Thanks Mary. A friend once told me that money spent on good food is never wasted. Yes, you spent more money than most on food but you ate healthy and felt good on the trail. It's terrible to feel miserable on the trail because you're not eating properly.
I will get a bit selfish, for a moment. I am very happy that you spent the money for such good camera gear. Your blogs certainly helped brighten my winter. and as is sometimes said: "Cheap at twice the price"
Aww Mar, you really do a great job on these videos. Thank you for always being so honest, forthcoming and real in your videos. All the detail is so important and relevant for nearly everyone planning on doing the PCT. You are a jewel 💎🌿
Mary Mansfield My pleasure to report on my experience of your videos. I watched your entire series enjoyed it and found the vegan aspect very helpful being vegan myself. Cheers!
Mary, I enjoyed watching your journey, and a great big congrats! Your positivity is absolutely infectious and such a rarity these days. You have a thousand dollar smile by the way. I hiked the JMT this summer NOBO, and vlogged my journey as well. However, I only amassed 69 subscribers, not an astounding 6.6K.......you rock! Anyway, thanks for all your hard work! Greetings from Oklahoma City!
Great video! Very informative as to the true cost. Things add up. Especially overseas. It is realistic to be aware of cost, but the memories - Priceless! Best!
Gooooood morning Lorene😁 We are heading out in just a few weeks to do a trail here in the UK so the good mornings will definitely be back! So funny as I never realised how I did that until everyone started pointing it out🤣
Super helpful thankyou from a hopeful hiker from New Zealand. Not many sources of info for international hikers. Man it pains me the cost that insurance is going to be; but I don’t dare step foot in the US without it!
Ahhhh, another great video. It may a bit more than some hikers, but it probably is a lot less than expense for the same amount of time at home. Thank you for the fun and helpful videos. Blessings
Very good information and very well put. Thank you so very much! I'm looking at cameras now. So many to choose from. The ones I've been looking at are in that price range.
How much 😱🤣🤣🤣 fabulous and informative video sweetheart. It’s so nice to see a proper cost breakdown video that I’m sure will be a great benefit to hikers planning a through hike 😘
Thank you my darling Derek😘 Also I'm pleased you don't mind us living with only being able to eat beans on toast, using blankets instead of heating, candles instead of electricity and having baths in the local streams🤣
Great job Mary! We were belly laughing at the being “Jacked up” on proper coffee! Can Mary get anymore joyously bubbly than she is!! Give her some real coffee after days of instant and the joy meter hits max! So fun!! 😄 Really enjoyed the specifics on pricing categories. I knew travel would be a big expense coming from abroad. Loved the excitement concerning good food in the trail towns. What a joy to chase after calories versus run from them! Thank you for more awesome information delivered wonderfully!! 🎬🎥🏆🥇
I love that you got straight to the point at the beginning with the total 🤣 Also I 100% agree with wanting comfort. I would shell out extra to stay in hotels and just be alone and introverted to recharge. It's asking a lot for me to be social to be honest and I don't mind being social on trail but when I get to "civilization" I want to have a choice to be on my own :)
Thank you Lauren...I'd hate to watch a video and not find out until the end what I wanted to know. I'd rather be upfront, although I may have damaged my 'watch time'🤣 I agree with you about being social, its nice to shut off for a while and be able to just relax.
@@MarysOutdoorAdventures ahahahhaah damaged watch time 😂 love that you're more relatable on your channel than most. the ones who love your content like me will stick around till the very end of the vid regardless :)
Good Morning Professional Hiker!! Mary I've been watching your Videos from video#1 to 200. Will watch then all. What an adventure wow! You are an amazing woman! I knew the High Sierra above Bishop... camping & hiking. Never walked the PCT. You are very brave! I must say I fell in love with you. Know we will never meet, but God Bless You in your life MARY. Hope to see you on more adventures.
Am I the only one who got an amazing Death Valley Painted Drive advertisement before the video? I watched the whole thing - oxidation of iron, mica, and manganese galore - even a Star Wars reference. Every once in a blue moon, youtube serves up a good one! Hope it helps :)
Ive never heard of that advert🤣 I think they are different for everyone?! Thank you for letting it run for me though I really appreciate it as it really does help me out!
I wouldn't have done it any other way. $10,000 for a 7 month vacation counting in transportation cost (airfare), insurance and gear is a bargain, IMO. Vegan is more expensive but I wouldn't have scrimped on the food either. Nor in the restaurants. You worked for that money and you should be able to spend it how you like. You can still use the camera and camping gear. You don't have to buy that again for your next adventure. It's really kind of sad that some people hike on such a limited budget that it does affect the enjoyment of the hike. Personally, I've been of the mindset to work hard (lots of overtime and sometimes 2 jobs), scrimp and save to have extra money for a trip (I backpacked Europe for 2 months when I was 40 y.o.; cost roughly $6000) that I thoroughly enjoyed and didn't have to cut costs for fear of running out of money. When younger people ask about the expense and say they don't think they can afford some of the luxuries (hotels; I didn't stay in any in Europe - hostels only) or restaurant meals I suggest postponing the hike for a year or two and save enough so you can do it comfortably without scrimping so much during your hike. Everybody feels differently about this but it does boil down to: Hike Your Own Hike. Do it the way that leaves you with No Regrets. Your experience was perfect. The videos prove it.
I completely agree! I'm so glad I decided not to be too strict with my spending. I was careful still, but I didn't want any regrets or to have a miserable time. When I went out there I went with the intention of 'I might only get to do this once, so I'm going to make the most of it'
TinkerBelle 😅 Another home run !!!👍🏽. Wow, that's alot of $$$$ but, it was also a journey of a lifetime !!! Personally I don't consider deer to be part of trail. Y u ask, great question !! In my thinking it is not specific to that trail. Yeah, probably doesn't make any sense huh??? I know I am not the only one, but, I'm grateful for the xtra expenses on our behalf to share your adventure with us 😃!!!! IMHO,vu RAISED the bar on vlogging 😅👍🏼 It is my sincere hope that you will have many opportunities to use your gear over and over again 😁. And when you come back to America to do a book signing, hopefully, you'll take some time out for the trails😋😀😉 Take care of ur self Ms Mary, ( belle of the PCT 😂 ) and keep on rocking the free world ☺️ I love ur channel, awesome stuff !!!!
I know what you mean about gear, as I will use it again. But would I have purchased the gear I did if I wasn't doing that specific trail? Probably not. I might have stuck with what I already had to save money, but it was heavier than the items I purchased which is why I bought different for the PCT. I will definitely use it all again though as I much prefer it to my older items. Thank you so much again for all your wonderful comments and if I ever get a book signing in the US I will most definitely hit the trails again🤣
Nice video. I already spent 1300 dollars on gear that I had but needed to change out. I'm dehydrating some food but I only have 15 days before my start date and it's a bit of a headache. Oh well.
You can absolutely do the pct in $2000 or under. Just stay out of town vortexes. Use pre planned mail drops. Move fast.. one dude did the triple crown in one year in around $10,000. So... the trail WILL provide.
Holy Moly Pixie Dust , Tinker Bell . You might have surpassed The Liverpool Hikers with Heidi & Brian . They were running a daily total at the end of their videos. You can tell you enjoyed your time as you kept smiling while you kept spending money .
🤣 I really did enjoy it Willard although when I got home and added it all up it did hurt a little...until I looked back on the amazing time I had and then knew it was all worth it😁
Really helpful video, thank you! Could you tell us where you got your insurance (sorry if that's already covered in another video)? I'm also from the UK and looking for insurance for my PCT truhike (starting at the end of the month) and can't find anything anywhere near £300 and still covering heights up to 4,000m. More like £800 😮
Thank you Hannah. I did mention my insurance in a Q&A video - in the comments I think as I didn't want to look like I was recommending anything to anyone. I went with a company called Cover-More which worked well for me and my history/needs etc. Although I have spoken to someone else who used it and found it too expensive?!
I am addicted to coffee too, but I disagree about the gear cost. Unless you hike rarely or occasionally, the gear you spend is an investment in your hobby. If you hike a lot, your tent will pay itself in several hikes. Even the camera, if you do photography, the hardware you buy for the PCT will last you longer than your hike. So I wouldn’t include this cost on the PCT.
Thank you so much! Yes the gear can be seen either way. I included it as I already had a tent, camping items and a camera but as I was doing a long distance trail I wanted 'lighter' gear which is why I bought new gear. Had I not being doing the PCT I would probably have stuck with my original gear for the shorter trips we are doing.
I picked the explorer as I liked the idea of having the map on the screen in case my phone died! You do have access to it on the mini but only through the phone. I used it quite a lot to check I was on track and it was nice to not have to power up my phone. Two other reasons..I found I liked to type on the handset as it saved my phone battery and also the battery lasts longer than on the mini!
wow.. initially it seems a lot but 70 quid a week for resupply seems pretty good & with a £40 town food top up that's just over a 100 all in (that would barely cover a night out in london)! i'd be pretty happy with that. travel you can't argue with (until we can hitch the atlantic) and it's not like the gear disappears after the hike. like you say a lot of the expense was down to accommodation.. but still surprisingly low for a 7 month stint at less than 30 squids a week & when you're already hitting over 8k is it really worth to skimp on that? i don't think so.. especially since WE got to see the fruits of your efforts through a wonderful vlog journal! bit selfish there hehe.. so thanks for doing this very useful video and puts the often touted $1000 a month number into focus. hope the book is going well.. i'm off to do the cape wrath trail next week at much less expense ;) & look forward to your next post
Thanks so much Rigby Bucolic, it did sound a lot but when you break these things down and compare them to general living or other holidays it does put it into perspective. I've just searched the Cape Wrath Trail, I'd not heard of that before and it looks amazing. I've not done an unmarked trail before. We are doing 3 national trails this year - it was only 2 up until a few weeks ago...now I'm thinking it might me more as I think you've added another route to our forever growing list!!! 🤣
I think that is a reasonable amount for 7 months of basic living expenses, esp considering you are from outside the US. You were very frugal and did what it took to be safe. Next time you come to the US, get in touch with the local vegan groups. You can find them on Facebook and social media. We are everywhere. Many of us are vegan athletes and some of us are gluten free also. We will take care of you and be your US family.
Mary...love your videos and thanks for the info...can you post the spreadsheet...is that possible. I retire in late 2020 and have my sites based on PCT 2021
People planning on flying into the U.S. then buying gear before hiking the PCT should fly into Portland Oregon to get their gear then take a Southwest flight to San Diego. The savings in sales tax on all that great would more than make up for the extra flight cost.
If I am having reservations about spending a certain amount of money on travel or some kind of activity that I think “ oh I shouldn’t spend this much on this that or whatever” I just ask myself this one question....Is this something I will regret on my “deathbed”?....the answer is always no so I then just go for it! I view the cost of this hike you undertook in a great investment in YOU. You are forever changed by this monumental experience and in my opinion worth every penny...or pence....I am curious if any other long trails in the US are on your horizon? If you find yourself planning a trek on the AT I live in this area near the southern terminus and would be honored to offer you support in any way I could. I would love to heap a big ole dose of Southern Hospitality on you! My husband and I would love to be your personal trail Angels to get you on your way north to Maine.
I love that attitude Suzanne! There are currently not any long trails in the US on the horizon at the moment, we are doing at least 3 long trails here in the UK this year though which we can't wait to start! If the AT is ever on my list I will definitely pop in to say hi!
Hi Eva, yes it is a standard 6 months from the UK too. As I had a multiple entry visa I hiked from the US into Canada at the northern terminal and flew back into the US where at customs they renewed my visa for an additional 6 months after I explained what I was doing. I am not recommending anyone rely on this method though as it does depend on customs decision when you are there.
It varied Nass, sometimes it was only $5-10 but if they went out their way I would give more. Usually they wouldn't even accept anything, but I always tried to give them something anyway.
So what you are trying to tell us is that being an "abnormal" thru hiker is expensive. But it certainly wouldn't have been the same if you would have hiked the PCT normally. All in all a great investment for the enrichment of lives that you personally came into contact with on trail and for the greater viewing audience who have embraced the "new abnormal".
It was a single trip worldwide travel cover that included hiking/treking up to 6000 metres. I had to go to the advanced plan rather than the basic to ensure I was covered for the elevation as well as being covered for using micro spikes/ice-axe.
I didn't realise there was. I know every now and then if my camera readjusts its autofocus it does make a strange noise but I didn't notice it on this video - unless it was my cat who was sleeping behind the camera🤣
@@MarysOutdoorAdventures - I heard it on the PCT videos also, so it's probably not your kitty. 😸 I think it's the camera. I can't imaging it's refocusing continually, but what else could it be?
Would it not be more accurate in estimating your PCT related costs by deducting from the total any costs you would have incurred had you not hiked? These would certainly have included substantial food costs and possibly other transportation costs etc..
Well, in that case you might as well add the amount of money 'lost' (not earned) because you're not having a job for 6 months... I think the total amount of this video is the most relevant number, because that's just the savings you'd need to have for such an adventure.
I think I agree Chris. To calculate the "real" cost would be very subjective and complicated. Many hikers do have income from retirement to You Tube to contributions from friends a family. Just too hard to balance out.
It could have been done like that, however it would have got way too complicated. The food I bought whilst out in the US was also a lot more expensive than here in the UK and at home I very rarely eat out so it would have been difficult to compare which is why I didn't deduct that. I also had all my bills to still pay at home whilst I was away so I decided to just focus on PCT expenditures so other hikers could relate to what to expect rather than my personal accounts.
I'm also from the UK and wanting to hike the PCT (I'm 19) the idea of figuring out insurance scares me 😂 edit: also I'm gonna be having to do full resupply drops cause of dietary restrictions. might as well not hike it lol
@@MarysOutdoorAdventures I am still in the beginning stages of gathering all my gear necessary since I have to start completely from scratch with gear so it might take a while. But if it can be done I would definitely love to try
Being from the UK myself, how difficult was/is it to get permits for all the National parks and is it true that there's a lottery for starting dates due to overcrowding on trail, would really appreciate it if you could let me know. Thanks Mary ;)
You don't need permits for all the National Parks if you have the PCT permit as it covers the trail. When I did it in 2019 I had to apply for my permit with a specific start date and there was a maximum of 50 issued for each day. It was a matter of being ready as soon as the system opened to apply, most get their dates but others have to get different dates. Yes it is to avoid overcrowding.
