June 15, 2003 Updated February 13, 2025
Lookng back almost a year after my trip I can think of several things I’d do differently, several things that worked perfectly, and maybe a few things I wished I’d known before I went on my trip.
Looking back some twenty years later, I have some thoughts on my thoughts as recorded at the time.
As far as “things I’d do differently” I can think of a few. For one, I’d hike later into the day if I didn’t feel too tired. I was so paranoid about getting caught at dark in an area with no camping that I stopped too early a few times, especially early in the trip. As it turned out, there were few places where one couldn’t camp, especially if you had water.
I suggest you keep a list of passes, trailheads, trail junctions, potential campsites, with mileages and elevations handy. I should have made a spreadsheet up with all that information before hand. As it was, I ended up making a list out on the back of my maps at night. Wish I would have done it before the trip.
As far as food is concerned, I already knew I enjoyed a rather bland diet and I wouldn’t need too much variety. Well, it turned out I needed even less than I anticipated. I had freeze-dried scambled eggs with bacon pieces and hot chocolate nearly every morning, and I would have been happy to have that every morning. My vacuum-packed tortillas and bulk-purchased but home vacuum packed beef stroganoff was excellent. I looked forward to it every night. In fact, here’s my supper routine almost every night: As soon as I halted, and had my pack off and my bag/bivy spread out, I’d take my sweaty day clothes off and put on my heavy fleece long johns and pile jacket and hat. It was usually only mildly cool, but it helped retain a lot of energy which was needed as soon as the sun went down. I’d then start boiling water; usually only took about three minutes. Then I’d measure out about a half-cup of freeze-dried stroganoff (yum!) into my cup and add the hot water to it. Then I’d place the cup inside a loosely sealed large baggie for a few minutes to “reconstitute.” Meanwhile, I’d put 1/4 cup of instant potatoes, some bacon pieces, and a dollop of margarine in my other cup. Now I’d add hot water to it and I’d immediately have a hot, starchy side dish. After the potatoes, I’d eat the stroganoff, and use the potato cup for my luxury-a cold glass of milk. Well, actually a cold cup of Milkman—an instant milk powder “with the kiss of cream.” This stuff is much better than Carnation powdered milk.
I still basically follow this routine or something similar. Only thing I might do differently is bring some Gu gels or something like that.
I brought too many heavy-duty cold weather clothes. I wore my expedition weight polarfleece every night as soon as I got off the trail, like sweat pants, but I had litle need for the other long johns.
I really wish I’d had a better place to keep my water bottles in my backpack. That includes having a place to store the water bladder.
In 2002 I was using a Gregory pack purchased in 1985. Modern-day (ca. 2022) packs have all integrated hydration systems into their design.
Gadgets
Photos/Camera
I brought a Yashica T4 in 2002 a pocket 35mm film camera. Digital was available but totally impractical for a long distance hike at that time. Four rolls of Kodak Ecktachrome slide film, so I was limited to only 100 images for the entire three week hike. I husbanded my exposures carefully; one regret is taking too many photos at the summit of Mt. Whitney, and not enough the evening before, at the camp site near Trail Crest. And no photos after Whitney! Or at the conclusion at Whitney Portal; Todd and I got a big pizza there.
GPS/Navigation
I had a fairly new, what seemed at the time tiny pocket GPS receiver, a Garmin eTrex Legend. What I didn’t really understand was how to load digital maps so I basically used it to pinpoint where I was on the Tom Harrison maps (hardcopies obviously).
