Week 1: My strategy in the initial weeks of tracking

Beginner’s mind on the road

I just hit the south end as it means the start of my PCT hike! I’m really excited and excited to be here! As all the expectations come to mind, it’s really tempting to run for the door. Doing 20-30 mile days seems very attractive and sexy. Even though I dreamed of this happening, I always stick it in my head to slow down. To allow me to acclimate physically and mentally as I transition from a desk job to a trail life. A smooth transition can only be achieved if I am patient and can trust this process. For this week, my focus is really on sticking to that process as close to ideal as possible.

Working on my Trail Legs

The aspect I am most aware of. My ideal goal, at least for the first few weeks, is to walk no more than 15 miles per day. It would be a sweet spot for me to improve my fitness and also relieve the desire to do long miles. So far, I’m pretty good at keeping my mileage given the next water source or ideal campground.

There are cases in which it is not possible to maintain this limit. On day 3, I need to go 20 miles during the day just to spend the night at a permitted campground after Mount Laguna. The next day, I cut back to 10 miles to make up for yesterday’s long walk. Although my mileage may vary from day to day, I try to keep averages within the established limit.

Sometimes it’s not possible to walk slowly when there are Ratties hanging around the trail. Sometimes running is the only option.

Working on my recovery

One of the adjustments I struggle to make is getting good, continuous sleep on the road. I often wake up in the middle of the night and getting back to sleep requires a lot of willpower. I have several theories about this. It could be that my sleep system is restricted to my usual sleep pattern. As a side sleeper, using foam pads can be painful or using a sleeping bag can be very restrictive to my sleeping position.

It could also be my emotional and mental state on the road. As my body is exposed to a new environment, I am instinctively hyperaware and fearful of my surroundings, which then keeps me mentally in protective mode. Whatever the reason, I give myself some time to get used to my sleep system and sleeping outside.

I have a personal rule: if I can’t go back to sleep, I pack my bags and go for a walk. Here I am walking at dawn.

Work with my hiking system

I’m not just limited to what I carry, but also how I use them efficiently and effectively on the trail. So far on the trail, I cowboy camp so I can camp and break camp easily. I also use a stoveless cooking system which makes meals easy to prepare and keeps the package lighter. I hope I can change it along the way until I get what works best for me.

I also want to test what equipment or item I should add or reduce. I didn’t expect there to be mosquitoes early in the desert (at least this year). I’m thinking about bringing insect repellent, like mosquito net and deet. Overall, my goal is to have simple, reliable and versatile equipment in my backpack. It’s not just about the weight of the backpack but also the usefulness of what I carry on the trail.

Having a phone pocket on the shoulder strap gives me quick access to my phone.

Work with logistics

I need to get good at using Farout because I’ve never used it before. I like how they provide almost all the information I need along the way. From the water source to the campsite and resupply options. But I do believe that it is not good practice to rely solely on one source of information. With that, I complement Farout with offline maps, local information and trip reports. I’m still juggling these resources and learning their features at the moment.

Aside from the logistics information system, I’m still figuring out how I do my replenishment. I’m considering making a mail bounce and delivery mailbox. Resupply in small cities can be very limited and expensive. I think it’s a good idea to buy in bulk in each big city and ship them to the small towns. I’m still weighing the cost and benefit not only in monetary terms but also in terms of convenience, practicality and flexibility.

Walking through the desert can be brutal if we don’t time it correctly. It may be intuitive to avoid walking during midday, but I often need to push on to the next water source or a small town. My rule of thumb is to avoid hiking between 11am and 3pm I would consider this time a danger zone for heat exhaustion. Related to that, I also need to discover water transports. Unfortunately, dry camping in the desert is common and I need to get used to it. For me, controlling my water consumption can be vital not only to avoid dehydration but also to optimize the weight of my backpack.

A late afternoon walk in the desert is much more pleasant than a midday hike.

Exercise self-control

For the first week, I try to be patient with myself and act smart. I do recognize that I am still on the left side of the adjustment curve. It’s information overload starting this journey and I think that’s enough trouble for me. I don’t need to add any trouble by racking up miles right out the door and having that «perfect» setup. I believe that patience pays dividends in the long term and I hope that it will in the near future.

Don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you have anything to suggest!

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