The REI Winter Clearance sale has started

The REI Winter Clearance sale

Geared up already?

If you're in need of a few items for your hike, check out backcountry.com's Semi-Annual Sale.  Many items might not be the color or style one would pay big bucks for.  Hey, that's okay because you will find these items marked up to 60% off!  w00t!  Score. 

The Semi-Annual Sale - Up To 60% Off

Portlanders, Save the Date 3/7

Tualatin REI — "Talking to yourself in the rain": Stories from the PCT

On March 7, 2012, Gleb "Drug Store" Velikanov will be at REI in Tualatin, sharing photos (slideshow) and stories from his 2010 thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail.

The thought of hiking the PCT first hit Gleb while he was in college and 10 years later, on May 9th, 2010 he began his long awaited journey.  His presentation covers everything from the arduous pre-hike task of gaining 20 pounds (and losing it halfway through) to hiking ailments, scenery, fellow hiking characters, gear, trail angels/magic and everything in between.  If you're considering long distance hiking, particularly on the Pacific Crest Trail, this informative, self effacing, and humorous hiker will help inspire you to get out of the city and into the woods.

 23 spots available and the presentation runs from 7:00pm - 8:15pm

Drug Store resources

2010 PCT Blog:  www.poindexterendurance.com/blog

Vimeo:  vimeo.com/user8115972

$20 goose down vest

 Cabela's has a deal on their goose down vest for $20.  These may be handy on the trail or at home, either way it's probably faster than making your own.  :)

Head on over to BradsDeals for all the info..

*not an affiliate link

FB posts - Feb 2, 2012

Hey guys/gals, so I'm bringing my SLR on the trail. No question about that one. I do have a question about what kind of cases any of you may have used with both the camera (Canon Rebel) and lenses (I will have two fixed lenses - 28mm and 50mm - both small). I'm worried a bit about waterproofing.

- Shawn Hudson

 

I just found this super cool site: http://www.lensmateonline.com/
I didn't want the weight of a SLR but was bummed about not having a circular polarizer for those delicious blue skies along the trail. Lensmate has filter adapters for digital point and shoot camera. They had one for my S95. Sweet!

- Melissa TheBobcat Park

 

hey everybody! my husband and i are starting on May 3. just booked our plane tickets. we're hiking to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research at the Myelin Repair Foundation. 

you can check out our fundraiser here: www.makingmiles.com/ pacific-crest-trail
and our trail talk at: trailjournals/makingmiles

only 3 months to go! see you there!
Making Miles - Pacific Crest Trail Maury Howell

- Grandma Gatewood! Sweet....

 

GrandmaGatewood "An Appalachian Tale" Trailer V2.mov

- Brian TheMichiganwolverine Wybrecht

 

http://www.facebook.com/groups/195871553816518/permalink/269202996483373/ http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=sd1uqeL78bw&feature=you tu.be

- Brian TheMichiganwolverine Wybrecht

 

Patagonia Nano Puff vs UltraLight Down?

- Sara Fry

 

Actually made jokes while camping about how I'm doing everything wrong and all my stuff is heavy. Met some folks who have hiked the Pct and some of the cdt, their "good luck"felt like it was followed by a silent "dumbass". Will not join my voice to gear talk as my way seems to bother some ultralighters. I do appreciate the advice and you're probably all rights and that's OK. Not sure why I'm in a mood but just am. The trail seems so far away sometimes.

- Patrick Wilson

 

2200 miler here...I started on the AT with a 200 dollar pair of Asolo full leather GTX hiking BOOTS and wore them to Vermont!!! I there switched to a pair of busted Reebok shoes I had in my basement. They fell apart coming off of Katahdin! I plan on going through 2 pair of sketcher "trail" shoes this season on PCT...35bux apiece at my mall! Do what you feel is best, then commit to makin that work! Do nothing solely because it's trendy, and u will usually save money!

- Brian OnaGer Greene

 

One more flip side question - Anyone not have to or know of anyone that really did not have to get bigger size shoes??

- Charles Kennedy

 

Let me ask a flip side question. Who has started the hike with more traditional hiking "shoes" with not all the new trail running vent. marketing and not really had any issues??

- Charles Kennedy

FB posts - Feb 1, 2012

Just ordered a Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus online. Sure hope it fits me... I hate buying stuff like this over the computer, sight unseen.

- Shelly Skye

 

so thoughts on smartphones? I've got at&t so not sure about switching providers but i'm still using that free flip phone i got when i sgned up a few years ago so what do people think...iphone? android? any kind of plan suggestions?

- Maya Rosenzweig

 

Nephew's cat ironically peed on my cat's meow north face synthetic bag. Willing to give down bags a chance if someone floats one my way. No way am I sleeping for 6 months smelling old cat piss.

- Patrick Wilson

 

Last year was The Year of the Snow Pack. Will this year be The Year of the Blowdowns? "The Pacific Crest and John Muir trails are both impassable out of Reds Meadow, and much of the surrounding area has sustained damage."
Yosemite Death Highlights Concerns Rangers Have for Public | Safety | SoCal Wanderer | KCET

- Kolby Kirk

 

http://www.facebook.com/groups/195871553816518/268602143210125/
A summary of Pacific Crest Trail updates for 2012 | PCT | Pacific Crest Trail News

- Lon Cooper

 

I can't decided about shoes. Should I go with Merrell's Moab Ventilator (the low-top, not gortex ones) which might not have as much ventilation as Yogi recommends, but are, in my opinion they most comfortable shoe ever. Or should I find something new and meshy-er?

- Faren MacDonald

 

After 3 days in the Superstition mountains I have some good news ideas

- Patrick Wilson

 

This is where I imagine I will keep the rest of 'the world' updated about the numerous adventures in which I am likely to get involved while on the trail. Since you will be met, described and amplified in the course of the stories, I thought it'd be fair to give you the link. It's soooo close now. 74 days til I take off. I'm ready now.
roamingbobcat

- Melissa TheBobcat Park

 

They start processing PCT permits today!

- Shelly Skye

 

For those of you endeavoring to learn the guitar, here's some inspiration for ya. Rodrigo y Gabriela are a famous guitar duo, and possibly my favorite duet of musicians. They are amaaaaaazing :) http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=lJR6Fsu2hZg&feature=you tube_gdata_player

- Keala Fung

 

i have officially bowed down from this quest as there are too many other adventure blazes in my world right now... i look forward to following your adventures on here while i consider a future run at this. i plan to play on the AT and PCT this hiking season, so keep an eye or ear out for me... RIFF RAFF!!

- Michael G-Hippie Muzzillo

 

Not as impressive as what others have up, but if you want to check it out, Julia and I have put together a Facebook page at facebook.com/pct2012 :)

- Brian Lafleur

 

I had this posted on my hike page a few days ago, and a few of you asked me to post this here. Lets be safe out there......
Yosemite Death Highlights Concerns Rangers Have for Public | Safety | SoCal Wanderer | KCET

- T.J. Pain

FB posts - Jan 31, 2012

Headnet of choice?

- Jason Phelps

 

anybody leaving a little later, say around 1st or second week of may? (i must do this do to college finals :/) grrrrrrr.

- Scotty Ergas

 

do any of you know any good ways to fundraise for a trip like this? is it too late to ask for sponsorships from companies? do any of you have any advice on how to get sponsored? halp!

- Soren Dickinson

 

3oz hikertrash sunbrella. Take one $6 picnic food cover, recover with 25" sq of Mylar gift wrap (slightly heavier than emergency blanket), secure with packing tape and upholstery thread. I think it will last just long enough.

- Lisa Peru Karst

 

Curious what people are bringing for Video Cameras? We're bringing a Canon Powershot for digital stills, but I was also planning on bringing my Kodak Playsport. The wife will have the Canon, I'll have the Playsport (because it's waterproof / shockproof and thus "me" proof... unless I lose it somewhere). I'm curious if there's a better option than the Playsport though?? Something not insane expensive but shoots HD and is "resilient". :) Go Pro?

- Brian Lafleur

 

Do any of you thru hiking veterans have some recommendations on the use of consumables like sunblock? Hand Sanitizer? TP (if you use it)? How long does an ounce of sunblock last in the desert? A week? Two? Trying to figure out how much to put in the few maildrops I am planning and more importantly how big of a container to carry so it lasts between resupplies.

- Andrew Schleif

 

Gram counters - looking for a good digital scale. Say 10 - 15 lbs or whatever. Just looking for first hand users report as it seems a lot of the cheaper ones on Amazon have a bad rap.

- Charles Kennedy

 

I just got a inexpensive Ukulele ( $15) that I plan on strapping to my pack. I have always wanted to learn to play so here is my chance. 13 oz. with a Snark tuner

- Alan Fox

 

How many people have sponsors for their thru-hike?

- Jeannie Dawson

 

Want to read about 180 MPH winds taking down tens of thousands of trees in the Sierra this past November? Sign up for Trail Dirt!
Pacific Crest Trail Association

- Kolby Kirk

 

I am.planning on using my jetboil and I wasn't sure how available if at all the fuel canisters would be. I am trying to avoid having mail drops every week so I can carry a few I suppose but will there be opportunity to buy along the way?. Does anybody have any experience with this?

- Collin Weiner

 

how many quilt sleepers and any issues u had at as first time users??

- Charles Kennedy