Training

I’ve been training since September. I’ve focused on a modified marathon schedule. While doing this training, I’ve been outside in the woods as much as life will allow. I’ve been A/B testing my gear, my clothes, and of course my shoes. All of that culminates to this gear list here: https://lighterpack.com/r/fl5pbw

Physical Training

Step 1: Aquire gear for the trail (see Gear below)
Step 2: Put aquired gear on back
Step 3: Walk around, a lot…a lot. And especially up and down.

As much as my life will allow, I have been hiking all over Texas/Oklahoma/Arkansas, with my 30lb pack on. My two favorite places to hike: Big Bend National Park (Texas); Eagle Rock Loop (Arkansas). The ERL, and specifically the Ouachita Mountains, are much closer to my house than BBNP. Spending time in the Ouachita Mountains is a real treat for me. They are ~5 hours from my house and are rife with hiking opportunities. The water throughout that area looks like magic. It has a clear-turquoise look to it. You can literally see crawfish and other small creatures swimming around.

Mental Training

From what I hear, this thru-hike thing is 80% mental. I’d like to think my life has been my training.

I remember heading to Colorado to hike in the Weminuche Wilderness. When I got to the trailhead, I promptly put on my pack and made my way into the wilderness. I had been there before and knew what to expect. Pure beauty. Everywhere. That first day was bright and sunny, and the most perfect of temperatures. When I got to camp, I did the first thing I always do: set up my tent. Ooops. Uh oh. I forgot to pack my tent stakes, and my tent requires them to work. Well, good thing I’m a smart person, because I knew if you don’t have tent stakes, you use rocks to hold up your shelter. Checkmate, problem solved.

I was out in that wilderness for 5 nights, finding rocks and sticks to help me along the way.

The real fun was on day 4. I had been above tree line all day. Things were getting sketchy in the sky and I was still miles from the next trail to go down in elevation. I watched the skies like a hawk. I knew rain was on the way, I just didn’t know when. I was relived when I finally found the next trail to go down in elevation…safety. Still no rain. I passed a couple that took a campsite I wanted, and they didn’t know when the next campsite would arrive. As soon as I left them, the rain started.

For 6 hours, I walked. And for 6 hours, it poured on me. It hailed thick ice balls on me. Alone, I walked in the rain and hail for miles and miles. My brain melted enough to start singing. It soothed me just enough to get me to an actual campsite. Yes, it was flooded. Yes, I tromped around, looking for my precious rocks and sticks to hold up my tent. Yes, I was soaked to the bone.

That night, I lit a propane fire inside my tent to keep warm. I would let it run for 30 minutes while I warmed up, slept for 45 minutes, and repeated until the morning. Over and over, I was fighting off hypothermia.

This experience prepared me for the PCT. I can handle things like this. I’m comfortable when I shouldn’t be.

Gear

Everyone’s favorite thing to lust over. Let’s get to it.

Early on, I fantasized about taking a hammock the whole way. From what I read, that is certainly doable, and some folks do it…but it is very, very hard to do so in the desert. Ok, fine, I like other ways to hike.

Then, I decided I am a bivy sack, kinda guy. I am. I LOVE them. But..I only love them for up to a week or two. They are NOT a good pick (for me) as a “home.” An ultralight tent really does satisfy a shelter as a home for a long while. You can actually hang out in one.

The other large piece of gear I had to figure out was my shoes. If done right, one must try on ALL the applicable shoes. ALL of them! Feet are so unique and particular that one shoe can instantly change you experience from bad to good, or vice versa. I purchased and used 3 different pairs of shoes before I found the one I use for the trail. That does not include trying on ~10 different shoes.

I had used zero-drop shoes for years, because “everyone” says they are the best. It turns out they were causing a lot of my back and knee problems. I finally found shoes that work for me: Topo Athletic Vistas. They have a 5mm drop, a Vibram sole, a wide toe-box, and have a huge amount of cushion. The cushioning is interesting…the previous shoe I was wearing had “normal” amounts of cushion, eventually causing my toes to constantly be in a state of tingling. Oops, not good. Glad I learned that while training, and not on the trail. Cushioning = good, for long miles and heavy packs.

My favorite piece of gear? I’m taking a slightly modified CPAP device! How it works:

USB-C battery pack -> Special cord from eBay -> ResMed Airmini

8 hours of CPAP usage = 12,000mAh. Each battery is 26,000mAh. I get 4 nights out of 2 fully charged batteries. Perfect. I am very happy this setup weighs only 2.9lbs.

Food Training

I A/B tested several food options. Cook/no-cook/snacks. I hate cooking while on long backpacking trips, so that’s out.

No-cook is putting things like ramen or instant potatoes into a jar with a tuna packet, and other types of ingredients with water, while letting it soak for a few hours. Poof, a meal. Room-temp deliciousness.

Snacks is exactly what it sounds like: beef jerky, tortillas, nuts, candy bars, oat bars, dried fruit, etc.

After months and months of testing, I’ve come up with a pretty good system: make a no-cook meal, when it is time to eat, eat the meal. If not hungry for said meal, break out the snacks and eat the meal later. I’m both a no-cook and a snack guy. I need the variety.

My favorite no-cook meal I’ve created:

• 1 packet of honey
• 2 packets of soy sauce
• 1T of sesame seeds
• 1 packet of salmon
• 1 packet of Ramen (no seasoning packet)
• Olive oil

Put honey, soy sauce, and the sesame seeds into the jar. Mix with your spoon. Once it mixes in together, add the salmon and mix to combine. Put in your broken up ramen in the jar with water, just to cover. Wait 2-4 hours, add a little olive oil before consuming, and enjoy Salmon Teriyaki!