I subscribe to the notion: " Failure to plan is planning to fail".
Yet some people do very little in the way of planning and some of those people actually get to Canada. I am not one of those people. I do not like to be ill-prepared. And I can tell you not once in my life did I wish I had done less to prepare for anything. Take the time, do the research and go the extra mile. You won't be sorry. So read the rest of this, use what appeals to you, and disregard the rest. I am no expert so I can only speak about what I found in my research that worked for me. Very little can I claim as my own idea, most I learned from other journals and books I read during the last year. Preparation itself won't guarantee success but at least I can say I gave it my best shot.
The way I look at it is this: there are 3 major areas to prepare:
1) Gear and Food
2) Physical and Mental Preparation
3) Logistics
Physical Conditioning
It only makes sense if you are going to walk an average of 17-20 miles a day with 35lbs on your back for 5-6 months you should strengthen your body. This may prevent an injury that could result in the premature end of your hike. That means a lot of walking in preparation. Walking on a treadmill is not the same as walking on a trail, but if that is all you have to work with then that is what you must use. Remember the cost of a Thru-Hike is substantial. Do no cut corners in the preparation. In other words don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish. And don't just walk. You can strengthen your body thru aerobics, weight lifting and other forms of exercise that will compliment the muscles needed in hiking. Look at any sport's training program and you will see a variety of exercise techniques. We have all heard of the football players that take dance lessons and yoga to improve their game.
Logistics
If you want arrive in Canada by Oct 1 you need to know how you are going to get there. There are many options for maps, gps, etc. Review the feedback from other hikers before spending your money. I went with Yogi's books, Wilderness Press and Half-Mile Maps (you can find all of this on the Pacific Crest Trail Association website). I also purchased a GPS and I took a class on navigation. Most people have a better sense of direction that I do. I get lost in a parking lot trying to find my car. My husband has always been the navigator in the family so I really had to work at all of this. I don't feel very confident when it come to finding my way but at least now I know where to look and how to use the many tools I will be bringing with me. Yogi's books can help you decide whether to send a resupply box or buy what you need in town. Other journals also offer insite into this task. If you can buy only one book, buy Yogi's - it is a great resource.
Gear and Food
If you have not been on many long distance hikes (like me) allow a lot of time for this research. Then more time to try out what you think might work for you. Weight and cost are big factors to consider. Not one item on my first trip made it to the final gear list. I replaced everything along the way with items that were lighter or had dual purposes. There is no substitute for taking a weekend and trying out gear. Be sure to go rain or shine. In-fact plan a trip in the rain so you can test out your rain gear too. After each trip I would replace gear or confirm it was the right choice. I tested 5 packs, 6 different pads, 4 different sleeping bags, 5 different tents, numerous shoes/pants/shirts. I am the proud owner of 4 different stoves, several cook pots and numerous non-essentials that were a waste of money. Be sure to buy from a company that has a good return policy like REI or rent equipment until it passes the smell test.
I am not a picky eater but I want to make the calories count so I want to carry more healthy but hight calorie and light meals. I dehydrated a lot of my own snacks and some soups and dried my own herbs. I did not do alot of this. There are a lot of good quality resources out there now so I bought a lot of meals from Mary Jane Farms. They are a little pricey but you can get them in bulk and package them yourself which will save you a lot of money.
With all this said, time will tell if I made the right choices. At the conclusion of my hike I will review my list and post comments about each item. Stay tuned...
