PCT: Gear

ByPurple Haze Posted on

No, I’m not taking an inflatable tandem kayak on the PCT but it is a new bit of gear. Mrs. Haze and I had great fun testing it this summer on Idaho and Montana lakes. Worked the best and less arguments, when I fished and she paddled.

I am still happy with my main gear – ULA Catalyst pack, Marmot Helium bag and Big Agnes Fly Creek tent. Only a few gear changes from the 800-mile Arizona Trail hike earlier this year:

  • Replace the Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter with a Steripen Adventurer. The Hiker Pro worked well on the stock ponds but it got a real workout by the end. Looking for something lighter and hopefully the 3.6oz Steripen will be reliable and hold up for the duration.
  • Replace the Thermarest Z-lite pad with a Thermarest NeoAir. The Z-lite pad was feeling very thin and the shade lighter NeoAir sure felt good on the trial run. Only concerns are durability in the desert and will I have the strength to blow it up at end of the day! I’ll cut a section off the Z-lite for a butt pad.

I have downloaded Halfmile’s PCT data into my Gaia GPS on my iPhone – thanks Halfmile! I used this setup on the AZT and it worked well, still some bushwhacking but eventually got back on track.