My PCT gear
The key to the success of my adventure is this backpack and what it contains.
This is what took the longest time in my preparation and was the subject of many choices between comfort, the bare necessities, efficiency, lightness, resistance, safety...
Unfortunately, all these parameters do not necessarily go together.
So, after a few tests, notably on the Grande Traversée des Alpes last summer, I put lightness and even ultralight in mind, followed very closely by resistance, and I pushed comfort back.
This bag may be my home and all that I have for 5 months, if it goes over the fateful threshold, for me, of 15 kg, water and food included, the weight felt annihilates the pleasure of walking.
Only experience makes this tiny limit felt.
I no longer think about my 14 kg bag, but when I reach 15/16 kg, I only have the weight of this bag in mind! I will not necessarily go into the measurable details of each item but will leave the references for those who are curious ones and feel the desire to try out the trail, for what's called "Long Distance Thru-Hiking".
01
Carrying
For my bag, I chose the Arc Haul Zip 64L from Zpacks, for 3 reasons: its weight, its permeability and its quality/price ratio, unbeatable! Ultralight starts with the bag itself.
Another specificity for experts, the arched frame frees up space in the back and allows air to circulate, which avoids the unpleasant aspect of having your back constantly soaked.
This detail also allows for better weight transfer to the hips. All the weight is not in the back.
For experts too, I chose the Zip because the side closure allows you to open the bag when it is flat, to compartmentalize your belongings and therefore to have easy access.
For those who like a minimum of organization, this bag is ideal!
I took the pack cover for waterproofing in heavy rain.
Finally, I added a lumbar pad, 2 water sleeves, a belt pouch for the phone and papers, and a V-top strap to carry the bear box.
To avoid unpleasant surprises when handling the bag at the airport, I will put my backpack in a DEUTER flight bag.
02
Bivouac
For my tent, once again it's hard not to let myself be tempted by the Zpacks brand with the DUPLEX tent , only 539g, 2 rooms, waterproof and functional! It is very easy to pitch. It holds with 2 hiking poles. Very efficient and very stable system.
The ultra-light stakes come from Zpacks too.
I use the revelation quilt (0°/-20°) from Enlightened Equipment , another US brand specializing in ultra-lightweight, very comfortable and versatile duvet (hoodless, it can be used as a simple duvet). I double it with a Sea to Summit sheet , a blend of cotton and silk to get warm and for a bit more comfort, but so far I've never really needed it even in the high mountains. So it may stay home.
Keeping your duvet waterproof is essential, so I pack it in a large dry bag from Zpacks.
The pillow comes from Sea To Summit too, super compact.
For the floor mattress, the Thermarest neoair x lite inflating is a classic for ultra hikers. It's resistant and light.
For cooking and the stove, I use the MSR Pocket Rocket Mini 2 kit, ultra compact, it can contain 0.75cl, enough for all dehydrated meals and it heats up very quickly.
Finally, for the seat, aka the "Ass pad", I opted for a small format from the Decathlon brand. I may be tempted to buy a bigger one from Thermarest .
03
My clothes...
Though I'm planning to start in pants and a long shirt while I get my white skin used to the sun, my everyday clothes will be the Columbia Silver Ridge II shorts and the 0 rules polo-shirt . The Columbia brand in terms of lightness, comfort and breathability has no equal for me.
For underwears, I chose an ultra-light Icebreaker .
For the socks, I opted for the comfort and the 5 fingers in order to reduce blisters as much as possible. The Injinji trail midweight minicrew are ideal for this. A small classy detail if you hesitate, you can put on flip flops in those socks without looking stupid! I will leave with 2 pairs and have the rest sent to me. I will also take R2V2 compression gaiters from Compressport. Accustomed to wearing them when the distances begin to lengthen, they reduce muscle tensions.
For shoes, La Sportiva Ultra-Raptor , a classic for those who go trail running and hiking. Comfortable, resistant with its stone guard at the front, a must-have! Important to have shoes that can be found in the USA, apparently, this is the case!
And to finish, a good pair of JULBO AERO photochromic glasses , a Columbia Trucker cap and an anti-mosquito net from Sea To Summit.
04
...for hot weather
Weird to wear pants and a long-sleeved shirt in crazy heat, but when the temperatures reach 110°... Farenheit, I don't intend to put 1 cm of skin in the sun, but the lightness and breathability will make up for the heat.
Also, I chose the Columbia Silver Ridge II pants and shirt. Several wise advice also directed me to the Lotus Zpacks umbrella/umbrella .
I will also take a neck buff and a North Face UV hat .
05
...for cold weather
The famous 3 layers rule for a minimum of clothing and maximum efficiency, and if possible by favoring merino wool close to 100%!
Feel warm, feel good, and go far!
- 1st layer - Long-sleeved T-shirt Smartwool 200 base layer crew
- 2nd layer - hooded fleece Icebreaker Quantum II
- 3rd layer - down jacket Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer hoody Down Jacket. The lightness of this down jacket is incredible!
For the warm tights , I also chose the smartwool 200 . Super lightweight comfort.
Important, the socks -first, a very light 1st layer of Injinji Base layer liner crew 5 fingers. And a 2nd layer of thicker socks from smartwool : full- cushion model .
Finally, running type of gloves from Columbia and a Millet beanie hat.
06
... for rainy weather
Waterproof starts with good waterproof bags. Once again, the Zpacks brand does a pretty good job, with a varied range of dry bags made from the same material as the tent (Dyneema Composite Fabric - Ex Cuben fiber).
Everything I carry ends up in a waterproof bag. So I have 3 large bags (1 for the duvet, 2 for clothes, divided between warm clothes, raincoats and bivouac stuff), 1 medium for my stove and my meals, 3 small ones for papers, electronics and pharmacy + 1 food bag.
For the waterproof jacket and pants , the choices are difficult, because several parameters must go together: the level of waterproofing, breathability, lightness and resistance... Knowing that the minimum required for waterproofing is 20,000 mm Schmerber , it is difficult to find a light jacket and trousers, and even if you find them, they must also be resistant!
Basically, you can't have it all. After testing the ultralight from Vertical, I realized that I had to accept a little extra weight for a very waterproof and resistant set at the same time. A light jacket and trousers do not resist the friction of the backpack, really not for long.
That's why, I switched to RAB Down pants for plus 2 and a jacket from Millet .
Finally, I added mittens from Zpacks.
07
Hydration, repair, precaution
Hydration is the #1 concern, especially in Southern California, where additional water sources will be scarce.
I will therefore make sure to have at least 5 L of water on me. For this, I will carry 4 1l-bottles from Smartwater that I will get in the USA (very difficult to find 1l-bottles in France, thin enough to fit in the water sleeves) and I will fill my KATADYN 3L filter.
The filter is essential for this adventure. I will eventually add water treatment tablets.
I will also have a small repair kit with thread , needle , 1 strong black adhesive tape and 1 cuben fiber adhesive tape of the same material as the tent.
As a precaution, the food bag comes with a hanging system to keep it away from bears! Some barrier-proof bags, and finally a Swiss army knife (not against bears) and a spork to eat.
In respect of nature and the LEAVE NO TRACE policy, I will have a small TentLab DEUCE shovel (not pictured) to bury my personal waste, so to speak.
08
First-aid and hygiene
Rudimentary hygiene and in mini doses: light towel , a mini toothbrush , a mini toothpaste taken from hotels , organic soap, hydro gel, organic wipes, earplugs, 1 small tweezers and 1 nail clipper !
The first-aid kit will contain necessary stuff : anti-chafting NOK cream, sunscreen, a tick remover, a mosquito repellent bracelet or lotion, an emergency blanket, an anti-asthmatic, 1 multi-purpose Leuko tape, compresses, a double-skin bandage (Compeed).
I'm still wondering about any vitamins . Never needed before... Why start now ?
Everything will be contained in a waterproof first aid bag.
09
Electronics
This is what took a lot of thinking !
As I am also looking for disconnection through this adventure, why should I get equipped with electronics? Finally, the answer, like the rest of the gear is... a minimum!
I also don't deny the fact that I love to stop and take photos or videos, and communicate if only to comfort my family.
I must admit that if I don't do it in the middle of this wild yet amazing landscapes, when will I do it?
I will therefore have my smartphone equipped with the Far Out app (Ex. Guthook), which will guide me along the PCT for the route, the water sources, the stores, and good advice.
After various advice taken, I will take a chip and a US flat rate, the international regulations not allowing to use its national operator for such a long period of time, even with an unlimited flat rate.
I will take my Garmin Fenix 6 pro which will allow me to follow the entire PCT map previously downloaded from Halfmile's (GPX files).
A word to the wise, for those who have a Garmin watch in Europe, be sure to download the Western American map from the website..There's a special PCT one. A Garmin purchased in Europe only contains European maps!
The biggest dilemma was the photo-video equipment: In other words, GoPro or a compact camera like Sony RX100 VI? Although I haven't quite settled on the question at this time, I let myself be seduced by the Gopro Hero10 because it's waterproof, compact, and stronger than a camera.
Also, because I think I'll favor video over photography and for photography, the smartphone does the job, even if a camera allows more possibilities such as zooming.
Last essential device for me, a very light reader because I can't imagine for a second going without reading for 5 months!!
Finally, to charge the set, 1 ANKER 10000 mAh power bank and 1 10000 mAh solar power bank .
I will also have a 4 port USB charger for the US plugging system (pictured), and a lightning USB adapter to transfer my photos/videos to my smartphone.
Last gear, my Petzl Tikka headlamp with 2 batteries.
04
Papers
Talking about the papers means tackling the few basic administrative procedures that such a project requires.
1- The passport (with a 6-month validity)
2- The B2 Tourist Visa: online DS160 form followed by the interview at the American Embassy in Paris
3- The PCT Permit
4- Other permits: "campfire permit" for California and PCT authorization to go to Canada (not possible for 2022)
5- Plane tickets
6- A travel insurance
7- A bank account and visa card that exempt commission fees
8- A US mobile plan
1- The passport
The passport was very quick to renew: 3 weeks
2- The B2 Tourist Visa
Unless you can make 4,270 km in 90 days, you must ask for a B2 Visa for up to 6 months maximum.
The form is long. Do not hesitate to take half a day to complete it.
Once the visa fees are paid, you must make an appointment at the embassy to take the interview which will validate or not the Visa.
This was, for me, the longest and most stressful part. Initially I had an appointment at the beginning of 2021 for a departure in April of the same year. But the US border closure from 2020 to 2021 due to COVID canceled all interview requests and pushed my project back to 1 year.
I didn't have a new appointment before October 2021, but this one was also canceled and postponed to June 2022, which gave me no prospects before 2023, in other words 2 years of postponement!
Fortunately, with the reopening of the US border, new slots opened up and I managed to get an interview in January 2022.
On 01/25, I went to the US Embassy, well prepared and with the required documents :
- The DS160 form
- A 5 x 5 cm passport photo
- My passport
- My interview invitation
I have also taken optional documents attesting to:
- my preparation and my motivation for this project: planning, travel insurance, medical certificate...
- my financial solvency: account statement, savings statement
- my commitment to return to France: family ties, working contract...
The longest was to go through the various Embassy security checks. The interview itself, conducted in English and standing behind a plexiglass, was barely 3 minutes long with 3 questions:
- The reason for my visa request
- My trekking experience
- The agreement of my employer.
Finally, I did not have to provide any supporting documents.
As soon as I gave my last answer (the questions follow one another very quickly), the consular agent gave me the decision: " Your visa is approved ", which I had trouble believing at the time as it had been expressed coldly.
In this case, the passport is kept to put the visa on and the embassy sends it back within a period that is difficult to figure out in advance: 2 weeks, 3..., 1 month...
Ultimately, 2 days after my interview, I received my passport with my visa. It was so efficient, and above all it meant I could start off.
3- The PCT Permit
Another crucial step carried out in parallel with the visa is the request for the PCT permit.
The PCT goes through 7 national parks and around 30 national forests. In other words, you need as many permits as there are natural spaces crossed. Fortunately, the PCT association gives access to all the parks with 1 single permit.
You don't want to miss one of the two dates in the year (November and January) to register and to arm yourself with patience because when you connect at the date and at the time given by the PCT, it's the rush of hikers to register and book a date between March and May. The difficulty lies in the fact that the association authorizes "only" 50 departures per day over these famous 3 months in order to regulate traffic on the PCT. Places are therefore dear, even if registration is free!
You then enter a virtual waiting room, with a number and an approximate waiting time of up to 3 hours.
The longer you wait, the less choice you have of your departure date! You even risk not being selected if the number of applicants exceeds the required threshold.
This year, I was lucky to have waited only 5'. So I had every opportunity to choose the date I wanted. Once the date has been chosen, you must finalize your registration within 10 minutes. Then it's a wait of a few weeks before the PCT validates your permit.
Once validated, the permit must be printed and carried with you throughout the crossing in case of control by the rangers.
4- Other permits
To be able to make a fire or even light your stove in California, it is mandatory to have this permit. It fills up very quickly online after a few rudimentary ones.
Officially, the PCT ends on 8 km in Canada. For this, the PCT provides a permit requested from the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency). The application for this permit is temporarily suspended.
So I will stop right at the border.
5- Plane tickets
Once the permits and the visa have been obtained, comes the most "exciting" part, taking your plane ticket, meaning the project is real.
From this side, I favored security from all points of view... reliable and easily reachable airline, refund guarantees, flexibility for the return date.
So I chose AIR FRANCE, with a one-way ticket PARIS-SAN DIEGO and a return ticket SEATTLE-PARIS.
Despite the uncertainty about the return date, my advice is to take the A/R right away. It's first reassuring for the visa application in case the question is asked, and then it's financially more advantageous.
The guarantee that allows to move the return date in case makes the matter easier.
6- Travel Insurance
In order to be covered in the event of a nasty sprain at the bottom of a canyon or emergency repatriation, I chose serenity and took out a CAP AVENTURE contract with CHAPKA .
7- Card and bank account
Most traditional banking organizations do not waive commission fees abroad.
it is then necessary to turn to online banking which for the most part do not charge these fees. The opening of an account is very simple and another advantage, promotions at the opening which can go up to 130€!
8- Mobile plan
This is a question that we do not immediately think about, but which deserves careful consideration. Most national operators offer unlimited packages abroad. Apparently, it's quickly sorted out : we keep our smartphone, our number, our operator...
Actually, it's not that simple. An international regulation requires, after a few consecutive months abroad to take a local operator, otherwise, you're exposed to very high taxes despite the unlimited plan announced. Like any law, you can get past it, but it's too high a risk.
In other words, you don't really have any other choice but to take a US operator once you get there with a change of chip with therefore an American number for the time of the adventure.
