WA/OR PCT part 6 (I think)

Fri 7/19 

Heavy dew, so I pack up tent wet two days in a row.  Camp at Sisters Mirror Lake was nice but buggy--lots of mosquitoes.  Hiked through sub-alpine patches of forest:  Alpine Fir and sparse parks (alpine Lapine, Lomatium, sedges) and in the distance--meadows.  One hiker called today "Diverse," and it was.

Entered an "Obsidian Limited Entry"--no camping without special permit.  I have been with soil scientists or geologists.  There would be "Whoa! Obsidian!" There is so much obsidian in this area, it is ridiculous. Then into lava fields.  In places the trail was very steep and gnarly from all the loose rock.  Around a corner to the Minnie Scott Spring--ice cold water bubbling from the ground.  Wonderful! I loaded up on spring water and passed a couple of lakes. Who wants lake water when they can have spring water? The last 1.2 miles to McKenzie Pass a lava field.  Talk about an ankle turner.

Sisters Mirror Lake PCT mile 1959 to McKenzie Pass PCT mile 1984 = 25 miles.  I am really stove up. My knees ache.  I am very clumsy trying to walk.

At McKenzie Pass--2 cutie oranges, a banana, an apple, 2 cans of sparkling water from those who stopped at McKenzie Pass outhouse tonight.  I will bivvy on north side of outhouse--on a little strip of concrete.  There is no way I could hike three more miles north to the next campsite

Wonderful day! One bummer--I have shin splints in my left leg.  Never had shin splints before.

The bivvy behind the outhouse was not the best.  High winds plus it took quite a while to get settled.  Limited sleep.

Sat. 7/20

Most of the first two and a half of hiking was lava fields--gnarly ankle-turning rock.  SLOW going at best.  I thought it would never end.

I hiked the last few miles to Big Lake Youth Camp with a mom and her two sons.  They are hiking Oregon and have been on trail for four weeks.  Shower, rinsed out socks and shirt.

Big Lake Youth Camp was closed.  Saturday is their day of worship.  They left the hikers' hut open and resupply box was there.  Thanks, Becky!

McKenzie Pass PCT mile 1984 to Big Lake Youth Camp PCT mile 2004 + two miles to and from Big Lake = 22 miles.  Highly disappointing

Sun 7/22

The hike from Big Lake Youth Camp was hot and dry.  Yesterday I left Three Sisters Wilderness and today I entered the Jefferson Wilderness.

I'm north of the lava fields.  But whoever says Oregon PCT is flat can do what I did today:  PCT mile 2004 to PCT mile 2029.5 = 25.5 miles.  This section of trail was gnarly, rocky, and slow going.  Good news! I did 25+ miles.  Bad news: I had nothing left in the tank.


Cascade Locks post office is closed on Saturday and Sunday.  If I can do 25 miles, I can probably make it in time on Friday.  If I miss 5:00 pm Friday I will have to get my resupply box on Monday.  Food I can substitute, but the box at Cascade Locks is especially important as I am getting new shoes.


Phone App Gives Wrong Information

I'm hiking when the trail just doesn't look like the PCT.  No problem, turn on phone.  The HalfMile App says I am 0.16 mile off the PCT.  I back-track and the distance goes down to 90 feet, but then gets farther off.  The phone is responsible for a BONUS 0.33 miles.

Oregon->Washington PCT part 5

Tues July 16 PCT mile 1884-1907 + 3 miles to and from Shelter Cove + 1/3 mile = 26+ miles.

Shower and laundry at Shelter Cove. Also charged phone.  Tim made it to Shelter Cove about  1 1/2 hours after I did.  He is spending the night there.  I got back on trail and up it maybe 1/3 of a mile to a campsite that overlooks the lake.

Note to readers: When I am hiking I can think of many things to write about, but at the end of the day when I am tired it's a different story.  Today (7/17) was no exception.

Wed 7/17 Day 12 mile 1907 near Shelter Cove -> 1933 = 26 miles

Pushing the Envelope
My next resupply stops are Big Lake Youth Camp, Timberline Lodge, and Cascades Locks.  Most of my resupply stops are at resorts, camps, etc., and it doesn't matter when I get there.  But the post office at Cascade Locks is a different story--the post office is only open Monday thru Friday 9:00-5:00 and closed on Saturday and Sunday.  I've been doing the math and calculating my arrival.  I need to do a minimum of 28 miles per day to ensure Friday arrival.

How's the Body Holding Up

• Back--mostly great (Thanks, Dr Bedford).  It does get tired carrying a pack most of the day with very few breaks.  
• Knees--okay during the day.  They ache at night, but by morning are ready to go. 
• Feet--two blisters showed up today.  Left foot on outside of heel below the ankle, Right big toe in a spot I cannot see.  

(Note:  as of 7/22 six of the last seven days have been 25-26 mile days. 

One Mis-step away from Disaster

At an estimated average of 2500 steps per mile, a lot of steps are taken on a 20-25 mile day.  Turns out I am camped near a young woman.  Her name escapes me.  Yesterday she twisted her ankle on a tree root and fell.  Today was a zero-day (no hiking) for her.  She has been going NOBO, but will head south tomorrow.

Why do we stumble or fall? 

• Inattention to where we are stepping
• Failure to raise foot high enough to clear obstacle (curb, rock, root, etc)
• We are tired
• Distracted. 

On the trail there are four types of obstacles--Rockers and Rollers, Trippers and Slippers.

• Rocker--shifts front to back or side to side when you step on it.  You can lose your balance, stumble, or even fall
• Roller--rolls when you step on it--rock, part of tree branch
• Tripper--just a little or several inches higher than the ground--rock, root, curb, etc.  You stumble and even fall. 
• Slippers--or slip or what? Whatever is underneath, your foot slips--
• wet rock, wet wood without bark, ice, snow, some slippers are a frictionless surface--You cannot stand on it: such as algae on a rock in a stream crossing, Ice on wood, sheen of water on ice.  

Thurs July 18  Hiked from Brahana Lake (PCT mile 1933) to Sisters Mirror Lake (PCT mile 1959) = 26 miles

It rained a little during the night.  When I stepped out of the tent, there was a slight drizzle.  So I put on my rain coat and pants.  Ten minutes up the trail it stopped, so I took off the rain set and put on wind breaker.  Later rain gear went back on.  Later yet, we had sun and rain gear came off again. 

Mosquitoes were not bad to horrible.  At camp I had to do some business with my shorts down.  Those pesky mosquitoes must have bitten both cheeks in ten spots.

The Sierras

I have found two hikers that made it through the Sierras.  A lot of people remembered 2017 when two women drowned.  Several said, "It's not worth risking your life for.  I skipped the Sierras and will go back after."

Oregon-Washington PCT Part 4

July 13--Day 8

I left camp at 5:00 am.  Yesterday and today I hiked through the 2017 wildfire.  In places there is hardly any live vegetation.  The fire must have been high intensity, high severity, or in Texas lingo--One hot hummer. 

I made it to Mazama by 9:20 am.  Shower, resupply box, charge phone and back to the trail.  I forgot to ask about out-going mail.  I hiked to Dutton Creek Camp, then up Dutton Creek Trail to Rim Village.  No campground here.  Last year I talked to a hiker at Rim Village and I thought she said came from a campground.  I have done 18 miles so far today.  I will have to do more to find a place for an inconspicuous bivvy.

The most amazing thing happened.  I am hanging out in the shade near the public restrooms and talked to several people.  After I cooked my hot meal, an Indian woman wanted to talk.  She was very much intrigued by what I am doing.  She asked, "Your wife is ok with all this?"  I told her about the resupply boxes and how the blog worked.  She said, "Your wife is most wonderful!"  You can say that again.  At some point I told her I wanted to take Becky to an Indian Restaurant in Yakima.  She replied, "Indian Restaurants are crap. You come to my house and I feed you and your wife. The real deal."  She was serious and took my name and phone number and gave me hers. 

She gave me her name (very difficult).  Her son her initials are JC.  I can do that.  This was not a coincidence.  Once again God has blessed me beyond belief.  I am completely blown away.  From a different continent, from a different culture, from a different language, but somehow we made a connection

At Rim Village I had 18 miles. I moved on another four miles mostly by road as I have done the lower Rim Trail.  I quit at another overlook of Crater Lake.  Pretty soon I was talking with Bill and Wendy from Houston, TX.  The card he gave me has a photo of his plane.  Sweet looking plane. 

Later yet, I met Greg and Andrea (different last name).  Andrea wants to do the PCT and had lots of questions.  Greg gave me his number, he said to call if I needed anything.  Exchanged contact info with Andrea. 

July 14--Day 9 22 miles Camp 1808.9--1820.9 Road 2-3 miles to and from Mazama Village==4 miles north of Rim Village 

A year ago, it was so smokey, I could hardly see Crater Lake.  I would like to bring Becky.  Pretty Stunning.

I have been playing leap-frog with a hiker named Tim, much younger than I am, like most of the hikers.  Tim is just doing Oregon on the PCT.

I spent the night in an outhouse.  The wind was howling and I was petrified of something blowing into Crater Lake.  Hard to sleep because of the wind. 

July 15. Started hiking before 5:00 am.  More snow patches but going fine.  On a big snow patch, I lost the PCT.  Still dark.  Set my hiking poles as a reference bearing.  I finally used the phone app Halfmile to find the PCT.  The trail switched directions under the snow.  I passed the high point of PCT for Washington and Oregon, then I lost trail again on snow.  Once again, the trail switched directions underneath the snow.  

At Windigo Pass, a hiker showed up.  Not your average hiker--VERY grungy, yellow shirt similar to the one Garrett had.  His trail name was Thirteen.  He did the Appalachian Trail last year in 13 weeks.  He is currently doing 40+ mile days.  

PCT Oregon to Washington Part 3

Two Canadian Women
On Monday I came upon two women from Canada:  Happy Feet (trail name), age 61, from just outside Manning Provential Park; and Gravity, much younger (30 perhaps) from Victoria, BC.

This morning I left camp at 4:37 am.  About 6:30, I came upon the camp of Happy Feet of Gravity.  We hiked together about five miles.  Happy Feet has a strained or torn ligaments in one ankle.  One Tough Gal!

It's looking like I'll be ahead of them now (they are doing smaller mileages in part due to the ankle).  I offered to Trail Angel for them in Washington. 

Trail Magic

Between Callahans were two coolers with pop. I had one each direction.  I also had a Sprite at the truck stop in Ellensburg.  In short order, I have had my yearly quota of pop. 

Dinners

When I was cooking and dehydrating dinners, I found spaghetti sauce and Alfredo sauce in the pantry.  I added the Alfredo sauce to some cooked hamburger meat and dried it.  I added dehydrated veggies and whole wheat elbow macaroni.  The Alfredo was ok, but not as flavorful as I was hoping.  After hiking 21 miles, I ate the whole dinner.

Last night I had red chile stew with Spanish rice and dehydrated refried beans.  Oh my! Better than any Mexican restaurant I've eaten in both Washington and Oregon.  And by a long shot.

Dreams

Maybe it's how tired I am physically, but I am having extremely intense dreams.  A dream wakes me up and then I have a hard time going back to sleep.

Tues 7/9 1728 to Forest Service Gravel Road at 1746 21 miles

A light drizzle started around 2:00 pm.  By 3:00 pm I was pooped. No campsite behind or ahead of me, so my tent was pitched in the middle of the gravel road.

About six miles ahead, I have a 2000 foot vertical climb, then easier going the rest of the way to Fish Lake.

Wed 7/10

On the trail at 5:26 am (I slept in a little).  I handled the uphill much better for today.  The high point is elevation 6162 feet.  At mile 1755.2 is a wonderful spring.  The sign said, "This spring has not been tested for drinking safety."  I've worked on a lot of spring developments.  Unless the spring box has fallen in, there is no way the water could be contaminated.  Spring is flowing at least five gallons/minute.  It took five seconds perhaps to fill a quart bottle capturing only a portion of the flow, so I am not treating or filtering the water.

Due to a combination of I felt better and the trail was mostly easy, I had twenty-two miles in by 3:00 pm.  Plenty of time to do 25 or 30 miles.  I was thinking two more miles today, but it will be on the side of a hill with no campsites.  (This turned out to be correct.)

I saw two deer and a blue or ruffled grouse today. 

 

Earlier in this blog I wrote about my son giving me three goals:

• Goal 1: Just get on the trail and get started.  Realized on 7/06
• Goal 2: If you have to crawl, hit the 100 mile mark.  Realized 7/10 with 100 miles done.  
• Goal 3 will have to come later 

For Goal 2, it says "if you have to crawl,. . ."  Day 1, I think I could have crawled faster than I was hiking. 

Days 1-3--no uphill gear and I was SLOW.  And so I tended to hike with no water to drink nor food to eat.  Tuesday, July 9 and especially, July 10, my pace has been faster.  So I eat and drink more frequently.  In part maybe because I feel better, but the trail is flat for big stretches. 

Today I hiked about a mile through a lava field.  There will be MILES of lava fields to come.  Black rocks are basalt.  Red are cinder cones. 

This afternoon I caught up with a hiker named Brian.  I'm guessing he's in his mid-thirties.  He started on Saturday, same day as I did.  He didn't hike to California border though.  Recently the company he worked for folded.  So he came out west to hike the PCT.  About an Hour after I set up camp, Brian showed up looking very bushed. I went over to his camp to suggest that we have dinner together and share stories.  Brian was already in bed.  Time: 5:15 pm.  At 6:40 pm, Brian popped out of his tent.  Turns out he's from New Jersey, but has lived in California and other places for work. 

Thur 7/11  Left camp at 4:38 am.  The hike to Fish Lake Trail (5.3 miles) was mostly lava/basalt rock.  Made it to Fish Lake at 7:10 am.  Not a soul at the resort.  I'm waiting to get my resupply box, shower, and maybe do laundry.  While I waited, I had breakfast and filled up with water.  I did get my resupply box (thanks, Becky), had a shower, and washed out my shirt and socks. 

From 6:30 am when I left the PCT for Fish Lake until 11:00 am, I was off the PCT for 4.5 hours.  I had seven miles in by 7:00 am.  In the afternoon, I hiked another 14 miles. 

I'm sitting on the deck just above the lake.  I just talked with Becky.  It was good hearing her voice.

Next stop for this caravan is Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park.

Fri 7/12 Yesterday it was basalt or lava fields.  Today it was slate rocks, since I hiked Slate Peak.

Pesky Devils

Yesterday I came onto a hiker in a head net.  I thought the mosquito population was supposed to be quite low.  But by evening the mosquitoes were much worse.  This morning I rushed breaking camp.  I hoped I could walk away from the problem.  I couldn't and an hour later, I stopped to take drastic measures.  The rascals were veracious and persistent especially with the back of my neck and into my hair.  I finally hit my high bar.  I itched EVERYWHERE.  I put on the head net and Deet over any exposed skin.  I hate using Deet, and I hate the head net.  But I was being eaten alive.

The hiking today was interesting, but it was also hard.  First, there was a lot of blow-down (trees and snags--dead trees--blown across the trail.)  With blow-down, you are stepping over, going around, or swinging under.  Blow-down slows you down.  Second was the rock.  Some parts of the trail are a jumbled mess of rock.  You need to be careful with every step.  Third, and much less of a problem but it exacerbated the situation, were uphill sections of trail. 

This was "set up" day here.  I hiked to position myself for going to Mazama.  I am only twelve miles away. 

PCT Oregon to Washington part 2

Sunday 7/7  Started PCT mile 1699.54 - to California border and back - 1691.4 =7.8 miles times 2 = 15.6 miles.  Then 1699.54 to 1703.6



Some patches of snow at 6800 to 7000 feet on North and Northeast aspects.
6000 feet of elevation and below - mostly Douglas Fir.  6000 to 7000 feet mix of true fir forest and open park
Parks can be bear grass or shrub-forb-grass.  Parks have balsamroot, lupine, buckwheat, needlegrass, sedges
I've done as much as I can the last two days and still haven't hit a 20 mile day.  I felt a little bit better today.  Still no uphill gear.

Monday 7/8 Saturday got to start at 9:00 am
                    Sunday left camp at 5:06 am
                    Monday started hiking at 4:23 am - can't get much earlier.  Had to use the headlamp for the first fifteen to twenty minutes.

• Left camp at 4:23.  Made it to Callahans about 9:15. Hiked to PCT mile 1725
• Shower and laundry and I feel like a million bucks
• Left Callahans at 11:45 am
• The PCT does the unexpected.  Now that I am going NOBO (north bound), the trail took me south, then east and finally north.  That's just what trails do
• I put in 30 minutes extra (up to 1 1/2 miles extra today.  Coming onto Pilot Rock trail was a sign.  I didn't look at the sign, I just assumed this was where the trail turned North.  WRONG! Bucko!! I know you were almost at the twenty mile mark.  For goodness, gracious sakes alive, spend five seconds looking at the sign and save yourself a big frustration.  Today I laughed.  Another day . . . 

• Yesterday I saw two solo hikers--young women and quite pretty in both instances.  The first solo gal asked the best way to get to Ashland.  We talked a few minutes, then parted in opposite directions.  She was wearing tights and very easy on the eyes.  I wanted to turn back for one more look, but I didn't out of respect for her and for Becky.  Later, I thought these two gals would need to spend two minutes at the max trying to get a ride into town.  And then I wondered why there weren't two to three guys hiking with those gals?

Today, I nailed my first twenty-mile-day.  We'll see if I can sustain that pace.

Nights I sleep okay for a few hours, then I wake up with my right hip aching and throbbing.  It takes awhile to find the right position so I can sleep again.  I have Ibuprofen, but I won't use it until I get desperate.  I know of hikers who use it every day and every night.  I refuse to do so because when I really need pain control, I want to have it work.  I had a grandmother who got hooked on medicine and I really want to stay off that road.

Three Goals
About a week before starting my PCT hike here at the Mexican border, my son, Garrett, called.  He was in panic mode.  He had been reading hikers' blogs and a lot of hikers were concerned about snow in the Sierras and so quit their hikes before it even started.  Garrett said, "I've got three goals for you, Dad."

• First goal--just get on the trail and get started.  I am back on the trail, so goal #1 has been realized.  I will write about the other two goals if and when I achieve them. 

Condolences to the Billingsley Family.  I saw in a text from Becky that Dave Billingsley died.  Dave was a rancher in the Palisades.  He was strong in his faith and was a nice man.  I am sorry I was not able to attend the service. 

Callahan's Lodge to the Rescue:  Monday, a little after 9:00 am, I arrived at Callahan's for a resupply.  The box was there (thanks, Becky!) I asked about showers and laundry and I was handed a towel, robe, wash cloth, and directed where to go.  The place was connected to their shop.  Pretty basic room--toilet, sink, washer, dryer, shower.  And I could have had a meal (3-star restaurant) In two and a half hours, I showered, did laundry, charged my phone, got maps, water, and food for the next section.

In towns you can find yourself forever walking to the laundromat, the grocery store, a restaurant, camp, a hostel or motel.  And the clock is ticking away, eating up time.  I absolutely prefer self-contained units where everything is in one place.  You can get everything done and get back on the trail the same day.  The analogy is in car racing--carefully organized pit stop, or Bubba and the boys. 

Oregon/Washington PCT Hike 2019 Part 1

Two years ago, I wanted my hike to be more than a hike.  I told Becky to find some charity about kids and cancer.  Becky has had carcinoid in her liver for more than fifteen years.  Becky found Camp Korey, whose mission is to bring in children with fragile health, or disabilities.  The conditions can include cancer but it is not solely for children with cancer.  These kids have more limitations, more struggles than we can imagine.  Severely limited in what they can do because they are in and out of hospitals, doctors appointments, treatments, etc.

At no charge to the families, Camp Korey brings in children for a week to allow them to be kids.  They ride horses, have food fights (instigated by the camp), sing around the campfire, and do things healthy children take for granted.  And . . . they get to meet other children who have the same condition they have.  This is a life-transforming event.

You have contributed in the past.  Quilts have been made for the camp, monetary donations have been given.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Please consider helping Camp Korey again.

Friday 7/15  Loves Truck Stop Ellensburg

• Saw a young woman with almost no leg function using hiking poles that wrapped around her upper arms, kind of dragging her legs.  I am blessed to hike for her. 

Logistics for getting on the trail:

• Caught bus in Ellensburg a little after 3:00 pm
• Changed buses in Seattle and in Portland
• Into Medford at 5:00 am.  Two hour wait for local bus to Ashland
• Hitch a ride to Exit 6 off I-5.

Saturday 7/16 

• Start at PCT mile 1716.2 by Callahans off I-5
• End at PCT mile 1699.54 = 16.74 miles at Siskiyu Gap

Felt bad almost from the start of today's hike--no strength, no motoring uphill, slow going all day.  No energy, lethargic.  The general goal  was 1000 miles in fifty days, or twenty miles a day.  Day 1 I didn't even get 17 miles. I kept passing by good campsites to "go just a little further."  In the end, I had to retreat about 1/4 to 1/2 mile to camp along a road of a miserable, exposed site.  You win some, you lose some.  Today I wiffed three straight and never even made contact (baseball analogy).  Almost too pooped to care. 

Ran into several thru-hikers.  All but one skipped the Sierras because of snow.  They have bounced around more than once. Ten days ago, Hikers were using crampons and ice axes in the Mt Jefferson area in Oregon.  

A lot of hikers and trail runners today.  Hikers of several sorts--day hikers, weekenders, several doing all of Oregon a bunch of thru-hikers.  I must have looked like death warmed over, three men hikers asked if I needed some help with anything. 

I got the names of only two hikers--a couple from the Netherlands--Ola and Thresh Level.  He has a high thresh-level, and she has a low thresh-level.  That's what they said, I'll let you decide what it means. 

I hiked through lots of Douglas fir forests.  Also saw Ceanothus, paintbrush, lupine, arnica, kinnikinnik (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi or Bear Berry), penstemon, spirea, Oregon grape. 

Why did I hike poorly today? 

• Last night, not much sleep on overnight bus ride
• three days ago, Becky said I looked bad
• For several days before leaving, it seemed I was hungry all the time
• too much training on flat ground?

Achy and sore as the dickens, especially my hip flexors which want to cramp.  I'll take an electrolyte tablet.  And yes, I have some Gatorade powder in some water.  (Becky's note here--when Kevin prepares Gatorade from powder, he waters it down considerably.)

I enjoyed talking with the thru-hikers today.  Not much fun otherwise. 

I am giving myself until 10:00 am tomorrow to reach the California border.  Maybe I'll hike stronger.

I miss Becky, Abby, and having a shower.  Oh well, buck up, Cowboy.

The dinner tonight--green chile, turkey, rice, and dehydrated refried beans--pretty darn good.  And with Fritos to boot!

Becky here:  I am going to break this down into several posts.  This is the end of post 1

Gear for the Trail June 2019

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.  Kevin has done the first step for this year's journey, but I thought that you'd like to see what he's taking with him.

Gear List June 2019

Some items are multipurpose and show up in more than one section.

I tend to think of gear in a system approach.  Everything has to work together and to meet what I want

Pack:

·         I am using my ULA pack again.  I call it Old Faithful.  Also have a pack cover

·         I also have a new Hyperlite Mountain Gear.  It is smaller.  After coming off trail I need to spend some serious time trying to make this pack work.  Pack cover not needed; it is waterproof until it is no longer waterproof.  Becky's annotation--The Hyperlite is made of cuben fiber which is lighter weight than ripstop nylon.

Sleep System:

·         Ground cloth – a piece of Tyvek.  Some Tyvek is very slick and I don’t like it so much--It's easy to acquire from a construction site--just ask for a scrap of left-overs.

·         ThermarestZ-Lite pad

·         2-personNemo free standing tent and stakes.  2-person model was only a few ounces more but well worth the room

·         EnchantedEquipment sleeping quilt (I believe it is a 40-degree quilt)

·         Silk liner to help keep the quilt clean.  Also provides a little more warmth

Navigation System

·         Keeping alert for signs is first and foremost

·         Paper maps

·         Silva Range compass w/ sighting mirror

·         Altimeter watch – can track elevation gained or los.  Can also do dead reckoning with watch

·         Cell phone w/ app.  I will use Halfmile app this year.  Guthooks is a better option

Hydration System

·         Sawyer filter and squeeze

·         Aqua Mira drops if I have to use skunky water

·         Water bottles – 2 are Smartwater (same threads as filter), 2 are Gatorade

·         Electrolyte powder (Skratch or Gatorade)

·         Possibly some electrolyte pills or salt

Communication

·         Cell phone and charger

·         Paper and pens for blog.  Send home to Becky w/ pre-addressed and stamped envelope

·         SD card for photos also send home

Sanitation

·         TP and hand sanitizer

·         Sliver of soap, bandanna, small pack towel

Sun protection

·         Long sleeved shirt w/ collar

·         Cap with bandanna covering neck

·         Sunglasses

·         Sunscreen.  I stop using after awhile

Cooking System

·         MSRPocket Rocket stove  in the picture on the website, the stove is the part on top of the fuel canister

·         Fuel canister (stove screws onto canister)

·         Titanium pot.  Note: I do NOT cook in the pot; I just heat up the water.  Food I cook goes into a freezer bag

·         Lighter

·         Spoon from the kitchen

·         Cozy that Becky made.  Keeps the food hot longer

Clothing

·         Hiking shorts.  Shorts MUST have two zippered pockets  Much of his clothing was acquired from thrift stores.  They are a wonderful thing, thrift stores. 

·         Long sleeved shirt with collar.  Taking Ex Officio shirt w/ insect repellent.  My favorite is a Dakota Grizzly nylon

·         Nasty ball cap that has well over 3,000 miles

·         DarnTough wool socks – thin and light for summer.  I take 2-3 pairs.  With lifetime guarantee why would you use any other sock.  Also wool is not as stinky

·         Trail hiking or trail running shoes

o   Brooks Cascadia

o   Ascics

o   Montrail.  No longer made.  I bought several pairs some years back

·         Extra clothes

o   Mont Belle – wind shirt, rain jacket & pants.  Also, VERY light gloves when mosquitoes are swarming

o   Stocking cap and gloves.  Also, silk balaclava

o   Baseball sanitary socks – pretty long.  Sleep in at night.  Helps keep quilt clean

o   NO base layer top or bottoms.  NO vest or puffy jacket

Tools and personal items

o   Black Diamond hiking poles for balance when the trail has loose rock, crossing streams, etc.  Also, to help save knees on downhill

o   Leatherman TINY knife.  Multi-tool

o   Toenail clippers, scissors, tweezers (probably overkill as Leatherman has the last 3 features)

o   Supplements – vitamin C&E, glucosamine, Omega XL or fish oil

o   Paper and pens to do the math – how many miles must I do to get to XYZ re-supply before post office closes on Friday

o   On one sheet some scripture

o   NO Walkman so no tunes, NO solar charger or battery pack so phone is off 98% of the time.  A lot of hikers have phone on 24-7 as it has phone app, tunes, etc.

o   Canon Powershot camera

o   Toothbrush and toothpaste

o   Medical items in a freezer bag

o   New Skin and betadine.  A couple of sanitary wipes

o   A few Band Aids with a little white medical tape, duct tape and some vet wrap

o   Ibuprofen which I use only as a last resort

o   Gold Bond foot cream

o   On a trip like this you are one misstep from disaster.  There are MANY trippers, rockers and rollers that will put you down in a heartbeat.  You WILL have some missteps.  You’d better be prepared walk 30 miles or more if you get hurt.   There is no other option when you hike solo.  You’ll have a great story!

That is all until I remember something else.  Kevin

A lot of the gear can be purchased from REI.com.  I put links on a few of the items so that you'd get an idea of what he's carrying.