered for a long distance hiking permit from the PCTA.

norts

[norts]

There is a couple from Tasmanian thru hiking the PCT. The flew out today and start on the 16/4. They are doing an on line journal.
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=480113

norts

[Nuts]

'...take on average about 152 days to complete with a 37% of success..' other walkers may be a bit sparse up north?

Yeah, iv'e been interested in the big walks too, since Bill Bryson. Think i may need to retire before my knees do.
It sounds like a great adventure, good luck!

ps. Iv'e a spare spot tracking beacon (you have to switch it on each day for tracking), they are not the best here but i'd imagine fine there.
Anyhow, spare till October..

[Suz]

a lot of people aren't turning up to their PCT start days…it may be less packed out there than you think, but probably a good thing. less people sucking up all your precious desert water. GOOD LUCK!

[norts]

Thanks Suz. Where did you here about ppl not turning up?

[Orion]

Norts, I thought PCT walkers swapped out gear, along with the changing terrain, so the list wouldn't be constant. Same as with the AT, I would imagine. And shoes too. Don't you end up going through multiple pairs?

Snow in CA is at a record low, worst in recorded history. It's just stunningly absent. Possibly a 1000 year event.

I sometimes carry a few spices in little plastic bags, but what would the mace be for?
Do you rub it on the dehydrated meat before or after rehydration?

[norts]

I wore out 3 pairs on the AT,and needed new shoes to fly home in, as the 3rd pair were completely trashed.
I will swap out gear as I go. What I have packed will carry me through the desert and cold nights. I will suck it and see. I swapped out my winter gear for summer on the AT somewhere in Virginia and picked it up again at the White Mountains in New Hampshire and for Maine.
Mace is meant for bears or "do you carry" for personal protection.
Lack of snow is a real worry, I am keeping an eye on the PCT water report and streams are already dry, that is why I am carrying so many water containers.

norts

[Orion]

Three pairs on the AT? So that must mean four on the PCT, or is the AT a lot harder on shoes?

I was joking about the mace. It's illegal though, and totally unnecessary with respect to warding off wildlife.
But for those of us living here the water issue is no joke.

[norts]

The PCT is longer, about 1000ks, but the actual trail surface is alot smoother, (that is what I have read) so I am not sure. I will just have to wait and see. I wore 3 different makes on the AT. The heaviest duty shoe was in the middle, I wanted something with abit more solid sole for the rocks of Pennsylvania.

norts

[wayno]

how difficult was it to get the permit? getting one for the john muir trail is a real lottery from overseas

[Nuts]

The mace (spray) is for the bears Orion, from what I can gather, you spray one half at the bear, toss the can to the nearest other hiker- Then you run!
I get the PCTA blog feed, there was mention of the drought and comments about available water supply at a couple of mentioned points in sth cal.

[Orion]

Nuts, yeah I know. Norts probably has it figured out but a lot of people unfamiliar with black bears actually think you should carry mace. Every year I see people with bear bells and also mace. Both are completely unnecessary and carrying mace is illegal.

There is a neighbor of mine who has these big plastic tanks to catch runoff from the roof. They say "Bushman" on them. I think they're Australian made. I wonder if that will start to become more common here.


The PCT is so long. You'll miss all of your favorite TV shows.

Good luck, Norts!

[Nuts]

A friend carried mace spray on the AT, she didn't use it, somehow managed to bring it home. I don't think she had bears in mind.
Water tanks?? Gumtrees and water tanks, awww. (They could be full of mmj, don't be fooled)

[Orion]

Well there is that. A woman in the somewhat urban sections of the AT might have a concern.

But you have me with MMJ. What's that? Google suggested "medical marijuana" but that can't be it. Maybe with oil so inexpensive they're storing some sweet crude for the harder times ahead. Actually, here in the southwest of the US water will probably be more of the issue than oil at some point. Maybe sooner than I'd like to think.

[Nuts]

Yes, (MMJ- I saw it on TV ). Not to try to deviate norts's thread further but apparently the recreational market is already so lucrative they have altered the medical grow regulations (to protect company profits) forcing growers back outdoors if they have over a certain number of plants. But then the neighbours pinch them (i'm guessing they are too lazy or don't have green thumbs or something.. ) One bust, set up under the guise of council bylaws rather than MJ regs (again apparently under pressure from large companies, via government authorities), was a guy with a bunch of water tanks around his house and the plants growing inside, it sounded like it was becoming a popular location. It all seems a bit of a mess (?). Anyhow, Water may soon become more precious than MMJ, forward thinking guy in some respects ..

p.s. so I guess there's a lot grown around the bush too, the trail, careful of green patches along the trail etc. -

[norts]

Well I've started my journey. In Launie in a motel so I can catch my 6am flight tomorrow. So no more decisions on gear. Now I have to live with my decisions.

[Bluegum Mic]

Have a wonderful trip Norts. All the best and cant wait to hear how it all goes.

[simonm]

Have a great adventure Norts.

[Nuts]

+1 (and good luck)

[Watertank]

Have a great trip, I'm envious and look forward to hearing how it goes. This is such a wonderful forum, being able to follow other people's adventures and inspiring my own.

[norts]

Thank s everyone for your good wishes. If it goes as well as the AT last year I havent a thing to worry about. Norts