I agree with you about the desert. Living in the southeast it's just nice to experience something new and I loved the horizon to horizon, unobstructed views.
Jon, all of your videos are brilliant and the information is invaluable. You do your own thing which is what makes them so unique. Happy Hiking 🥾- Julia from the UK 🇬🇧
Hookup, thanks for sharing these great tips. This is the kind of good advice that will help a number of us “new to the desert” future hikers. I logged all that info for next years PCT trip!!
Really good advice! Most always speak so negatively on the desert sections and I really appreciate your positive insights! I hope to try the PCT someday myself! Heading to the Sierra this summer for some JMT and Whitney.
Thanks Jon. After getting Lyme disease twice, the meds made my skin really sensitive to the sun. Hence, I carry the same umbrella and sunscreen on every section hike. I will be doing the same when hiking out West. Nuun tablets are a must as I have gotten heat exhaustion twice.
Interesting personal note: the hiking in the desert I do, the less water I need. Your body will become water effecient to a degree. With that said, that may not apply to you and you should try this if you are new to the desert.
The body can lose water faster than you can replace it orally. You can generally absorb a max of about 24oz/hour. That means drinking more than 4-6 ounces every 15 minutes is not useful.
Thank you so much! I plan to hike the AT starting next Feb. 2023. Then the PCT the following year. Now I know I stand a chance to get a permit in Feb/ March at Campo as long as I get my application in the November application process. If I can’t start until May I would rather do a SOBO. Is that possible to change during the application process?
I must point out one problem, Jon. Encouraging folks to take all the afternoons off in the desert is problematic. Those breaks, neros and zeros should be taken judiciously, sparingly, only as needed. The math is clear: "If you leave Campo on April 15th, you have to walk about 17.5 miles per day, with no days off, in order to reach Canada by September 15th." (Craig's PCT Planner). The trail in the North Cascades is challenging, and the weather is unforgiving when the storms hit. Being out there after mid-September is risky, and a lot of hikers come off trail in Washington.
Agreed, a hiker will never make it doing 12 mile days and taking a lot of days off. Most of the hikers we observed were easily pulling 15-20+ mile days utilizing an afternoon break. Here's my personal experience - I hiked at half the pace and used nearly three times the water while wearing myself out physically if I tried to push through the hottest part of the day. I think I can actually get more miles done in a day while carrying less water by staying out of the heat. Of course, everyone has to make their own decisions on this one.
