Website Update: Pacific Crest Trail, 2010

I just added three pages to my website related to the Pacific Crest Trail:

An introduction to the trail,
A detailed gear list of what I'll be carrying,
And my trail journal, which I'll update as I get the chance along the route.

Planning for the Pacific Crest Trail

For me, the planning for a long distance hike goes in several stages:
1. First is the germ of the idea.
2. Next, I decide "yup, this is what I'm going to do."
3. Then I start gathering general information, like how long it will take, what types of unique gear I might need this trip, where the trail begins and ends, the general route, and so on.
4. Next, more specific considerations: The ideal "weather window" to avoid deep snow early and late in hiking season. Options to get to the trail-head and back. Ordering new gear. Making arrangements to get my affairs in order before departure. Arranging for permits.
5. Finally, planning specifics. And that's what I've been doing all day today. My most valuable resource is "Yogi's PCT Handbook." A veteran long distance hiker, Yogi tells exactly what a thru-hiker wants to know. Distances between resupply points, best places to take a day off (known as "zero days,") the most important places to mail food, regulations for bear canisters and fire permits, where and if ice axes are necessary.

So today, with Yogi's book and Craig's PCT Planner I have been getting a good idea of where I will be mailing food packages, (for me about nine places along the trail, elsewhere I'll buy-as-I-go) where I might take days off, where I'll mail guidebooks and other printed information, and where I'll send special gear (ice axe, rain pants and mitten shells, bear canister, etc.)

Good planning is helpful, but even more helpful is being flexible and maintaining a good attitude. I'm sure I'll modify my plan when the real world situation doesn't match the theory.

I plan to start my hike on the Mexican border near Campo, CA, likely on April 22, and with a little luck finish in late September in Manning Park, BC.

I love the feeling of an imminent "grand adventure!"

Spectacular Arctic Mirage: Sunset on Denali

Thoreau said “The true harvest of my life is intangible - a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched”

Yesterday as I crested the hill on my drive into Fairbanks, the setting sun was just disappearing behind Denali, aka Mt. McKinley. I've seen a lot of sunsets, and I've seen Denali many times, but never combined in such a spectacular way. Soon the sun was directly behind the mountain, which now displayed a corona of blazing plumes of blowing snow against the backdrop of a bright orange ribbon of horizon.

What made the experience even more magical is that so many factors had to coincide perfectly to produce such a rare and breathtaking scene: I happened to be there on a clear day, at the perfect time, at the right altitude, at the exact spot, under perfect atmospheric conditions, on a cold Alaskan winter day. Most intriguing, perhaps, is that Denali is about 160 miles from Fairbanks, so that even at the highest point in Fairbanks Denali should only appear as a low hill peaking over the horizon. Instead, due to an arctic mirage effect it loomed as the highest peak on the horizon.

I found a clip on Youtube that shows how the horizon can move and how Denali can sometimes be easily visible. This clip was taken a couple of years ago, about this time of year in Fairbanks, looking SSW. The colors aren't as spectacular and the plumes of snow don't show, but it does a good job of capturing the illusion. Denali is the peak on the right.

Plans for the Pacific Crest Trail: 2010

I've just starting making plans to attempt a hike of the Pacific Crest Trail next summer. The PCT is a 2,650 mile trail that runs from the border with Mexico to the Canadian border, roughly following the crest of the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Mountains. The hike will likely begin in late April or very early May, and with luck I would finish in September. If you click on the map you can see a high resolution shot of the route. Many of those who have hiked the PCT believe it is one of the most enjoyable of the major scenic trails. I hope that is my experience as well. I look forward to another summer on the trail!

Back in Alaska

In late November I returned to my cabin near Fairbanks. I've recently updated my CDT journal.

Quite a few people have asked me if I plan to produce a DVD about my Continental Divide Trail hike last summer, similar to my Alaska Traverse video, but I didn't take any video on my hike other than some short clips with my still camera. I do have a number of my best still photos on my website however.

It sure is good to be back home and settled in after seven months on the road.

Have a good day, everyone!

Continental Divide Trail Updates at My Website

Just a reminder that this summer I'm attempting the Continental Divide Trail, and am posting periodic updates on my site.

You can check it out here! http://www.bucktrack.com/Continental_Divide_Trail_Updates.html

Buck

Packing Like Mad!

I have been preparing for weeks to leave for the CDT, but these last few days have been extremely busy. So many details to iron out; for the trip, for personal business and for Buck Publishing. Happily I'm having to deal with a rush of orders spurred by a glowing review of Alone Across Alaska in Backpacker Magazine.

Just as a reminder to everyone, I'll be posting updates of my CDT hike on my website including a duplicate of this post.

Two New Continental Divide Trail Pages

I've dedicated two new pages on my personal website to the CDT and my upcoming hike.

The first has maps and information, and the second is where I will post updates of my hike.

Continental Divide Trail

It's always fun to look ahead to new adventures. This summer I hope to hike the Continental Divide Trail starting on the Mexican border in New Mexico and roughly following the continental divide to the border of Canada, in Glacier National Park, Montana. Depending on the exact route taken, the hike, if completed, will likely be around 2,800 miles long.

They say the trail is about 70% completed, and there are many alternate routes to take. This appears to be a high snow year so I plan to be flexible. A likely scenario is hiking until I hit deep snow near the Colorado border, then "flipping" ahead to South Pass, Wyoming where I'll hike south to pick up the skipped section, which will hopefully be mostly melted off before I get to the deepest snows.

I've been rounding up maps, reading books, researching online and gathering gear. Currently I plan to start in late April, and if things go well and my creaky knees don't hurt too much, I'll likely finish in September or October.

On this trip I hope to update this site with current news and progress as I make town stops along the way, so I hope you'll check back often to read the latest news!

Major site update on www.bucktrack.com

Happy New Year Everyone!

I just spent a few days updating my site, mostly on the section about my Brooks Range Traverse. I've broken down that part of my site into several pages, including an expanded FAQ, separate pages for the planning and story/photo page, a gear review page, and a wallpaper photo page. I made a whole lot of changes, so if you see any errors like unusable links, let me know.

Check it out!

Also a reminder that with the way this blog is laid out, most new posts appear in the comments section.

Alaska Traverse DVD is here!

They arrived on my last day in Minnesota, which was just in time to ship out the orders that had piled up. Here's a direct link to the DVD page and trip story and photos.

Someone pointed out that I didn't have the running time on my website. I've now added that, but it's about 90 minutes.

Alaska Brooks Range Traverse DVD ready very soon!

Well, the DVD of my 1,000 mile solo trip across Alaska is all done and is currently being manufactured. It should be shipped out to me in a few days, and ready to ship to the public shortly thereafter.

You can see more about this trip, and/or pre-order your copy of the DVD in plenty of time for Christmas here.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Miscellaneous Comments and Questions Section

If you've got anything else to say that doesn't seem to fit anywhere else, it can go here.

Alaska Brooks Range Traverse

Last summer I hiked and canoed across the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. For the story, many photos, and a gear list, please click this link. If you have any questions or would like to leave any comments, please leave them here.

Alaska Fishing: The Goodnews River

Great fishing combined with a beautiful river, lots of animals and fishing with good guys made for an awesome trip. I've got many photos and a link to the video at this web page.

Smokejumpers and Smokejumping

Smokejumping has been the greatest adventure of my life! Please check out my website and leave any questions or comments you may have about The Greatest Job in the World, here.

Questions on how to become a smokejumper? See the following: How can I become a Smokejumper? (Wildfire experience needed.)

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

If you have questions or comments about hiking the Appalachian Trail, this is the place to do it. I've got several pages and dozens of photos dedicated to my 2001 thru-hike at this link.

Alaska Hunting Adventure: 700 Miles Alone by Backpack and Raft

One fall I spent six weeks alone in the Alaska bush, hunting, fishing, backpacking and rafting. I have several web pages with many photos dedicated to this adventure, along with a link to the DVD. Questions or comments? Ask them here.

Canoeing the Mississippi River

Yes, it is possible to canoe the entire Mississippi River. I have several web pages and many photos of my trip from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico at this link. If you have questions after reading through my site, and the questions and answers below, please leave them, or comments, here. Happy adventuring!