Author Archives: Ryley

rain and my gear

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Ryley

I’m much more concerned about my sleeping bag getting wet than I am about being soaked myself. Snuggling up in a warm sleeping bag while it’s pouring rain outside the tent is very satisfying, and I want to make that … Continue reading →

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Sleeping bag

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Ryley

It might seem like a tent is home after a hundred nights, but I am much more attached to my sleeping bag. I have a Western Mountaineering Megalite, which is a down mummy bag rated to 0C. Unlike a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in CDT, Gear | 5 Comments

Training

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Ryley

How do you train for a hike like this?  Given that I’m in good shape to begin with, what specifically makes hiking 20+ miles a day difficult?  From my PCT experience, the only thing I wished was that I had … Continue reading →

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Rain and I

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Ryley

As a coastal person (I grew up in Victoria, BC), I am pretty used to being rained on.  Truly, I would be crazy to live here if rain bothered me.  On the trail, my main concern in the rain is … Continue reading →

Posted in CDT, Gear | 2 Comments

Hiking clothes 2

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Ryley

I went through a ridiculous number of socks on the Pacific Crest Trail.  Sometimes two pairs a week, completely shredded by my dirty feet and too many miles.  In the deserts of Southern California, the sand and my sweat combined … Continue reading →

Posted in CDT, Gear | 4 Comments

Hiking clothes

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Ryley

It’s time to address my dorky hiking clothes!  My manly pirate shirt and short-shorts combo is hard to resist.  Throw in hiking poles and a big floppy hat and I’m a walking fashion disaster.  But it’s all for good cause, … Continue reading →

Posted in CDT, Gear | 5 Comments

Are you crazy?

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Ryley

Are you crazy???!? Why are you doing this? I actually don’t get asked this too often, I think Canadians are too polite. But my girlfriend, family, and close friends sure hear it though.  I’ll attempt to answer that, although I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in CDT | 1 Comment

Cooking

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Ryley

This video pretty much speaks for itself: Trailcooking.com is a great source of trail meal ideas. I’ve found that with a few key ingredients in my bounce box, I can actually make some of these in the little grocery stores … Continue reading →

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Shoes

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Ryley

An interesting thing happens to your feet when you walk all day. They get bigger. Mine swelled from a regular 10.5 to quadruple-wide (4E) 12.5 within a month of starting the PCT. In all I probably went through 10 pairs … Continue reading →

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Hikers Diet Plan

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Ryley

This post isn’t about what I’m going to eat on the CDT. It’s more to point out the craziness of what I eat when I’m hiking a long distance every day. In the first 5 weeks of the PCT I … Continue reading →

Posted in CDT | 4 Comments