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Peewiglet

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I noticed CT pointing out this page on the OM forum, and I'm just
reading the accounts it contains now. It's enormously exciting stuff,
so I thought I'd post a link here too! Anyone wanna do the John Muir
Trail?? It sounds just fabulous...

http://www.golite.com/team/athletes/coup/index.asp


Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \
 
I found an American term for 'blisters' in the account of the Vermont
hike.

"Foot-deteriorization"

Hmmm.... I think I'll stick with 'blisters'.



Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \
 
Peewiglet <[email protected]> writes:

>I found an American term for 'blisters' in the account of the Vermont
>hike.

>"Foot-deteriorization"

>Hmmm.... I think I'll stick with 'blisters'.

My favourite Americanisation is "verticalisation", often used by US
sports commentators to describe that special thing that sportspeople
do when trying a reach a ball that's a little too high to reach with
your feet on the ground.

We're all used to those moments when you try to remember the word for
something and can't find it. But you *do* know that there is a word,
you've just temporarily drawn a blank. I sometimes wonder if there's
something in the American diet which means you not only draw a blank,
but you even forget that there ever was such a word. It wouldn't
suprise me if some of our modern food additives turned out to be
verbicides.
--
Chris Malcolm [email protected] +44 (0)131 651 3445 DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]
 
On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 11:17:14 +0000 (UTC), [email protected] (Chris
Malcolm) wrote:

[...]
>My favourite Americanisation is "verticalisation", often used by US
>sports commentators to describe that special thing that sportspeople
>do when trying a reach a ball that's a little too high to reach with
>your feet on the ground.

Ger-osss......! <fx: pukelet>

[...]
>It wouldn't
>suprise me if some of our modern food additives turned out to be
>verbicides.

And genetically modified, no doubt :)



Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \
 
On 11/12/04 12:25 pm, in article [email protected],
"Peewiglet" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I noticed CT pointing out this page on the OM forum, and I'm just
> reading the accounts it contains now. It's enormously exciting stuff,
> so I thought I'd post a link here too! Anyone wanna do the John Muir
> Trail?? It sounds just fabulous...

I've always wanted to do this trail! It does sound wonderful!

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK
 
On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 19:57:52 GMT, Andy Howell
<andy.howellNOSPAM@ecotrendDOTorgDOTuk> wrote:

>On 11/12/04 12:25 pm, in article [email protected],
>"Peewiglet" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I noticed CT pointing out this page on the OM forum, and I'm just
>> reading the accounts it contains now. It's enormously exciting stuff,
>> so I thought I'd post a link here too! Anyone wanna do the John Muir
>> Trail?? It sounds just fabulous...
>
>I've always wanted to do this trail! It does sound wonderful!

Doesn't it indeed, and the photographs....!

Anyone else, then? :)



Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \
 
On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 22:50:27 -0000, Darren G <[email protected]>
wrote:

[...]
>> Anyone else, then? :)
>
>not sure - didn't see the original post. Any chance of chuking the link
>back in? I'm all googled out for today :)

No prob's :)

http://www.golite.com/team/athletes/coup/index.asp

I think it's the first of the 3 walks described.

p.s. check out the diet he was eating!


Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \
 
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 19:57:52 GMT, Andy Howell
> <andy.howellNOSPAM@ecotrendDOTorgDOTuk> wrote:
>
> >On 11/12/04 12:25 pm, in article [email protected],
> >"Peewiglet" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> I noticed CT pointing out this page on the OM forum, and I'm just
> >> reading the accounts it contains now. It's enormously exciting stuff,
> >> so I thought I'd post a link here too! Anyone wanna do the John Muir
> >> Trail?? It sounds just fabulous...
> >
> >I've always wanted to do this trail! It does sound wonderful!
>
> Doesn't it indeed, and the photographs....!
>
> Anyone else, then? :)

not sure - didn't see the original post. Any chance of chuking the link
back in? I'm all googled out for today :)

--
Darren
 
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 22:50:27 -0000, Darren G <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> [...]
> >> Anyone else, then? :)
> >
> >not sure - didn't see the original post. Any chance of chuking the link
> >back in? I'm all googled out for today :)
>
> No prob's :)
>
> http://www.golite.com/team/athletes/coup/index.asp
>
> I think it's the first of the 3 walks described.
>
> p.s. check out the diet he was eating!

I'm not sure whether to be impressed or ring for the straightjacket. I
probably carried more today for a few hours than he did for the whole
trail. But as it didn't impinge my enjoyment I really don't care.

And I pity anybody walking behind him!

--
Darren
 
On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 23:18:35 -0000, Darren G <[email protected]>
wrote:

[...]
>I'm not sure whether to be impressed or ring for the straightjacket. I
>probably carried more today for a few hours than he did for the whole
>trail. But as it didn't impinge my enjoyment I really don't care.

>And I pity anybody walking behind him!

He must presumably be a 'food is fuel' sort of person. I can't image
going that long with no variation, and without a cup of tea/coffee/hot
choccy!


Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \
 
On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 23:27:52 -0000, "AndyP"
<[email protected]> wrote:

[...]
>I go for the non cooking approach to backpacking but unfortunately I don't
>have a stone of spare fat to burn for energy as well so take a little more
>than that (if I was reading the right one).
>
Yes, that was the one.


Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \
 
In message <[email protected]>,
SteveO@?.?.invalid writes
>On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 12:25:47 +0000, Peewiglet <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>Anyone wanna do the John Muir
>>Trail?? It sounds just fabulous...
>
>"Alpine style thru-hiking" - that's an interesting concept! Stolen
>from climbing o'course ;-)

The name's stolen of course. The concept is somewhat different to alpine
ascents.
>
>The JMT sounds brilll, mind you so do a lot of them, pity its not
>exactly on the doorstep :-(

It is very accessible for an overseas destination though, as there are
plenty of flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco from where buses &
trains can take you to the trail.

The John Muir Trail is one of the finest trails I've ever walked. The
Sierra Nevada is one of the best mountain ranges for backpacking, for
the weather as well as the wilderness. It's usually warm, sunny and
calm! The last walk I did there - a five week 500 mile one on 2002 - I
slept under the stars most nights, pitching a tarp when it was windy or
looked like rain, and wore a waterproof for just a couple of hours.
There was an account of this walk in the August issue of TGO.

There's masses of info on the JMT at

http://www.pcta.org/about_trail/muir/over.asp

The standard US guidebook is Thomas Winnetts' The John Muir Trail
(Wilderness Press). There's also a good new Cicerone Press guide by
Alan Castle, also called The John Muir Trail. And you can find an
illustrated account by me in a book called Classic Treks (Bulfinch
Press), edited by Bill Birkett.
 
On Mon, 13 Dec 2004 17:03:57 +0000, Chris Townsend
<[email protected]> wrote:

[...]
>It is very accessible for an overseas destination though, as there are
>plenty of flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco from where buses &
>trains can take you to the trail.

It sounds even better....
>
>The John Muir Trail is one of the finest trails I've ever walked. The
>Sierra Nevada is one of the best mountain ranges for backpacking, for
>the weather as well as the wilderness. It's usually warm, sunny and
>calm! The last walk I did there - a five week 500 mile one on 2002 - I
>slept under the stars most nights, pitching a tarp when it was windy or
>looked like rain, and wore a waterproof for just a couple of hours.

It really does sound absolutely fabulous: I'm really very tempted
indeed.

What's the situation with bears? Being scared of large dogs, I'm also
a little nervous about bears... :) How likely are walkers to encounter
aggressive bears over there?

The other thing I was wondering about was the possiblity of
encountering dangerous people out there. I realise I could meet a
dangerous person on a hill in the Lakes or Scotland, but I assess the
likelihood as roughly on a par with that of meeting ET. How is it out
there, in your impression? Do you know whether US women would regard
it as a safe trail for solo walking?

>There was an account of this walk in the August issue of TGO.

Sob... I have September onwards.
>
>There's masses of info on the JMT at
>
>http://www.pcta.org/about_trail/muir/over.asp

Thank you v. much indeed! I'll go and take a look.
>
>The standard US guidebook is Thomas Winnetts' The John Muir Trail
>(Wilderness Press). There's also a good new Cicerone Press guide by
>Alan Castle, also called The John Muir Trail. And you can find an
>illustrated account by me in a book called Classic Treks (Bulfinch
>Press), edited by Bill Birkett.

Thanks for that also :) Exciting...


Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \
 
On 13/12/04 5:03 pm, in article [email protected],
"Chris Townsend" <[email protected]> wrote:

> The John Muir Trail is one of the finest trails I've ever walked. The
> Sierra Nevada is one of the best mountain ranges for backpacking, for
> the weather as well as the wilderness. It's usually warm, sunny and
> calm! The last walk I did there - a five week 500 mile one on 2002 - I
> slept under the stars most nights, pitching a tarp when it was windy or
> looked like rain, and wore a waterproof for just a couple of hours.
> There was an account of this walk in the August issue of TGO.

Sounds good. I you sure there were no thunderstorms in the afternoons Chris
!!!

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK
 
In message <[email protected]>, Peewiglet
<[email protected]> writes
>On Mon, 13 Dec 2004 17:03:57 +0000, Chris Townsend
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>[...]
>>It is very accessible for an overseas destination though, as there are
>>plenty of flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco from where buses &
>>trains can take you to the trail.
>
>It sounds even better....
>>
>>The John Muir Trail is one of the finest trails I've ever walked. The
>>Sierra Nevada is one of the best mountain ranges for backpacking, for
>>the weather as well as the wilderness. It's usually warm, sunny and
>>calm! The last walk I did there - a five week 500 mile one on 2002 - I
>>slept under the stars most nights, pitching a tarp when it was windy or
>>looked like rain, and wore a waterproof for just a couple of hours.
>
>It really does sound absolutely fabulous: I'm really very tempted
>indeed.
>
>What's the situation with bears? Being scared of large dogs, I'm also
>a little nervous about bears... :) How likely are walkers to encounter
>aggressive bears over there?

Aggressive bears are extremely unlikely. I know of no bear attacks
along the JMT. However there are bears and they will steal your food if
they can. A bear canister is essential. I notice that even Coup of
GoLite used one on his ultralight trip. Bear canisters can be rented if
you don't want to buy one.

If you're lucky you'll see a bear. They are magnificent.
>
>The other thing I was wondering about was the possiblity of
>encountering dangerous people out there. I realise I could meet a
>dangerous person on a hill in the Lakes or Scotland, but I assess the
>likelihood as roughly on a par with that of meeting ET. How is it out
>there, in your impression? Do you know whether US women would regard
>it as a safe trail for solo walking?

I would say it's on a par with meeting ET. The JMT is quite a popular
trail. All the people I met were very friendly. I've never heard of an
attack on anybody.
>
>>There was an account of this walk in the August issue of TGO.
>
>Sob... I have September onwards.

The TGO office probably have back issues. It's still listed on the TGO
website.
>>
>>There's masses of info on the JMT at
>>
>>http://www.pcta.org/about_trail/muir/over.asp
>
>Thank you v. much indeed! I'll go and take a look.
>>
>>The standard US guidebook is Thomas Winnetts' The John Muir Trail
>>(Wilderness Press). There's also a good new Cicerone Press guide by
>>Alan Castle, also called The John Muir Trail. And you can find an
>>illustrated account by me in a book called Classic Treks (Bulfinch
>>Press), edited by Bill Birkett.
>
>Thanks for that also :) Exciting...
>
 
In message <BDE3B5D4.3D808%andy.howellNOSPAM@ecotrendDOTorgDOTuk>, Andy
Howell <andy.howellNOSPAM@ecotrendDOTorgDOTuk.?.invalid> writes
>On 13/12/04 5:03 pm, in article [email protected],
>"Chris Townsend" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> The John Muir Trail is one of the finest trails I've ever walked. The
>> Sierra Nevada is one of the best mountain ranges for backpacking, for
>> the weather as well as the wilderness. It's usually warm, sunny and
>> calm! The last walk I did there - a five week 500 mile one on 2002 - I
>> slept under the stars most nights, pitching a tarp when it was windy or
>> looked like rain, and wore a waterproof for just a couple of hours.
>> There was an account of this walk in the August issue of TGO.
>
>Sounds good. I you sure there were no thunderstorms in the afternoons Chris
>!!!
>
There was one thunderstorm, the day I wore the waterproof jacket for two
hours. I was well down in the forest before the lightning started
though.

I was there mid-August to mid-September, when the weather tends to be
calmer than earlier in the summer.

When I walked the Pacific Crest Trail I went through the Sierra Nevada
in mid May and June, in snow virtually the whole way. I watched
thunderstorms in the distance from the top of Mount Whitney but I wasn't
caught in any storms until I was north of Tuolumne Meadows when several
big storms occurred. I discovered how fast I could run with a heavy pack
when scared enough!

I've had far more thunderstorms in the Rockies. I did a two week walk in
the Maroon Bells area one August and there were thunderstorms almost
every afternoon and evening. I also had quite a few big thunderstorms in
the Uinta Mountains in Utah a few years ago.

And only this October there were half a dozen or more big thunderstorms
on the Makalu trek in Nepal.

Of course the Highlands aren't immune from thunder either. The only time
I've abandoned a camp in the middle of the night was during a
thunderstorm in the Ben Dorain area one May. The tent poles were buzzing
so I fled into the rain and squatted on my foam mat until the storm
moved away.
 
In message <[email protected]>,
"[email protected]" <[email protected]> writes
>
>Peewiglet wrote:
>> The other thing I was wondering about was the possiblity of
>do the PCT instead of the JMT :)

Yes, I'd recommend the PCT! But it is 2400 miles longer than the JMT.

And if the JMT is too long at 210 miles the High Sierra Trail at around
70 miles would be a good alternative. Rather than north-south like the
JMT the HST runs east-west, starting in Giant Forest - so you see the
unbelievably big and magnificent Giant Sequoias - and finishing along 13
miles of the JMT to Mount Whitney. The HST is just as glorious as the
JMT but much less popular.

Details at

http://www.nps.gov/seki/hst.htm
 
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