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	<title>The Hike Guy &#187; Hiking</title>
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	<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com</link>
	<description>Hey you! Take a hike!</description>
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		<item>
		<title>Revisiting &#8220;Condor&#8217;s PCT Adventure in 3 Minutes&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2012/02/05/revisiting-condors-pct-adventure-in-3-minutes/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=revisiting-condors-pct-adventure-in-3-minutes</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2012/02/05/revisiting-condors-pct-adventure-in-3-minutes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:59:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kolby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2011]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Crest Trail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PCT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[timelapse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[videos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehikeguy.com/?p=989</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was completely taken aback by the popularity of my little video, Condor&#8217;s PCT Adventure in 3 Minutes (below). As of today, the video has been viewed nearly 40,000 times. It has been featured on some of my favorite websites: REI, Sierra Daily, Hiking In Finland, Pete Thomas Outdoors, and Rick McCharles&#8217; BestHike.com. I&#8217;ve also [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6699446191/" title="243 by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6699446191_e5b261abf7_z.jpg" width="640" alt="243"></a></p>
<p>I was completely taken aback by the popularity of my little video, Condor&#8217;s PCT Adventure in 3 Minutes (below).  As of today, the video has been viewed nearly 40,000 times. It has been featured on some of my favorite websites: <a href="http://findout.rei.com/blog_detail/?contentid=5388195921963456709">REI</a>, <a href="http://sierraclub.typepad.com/sierradaily/2012/01/get-inspired-to-take-a-long-hike-or-at-least-to-grow-a-big-beard.html">Sierra Daily</a>, <a href="http://www.hikinginfinland.com/2012/01/week-in-review_16.html">Hiking In Finland</a>, <a href="http://www.petethomasoutdoors.com/2012/01/see-condor-kirks-epic-pacific-coast-trail-in-3-minutes-video.html">Pete Thomas Outdoors</a>, and Rick McCharles&#8217; <a href="http://besthike.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/1700mi-90lbs-lost-in-3min/">BestHike.com</a>. I&#8217;ve also discovered international discussions about the video, but only have an idea of what they say since the sites are in <a href="http://explorerworld.hu/2012/01/27/majdnem-3000-kilometert-gyalogolt/">Hungarian</a>, <a href="http://blogues.cyberpresse.ca/massicotte/2012/01/30/cinq-mois-sur-le-sentier-90-livres-perdues-et-une-barbe-en-plus/">French-Canadian</a>, and <a href="http://www.bergleben.de/wandern/2001-e_394783.html">German</a>. I&#8217;ve also discovered some excellent websites thanks in part to the viral spotlight cast on my video.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34766625?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></p>
<p>When I made the video, I wanted to keep it short. Any longer than a few minutes and I knew I&#8217;d lose viewer&#8217;s interest.  I figured that not everyone watching the video would make it to the end and wanted to reward those who did. Based on viewer statistics, only about 64% of you stuck around to the end to see me dance like, well, like a mountain man who spent a little too long in the woods.  More proof:</p>
<p><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/35047560?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></p>
<p>All of the feedback I&#8217;ve received about my video has been positive.  It gives me great satisfaction that it has inspired people to get outdoors. I&#8217;ve been doing my best to promote the outdoor lifestyle for years and had no idea that this video would do so much towards that cause. Thank you for everyone for your messages of support.  If you would like to chat about the outdoors or learn more about what I&#8217;m up to, feel free to joint the discussion on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/KolbyJKirk">Facebook public profile</a>.</p>
<p>Some of you have asked me for a closer look at some of the 300+ photos I used to make my video.  I can&#8217;t imagine being able to appreciate the scenery as it sped past at about 215 images per minute, so I&#8217;ve uploaded all the photos onto Flickr for you to peruse.  Keep in mind that I never intended these images to be viewed for more than a split second, so you might see small tweaks I&#8217;ve made to a handful of the images (like background cloning or corner distortions) in order to fill the frame while still aligning my eyes in every frame. Click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/sets/72157628874912179/">here</a> or on the image below to be taken to my Flickr set.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/sets/72157628874912179/" title="Flickr Mosaic by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6721570019_82f6ffaf8d_o.jpg" width="650" alt="Flickr Mosiac"></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>DIY Ultra-Light Watercolor Pencil Palette</title>
		<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2012/01/17/diy-ultra-light-watercolor-pencil-palette/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=diy-ultra-light-watercolor-pencil-palette</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2012/01/17/diy-ultra-light-watercolor-pencil-palette/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:12:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kolby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[backpacking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DIY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[painting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plein air]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ultralight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[watercolor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[watercolor pencils]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehikeguy.com/?p=956</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I enjoy using watercolor pencils to create artwork in my journals, but carrying the art supplies into the field and onto the trail can be a hassle. The 50+ pencils are cumbersome, take up a lot of space in my backpack, and are a pain to keep organized while outdoors. I pondered a lot about [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I enjoy using watercolor pencils to create <a href="http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/11/13/the-pct-appendix/">artwork in my journals</a>, but carrying the art supplies into the field and onto the trail can be a hassle. The 50+ pencils are cumbersome, take up a lot of space in my backpack, and are a pain to keep organized while outdoors. I pondered a lot about how to make a watercolor pencil set for the field. Rather than switch to a small watercolor palette setup, I wanted to modify my pencils in a way that works best for my style of painting. Here&#8217;s what I came up with:</p>
<p>My watercolor pencil palette!</p>
<p><a title="Final Watercolor Pencil Palette by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6699092411/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6699092411_12381720c3_z.jpg" alt="Final Watercolor Pencil Palette" width="640" height="505" /></a></p>
<p>I find that using watercolor pencils rather than watercolor pans allow me more control over the amount of color I add to my journals. I also love the simplicity and minimalistic aspect of applying color using just a drop or two of water from a water brush mixed into the tip of a watercolor pencil. Before I implemented this palette, I would whittle a long groove into the tip of a watercolor pencil in order to expose more of the colored lead. I would rarely apply a watercolor pencil directly to paper, but rather dab a water pen onto the pencil, then onto the page.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Here&#8217;s what you needed for this project:</span><br />
<OL></p>
<li>5&#215;7&#8243; picture frame</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VA9ESS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=aurrasingnet&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B000VA9ESS">Beacon Quick Grip All-Purpose Permanent Adhesive</a><img class=" vpeqqoryrvlbxcsywetx" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=aurrasingnet&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B000VA9ESS" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></li>
<li>Exacto knife</li>
<li>Balsa wood</li>
<li>Sandpaper</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004Z2U4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=aurrasingnet&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00004Z2U4">Xacto X75300 Precision Razor Saw Set</a><img class=" vpeqqoryrvlbxcsywetx" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=aurrasingnet&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00004Z2U4" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></li>
<li>Watercolor Pencil set (Palette will hold up to 96 colors)</li>
<p></OL></p>
<p>To start, I went down to my local frame seller (Rite Aid, Michael&#8217;s, Target, ect.) and found a solid frame that looked like it could take some bangs and hits out in the field. I chose a 5&#215;7&#8243; frame, but you could probably use a 4&#215;6&#8243; frame just as well for this project. Just make sure that it is deep enough to hold a pencil (1/2 inch deep will do). I looked for a frame with some shelf damage and convinced the the store to sell it to me at a discount. At home, I removed the guts of the frame (the glass, cardboard, and leg) and replaced it with a 5&#215;7&#8243; cut piece of balsa wood. (You can find balsa wood at most local hobby stores.) In a well ventilated area, I glued in the wood using Quick Grip All-Purpose Permanent Adhesive and let it set for a few hours.</p>
<p><a title="Glue &amp; 5x7 frame by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6699088929/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6699088929_a20a1cde6e_z.jpg" alt="Glue &amp; 5x7 frame" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>
<p>While the glue set, I cut my Prismacolor pencils down to size. I took my well-used set of pencils and cut off their heads. For those of you following along in making your own palette and you&#8217;re starting with a new set of unsharpened pencils, can skip this step.</p>
<p><a title="Off With Their Heads! by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6699088555/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6699088555_efc5791d11_z.jpg" alt="Off With Their Heads!" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>
<p>Headless pencils.</p>
<p><a title="Pencils Ready to be cut by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6699089357/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6699089357_ec3018374d_z.jpg" alt="Pencils Ready to be cut" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>
<p>I then cut off two 12mm sections of each pencil. Why two, you ask? I figured that since I took the time to do this project, I&#8217;d spend a little more time making a backup set. Here&#8217;s what all 100 cut pieces look like resting in the frame. I laid them in at this stage just to figure out how many pieces would fit comfortably in each row (the answer in my case is 24).</p>
<p><a title="12mm each by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6699089883/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6699089883_9bec65d1fe_z.jpg" alt="12mm each" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>
<p>I then whittled each 12mm piece to expose the pigmented lead center. I also exposed a bit of the raw wood on the opposite end to write down the watercolor pencil number. In this photo is Prismacolor&#8217;s &#8220;Dark Green&#8221;</p>
<p><a title="Widdled Pencil by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6713190999/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6713190999_075aff6ae5_z.jpg" alt="Widdled Pencil" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>
<p>And here are the rest:</p>
<p><a title="Modified for use by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6699090911/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6699090911_cbfd642d13_z.jpg" alt="Modified for use" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>
<p>After whittling all the pieces, I organized them by color out of the palette, laid down a few rows of glue in the pallete, then placed each whittled pencil, aligning them carefully. The Beacon adhesive takes a while to cement, so if you make a mistake, you have a few minutes to move around the pencils.</p>
<p><a title="Glueing in Place by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6699091785/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6699091785_2334c23791_z.jpg" alt="Glueing in Place" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>
<p>Since I only have about 50 colors in my set (all I really need), I removed a row to make room for misc. art supplies (pens, graphite pencils, brushes, etc.) I also made sure that the color end of the pencil was facing away from its neighboring color. This will help keep your colors separated when you add water to the palette. The top row is 24 duplicate colors, the colors I use the most in the field.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t throw out the remaining shaft of pencil that you didn&#8217;t cut!  It is still useful as a pencil or as stock for when you need to replace a depleted color in your palette.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6715453979/" title="Lost Dinner Camp 2 by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6715453979_df1feb92b6_z.jpg" width="640" alt="Lost Dinner Camp 2"></a></p>
<p>I originally envisioned a hinged lid &#8211; and I bought the supplies to make one &#8211; but I travel with this palette in a freezer bag, which does a fine job in protecting the palette.</p>
<p>Have any questions? Feel free to post them below!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>14</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>My PCT Adventure in 3 Minutes</title>
		<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2012/01/09/my-pct-adventure-in-3-minutes/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=my-pct-adventure-in-3-minutes</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2012/01/09/my-pct-adventure-in-3-minutes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:05:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kolby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Crest Trail]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehikeguy.com/?p=947</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After watching this video in 2009 and this video in April of 2011, I was inspired to make my own time lapse on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). For 159 days, I took a few photos and videos each day to show the effects of hiking 1,700 miles. Some effects are obvious: wight loss (90 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After watching <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ky6vgQfU24">this video</a> in 2009 and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1lFLNIO6ps">this video</a> in April of 2011, I was inspired to make my own time lapse on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).  For 159 days, I took a few photos and videos each day to show the effects of hiking 1,700 miles.  Some effects are obvious: wight loss (90 pounds), beard growth (3 pounds) &#8211; but others are not so obvious, like my mental state. Hopefully those who make it through all three minutes (well, 2:46) will see how a long hike can effect ones mental state.</p>
<p>As the 377 photos and 11 videos parade by at 215 beats per minute, keep an eye out for a few Easter eggs: a bloody nose, a pair of broken sunglasses, my parents (twice), two fly fishermen, a movie theater marque, a rainbow, a &#8220;buckle up&#8221; joke, a famous date shake from Hadley&#8217;s, the leg of a fake human skeleton, and my 3-year old niece sleeping. </p>
<p><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34766625?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" width="600" height="338" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></p>
<p>And here&#8217;s what 1000 photos looks like!<br />
<img alt="PCT Timelapse Mosaic" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/PCTtimeplapsemosaic_650.jpg" title="PCT Timelapse Mosaic" class="alignnone" width="650" height="374" /></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>27</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Top Five PCT Necessities</title>
		<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/12/09/top-five-pct-necessities/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=top-five-pct-necessities</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/12/09/top-five-pct-necessities/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:43:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kolby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Crest Trail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[packing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spork]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ultra light]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehikeguy.com/?p=900</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Look for the bare necessities, The simple bare necessities, Forget about your worries and your strife, I mean the bare necessities, Of mother natures recipies, That bring the bare necessities to life. The lyrics from Disney&#8217;s The Jungle Book provides good advice for thru hikers. When I stripped down my bag to just 10-15 pounds [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Look for the bare necessities,<br />
The simple bare necessities,<br />
Forget about your worries and your strife,<br />
I mean the bare necessities,<br />
Of mother natures recipies,<br />
That bring the bare necessities to life.</em></p>
<p><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9ogQ0uge06o?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>The lyrics from Disney&#8217;s <em>The Jungle Book</em> provides good advice for thru hikers.  When I stripped down my bag to just 10-15 pounds to <em>just the necessities</em> to summit Mount Whitney as a side trip off of my Pacific Crest Trail journey, I couldn&#8217;t believe how much faster I could hike. I was hopping and skipping up the steep switchbacks of Whitney&#8217;s west side, practically running circles around a troop of Boy Scouts that were weighed down by their heavy packs.  Of course, some thru hikers ONLY carry 10-12 pounds of gear for their PCT thru-hikes, and they ran circles around me.  Other than my side trip to Whitney, I was by no means an &#8220;ultra light&#8221; backpacker. I carried a 3.3 pound 2-man tent, a 3.3 pound sleeping bag, and enough electronics to open a Radio Shack on the trail.</p>
<p>The point of this blog is to tell you about five items I was so happy to have had on the trail. They aren&#8217;t life saving, but very handy nonetheless.  There was never a time I thought, &#8220;Boy, I can&#8217;t believe I brought these. What a bunch of dead weight!&#8221;  Au contraire!  These items made my thru hike more enjoyable every day I had them.</p>
<p><strong>1 &#8211; A Journal</strong><br />
I&#8217;m a huge advocate for keeping a written account while on the trail. I&#8217;m not talking a blog over at trailXX that you update via e-mail.  I&#8217;m talking about a physical book or notepad that is carried and written in while on the trail.  As far back as history records, adventurers kept a journal.  Captain Louis Merriwhether was famous for his diligent work in his journal. His words and sketches increased our knowledge in geography, history, and biology.  You might not create such an important journal on your long hike, but the act of writing down what you did, what you saw, how you felt, and who you were with will help make your journey a long-lasting memory.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6342614718/" title="PCT Appendix - Campsites III by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/6342614718_7719f21325_z.jpg" width="640" alt="PCT Appendix - Campsites III"></a>I like the <a href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&#038;bc1=FFFFFF&#038;IS1=1&#038;bg1=FFFFFF&#038;fc1=000000&#038;lc1=0000FF&#038;t=aurrasingnet&#038;o=1&#038;p=8&#038;l=as4&#038;m=amazon&#038;f=ifr&#038;ref=ss_til&#038;asins=8883701038">Moleskine Plain Notebook Pocket</a> for their size, sturdy design, and protective cardboard-bound cover.</p>
<p><strong>2 &#8211; A Head Net</strong><br />
Many potential thru hikers worry about encountering rattlesnakes, bears, and mountain lions. Well, those aren&#8217;t worth your time worrying about.  PCT Alumni will tell tales of the BUGS they encountered on their hike more than any 4-legged animal encounter.  Swarms of biting flies, air thick with mosquitoes, and small gnats that look like flying periods jabbing you in the retinas. These annoyances can be controlled by a simple head net, keeping these pesky bugs a safe distance from your face and out of your eyes.  Best of all, it weighs practically nothing. The <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/799982/sea-to-summit-insect-shield-mosquito-head-net">Sea to Summit Insect Shield Mosquito Head Net</a> weighs 1.3 ounces and is sold at REI.<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/32685709?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" width="600" height="338" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><br />
Take a break near the San Andres Rift Zone meant dealing with HUNDREDS of biting flies. I was bit twice in my hand as I took this video.</p>
<p><strong>3 &#8211; A Good Spork</strong><br />
Surprised to find this item on my list?  After weeks and months of hiking, you appreciate the small things.  Spend some time shopping around for a good spork.  Make sure the handle is long, especially if you&#8217;re going to be using a JetBoil.  Having a long, sturdy spork will get you through cooking dinner without any burned knuckles or finger tips.<br />
<img alt="" src="http://thehikeguy.com/pct/images/spork2_650.jpg" title="spork" class="alignnone" width="650"/><br />
<img alt="" src="http://thehikeguy.com/pct/images/spork_650.jpg" title="spork" class="alignnone" width="650"/><br />
I went with the <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/737258/guyot-designs-the-utensils">Guyot Desings &#8211; &#8220;The Utensils&#8221;</a> and left the spatula half of the set at home.</p>
<p><strong>4 &#8211; Gaiters</strong><br />
Gaiters are cloth that wrap around your ankles, helping keep dirt, pebbles, and sticks out of your socks and footwear.  Like journals, even early explorers wore gaiter-like protection.  Heck, even Luke Skywalker wrapped cloth around his legs while on Tatooine to keep his feet free of debris. Clean socks last longer. Clean feet allow you to hike further.   I used running gaiters for most of the trip, which even helped keep water out of my boot while fording shallow streams.  I wore snow gaiters in parts of the Sierras, which helped keep my feet dry. And like the head net, gaiters weigh practically nothing.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6450612167/" title="Early Morning on in Lyell Canyon by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6450612167_08b80d3f82_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Early Morning on in Lyell Canyon"></a><br />
I went through a few pairs of gaiters, but the one&#8217;s that lasted the longest were these <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/782777/rei-trail-running-gaiters">REI Trail Running Gaiters</a>.</p>
<p><strong>5 &#8211; Extra Shoe Laces</strong><br />
A broken shoe lace can lead to blisters faster than you think. I had a boot lace break and decided to hike another 1/2 mile before stopping to replace it.  In that short amount of time, I started getting a blister!  A broken lace means that your footwear is going to rub against your foot in unusual ways, leading to blisters.  Think your laces are indestructible?  All the more reason to carry extra!  A shoelace can also be used to tie up a tarp, attach a sleeping bag or ground mat to a backpack, or even an emergency splint or sling in case of an injury.<br />
<img alt="" src="http://thehikeguy.com/pct/images/laces_650.jpg" title="spork" class="alignnone" width="650"/><br />
Notice the blue lace on the right boot.</p>
<p>Do you think I missed an item?  Let me know by leaving a comment below!</p>
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		<title>PCT Videos</title>
		<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/11/22/pct-videos/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=pct-videos</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/11/22/pct-videos/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:36:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kolby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Crest Trail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[videos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vimeo]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehikeguy.com/?p=895</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, I recorded over 300 videos. Most were done for personal reasons, but I did make quite a few with the intention to share with y&#8217;all. While on the trail, I sent home my full camera memory cards to my friend, Peter Genovese, along with notes on which videos to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>While hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, I recorded over 300 videos.  Most were done for personal reasons, but I did make quite a few with the intention to share with y&#8217;all.  While on the trail, I sent home my full camera memory cards to my friend, <a href="http://www.PeterGenovese.com">Peter Genovese</a>, along with notes on which videos to post online.  He did an excellent job of keeping my friends and family updated with my progress in the form of video posts.  I</p>
<p>Click on the image below (or <a href="http://vimeo.com/album/1619949">here</a>) to view my collection of PCT videos.  And check back from time to time &#8211; I&#8217;ve got plenty more PCT videos to share!</p>
<p><a href="http://vimeo.com/album/1619949"><img src="http://thehikeguy.com/images/pctvideo_mosaic.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>To see all of my videos on Vimeo, <a href="http://vimeo.com/kolbykirk">click here</a>.</p>
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		<title>PCT Photos &#8211; Miles 1-500</title>
		<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/11/22/pct-photos1/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=pct-photos1</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/11/22/pct-photos1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:23:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kolby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Crest Trail]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehikeguy.com/?p=889</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On my Pacific Crest Trail adventure, I took over 8,500 photos. I&#8217;ve spent some time looking through them all and picked out the best to share with you. Here&#8217;s my favorite 75 photos of the first 500 miles of my journey. This will be first in a series of posts showing my photos from the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On my Pacific Crest Trail adventure, I took over 8,500 photos.  I&#8217;ve spent some time looking through them all and picked out the best to share with you.  Here&#8217;s my favorite 75 photos of the first 500 miles of my journey.  This will be first in a series of posts showing my photos from the 1,700-mile adventure. For best viewing, click on the &#8220;Slideshow&#8221; feature and turn on captions.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/sets/72157628102873509/"><img src="http://thehikeguy.com/images/pct_gallery01.jpg" alt="For best viewing, click on the "Slideshow" link and turn on captions." /></a></p>
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		<title>The PCT Appendix</title>
		<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/11/13/the-pct-appendix/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-pct-appendix</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/11/13/the-pct-appendix/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:04:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kolby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Crest Trail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[journals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moleskine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sketchbook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[watercolor]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehikeguy.com/?p=878</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My fifth and final journal for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is an appendix of sorts.  It was started after my final day on the trail as a journal for keeping detailed information and stories that might have just been touched upon in my other PCT trail journals.  This journal also gives me a chance to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My fifth and final journal for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is an appendix of sorts.  It was started after my final day on the trail as a journal for keeping detailed information and stories that might have just been touched upon in my other PCT trail journals.  This journal also gives me a chance to experiment artistically.  I wanted to paint a better picture on the campsites, both literally and figuratively. Here&#8217;s a few pages from the section on the campsites I stayed at on the trail, campsites that I would have fun naming along the way.</p>
<p>&#8220;Sunset Rocks&#8221;<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6342533111/" title="PCT Appendix - Campsites I by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6045/6342533111_6431a50abf_z.jpg" width="640" alt="PCT Appendix - Campsites I"></a></p>
<p>&#8220;Mary&#8217;s Knob&#8221;<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6343276580/" title="PCT Appendix - Campsites II by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6096/6343276580_e622e37e43_z.jpg" width="640" alt="PCT Appendix - Campsites II"></a></p>
<p>&#8220;The Devil&#8217;s Saddle&#8221; (left) and &#8220;The Granite Throne&#8221; (right)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6342614718/" title="PCT Appendix - Campsites III by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/6342614718_7719f21325_z.jpg" width="640" alt="PCT Appendix - Campsites III"></a></p>
<p>&#8220;Chicken Springs Lake Camp&#8221;<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6347043708/" title="PCT Appendix - Campsites IV by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6095/6347043708_1c96fe28eb_z.jpg" width="640" alt="PCT Appendix - Campsites IV"></a></p>
<p>&#8220;Breakout Camp&#8221;<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6356141621/" title="PCT Appendix - Campsites V by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6219/6356141621_3af5e38552_z.jpg" width="640" alt="PCT Appendix - Campsites V"></a></p>
<p>Rae Lakes Camp, a.k.a. &#8220;Mosquito Camp&#8221;<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6367547961/" title="PCT Appendix - Campsites VI by retro traveler, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6120/6367547961_cd97940496_z.jpg" width="640" alt="PCT Appendix - Campsites VI"></a></p>
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		<title>My Pacific Crest Trail Moleskine Journals</title>
		<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/11/10/pct-moleskines/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=pct-moleskines</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/11/10/pct-moleskines/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Nov 2011 06:29:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kolby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2011]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehikeguy.com/?p=843</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It was about ten months ago that I posted a few scanned pages from my hiking journals. In 2010, I carried Moleskine plain pocket-sized notebooks while working hard to complete my personal goal of hiking 500 trail miles before the end of the year. I completed the goal and, in the end, filled about 300 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It was about ten months ago that I posted a few scanned pages from my hiking journals. In 2010, I carried Moleskine plain pocket-sized notebooks while working hard to complete my personal goal of hiking 500 trail miles before the end of the year. I completed the goal and, in the end, filled about 300 pages in two journals, which was an extraordinary amount of writing for me. At the time I was writing <a href="http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/01/04/500-moleskine-miles/">that blog post</a>, I thought about how I&#8217;d never again find myself being able to fill as many journal pages in such a short amount of time.</p>
<p>Then April 2011 arrived. In that month, I was laid off from my job of six years and decided to hike as much as I could of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The journey started at the Mexican border near Campo, California, through the harsh deserts of eastern California, into the wilds of the Sierra Nevadas, and through the thick forests of Northern California. 159 days later, my life-changing journey came to an end in early October after hiking nearly 1,700 miles of the trail. I came home with a strong appreciation for life and nature, a thinner waistline, and over <strong>850 pages of journals</strong>! Before sharing any of the stories, videos, or thousands of photos I took on the journey, I&#8217;d like to share that which is most precious to me: my journals.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a visual representation of every scanned page from all four books:</p>
<p><a title="PCT Journal Mosaic by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6330711185/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6060/6330711185_9fec244479_z.jpg" alt="PCT Journal Mosaic" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>My &#8220;Tower of Moleskines:&#8221; Despite their obvious individual distortions, these are all Moleskine plain pocket-sized notebooks. All except Book 2 are hardcover.</p>
<p><a title="PCT Journals by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6322964101/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/6322964101_7f13d12aba_z.jpg" alt="PCT Journals" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Below are my thoughts and sketches from the third day on the trail. I wrote, on average, about a dozen times a day throughout the entire journey. Sometimes I&#8217;d write for a minute or so, other times I&#8217;d sit down and write/sketch for an hour. Early on, I played around with starting each journal entry with a mileage stamp, as you can see in the spread below. I&#8217;d soon move to a time stamp to make it easier. Some of my wildlife sketches were just simple doodles to hopefully record enough identifying features to look up later.</p>
<p><a title="Third Day on the PCT by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332323185/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6230/6332323185_36d5a4deb4_z.jpg" alt="Third Day on the PCT" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>When I would make the time, I&#8217;d spend it sketching landscapes. The sketch of Eagle Rock (left page) near Warner Springs, CA was sketched on the scene. If I desired to sketch a scene but didn&#8217;t make the time on the trail, I&#8217;d leave room and sketch it later based on photos I captured, as I did for the cow pasture scene (right page).</p>
<p><a title="Eagle Rock &amp; The Stubborn Cow by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332323503/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6332323503_c3d0ae5a8d_z.jpg" alt="Eagle Rock &amp; The Stubborn Cow" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s the first pages of my second journal, a soft-covered Moleskine. I learned quickly that I disliked this book as a field journal: the soft cover made it easier for moisture (sweat, rain) to get to the pages within. Note how the postal cancellation mark has smeared because of this.</p>
<p><a title="FIrst Page of Journal #2 by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333074778/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/6333074778_4b6d3564c9_z.jpg" alt="FIrst Page of Journal #2" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>When possible, I&#8217;d collect interesting flowers I found along the PCT. The pages of a Moleskine do a pretty good job pressing and drying out flowers. This flowering plant, however, wasn&#8217;t designed for storage. Its small flower petals began falling off almost immediately after placing it on the page. I now keep the flower and its small snowflake-like petals in a wax paper envelope for preservation.</p>
<p><a title="&quot;Steps to Setting Up Camp on the PCT&quot; by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333075120/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/6333075120_b1b441946f_z.jpg" alt="&quot;Steps to Setting Up Camp on the PCT&quot;" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Here I experimented with a different method of recording a section of the hike by centralizing around a physical representation of the trail (left side of these pages).</p>
<p><a title="Trail Timeline by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332324389/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6042/6332324389_df399df6b9_z.jpg" alt="Trail Timeline" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>After about 500 miles, my hiking shorts had all but disintegrated. Instead of throwing the badly-shredded shorts away, I burned them in a campfire in a morning ceremony. Afterwards, I took a piece of the smoldering fabric and added it to the journal as a memento. It is said that 500 miles of hiking equals about 1.1 million steps.</p>
<p><a title="&quot;The Ceremonial Burning of My Hiking Shorts&quot; by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332324669/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6332324669_e7f2488f86_z.jpg" alt="&quot;The Ceremonial Burning of My Hiking Shorts&quot;" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a few pictures from the ceremony.</p>
<p><a title="The Ceremonial Buring of my Shorts by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333412070/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/6333412070_522f80e601_z.jpg" alt="The Ceremonial Buring of my Shorts" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I like adding ephemera to my journals. Anything flat will do. Here I have a movie ticket stub, a candy label, a sticker, a stamp and a postmark &#8211; all from the town of Tehachapi. To add a different feel to the page, I tried following the contour of the oval sticker on the right page. The map I sketched on the right page shows the area of the town where I spent most of my time.</p>
<p><a title="Tehachapi, CA by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333076030/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/6333076030_a98a08bcfa_z.jpg" alt="Tehachapi, CA" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>The sketch on this page was done a day or so after the writing was added. I left the gap so that I could spend time later sketching the pleasant scene of a house amongst trees.</p>
<p><a title="Lake Isabella, CA by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333076328/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6333076328_5c38a7925e_z.jpg" alt="Lake Isabella, CA" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Music on my journeys is important to me. On this page, I wrote down more than a few songs that were shared on the trail. Swapping MP3 players with other hikers for a section of trail is a great way to hear some new music.</p>
<p><a title="&quot;I'm Hiking in the Sierras!&quot; by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333076604/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/6333076604_422380cd6a_z.jpg" alt="&quot;I'm Hiking in the Sierras!&quot;" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>On July 11th, my desire to hike all the way to Canada was waning. I would use my journal to define problems I would experience on the trail and come up with options for trying to solve the problem. On the left page, I listed five plans I could fall back on if my goal of hiking to Canada didn&#8217;t work for me. I ended up going with &#8220;Plan A&#8221;: &#8220;NOBO UNTIL GO NO &#8216;MO&#8221;, which meant I&#8217;d hike northbound (&#8220;NoBo&#8221;) until I couldn&#8217;t go any further. I think most thru hikers on the PCT are extremely goal-oriented people. Keeping a journal helps me define my main goal as well as daily goals I would make.</p>
<p><a title="&quot;NoBo Until Go No 'Mo!&quot; by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333076876/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/6333076876_919a3f7943_z.jpg" alt="&quot;NoBo Until Go No 'Mo!&quot;" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I found a coin in a stream while hiking through the Sierras of California. I thought for a while on how I would record the finding in my journal and came up with the idea of doing a rubbing, like one would do to preserve the patterns and lettering of a gravestone. When I eventually got a hold of a pencil, I recorded both faces of the coin on the page.</p>
<p><a title="The Lucky Rappen by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333077168/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6230/6333077168_5202c194c4_z.jpg" alt="The Lucky Rappen" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I photographed the coin where I found it, on the edge of a stream in the Sierras. I&#8217;m not an expert in coins, but I believed that the &#8220;HELVETIA&#8221; inscribed on the coin referred to Switzerland. As it happened, I ran into some Swiss hikers soon after finding the coin and they confirmed it. They also told me that this coin &#8211; a 1998 Rappen (or a Swiss penny) &#8211; is no longer used as currency, but Swiss like keeping one on them for good luck. So for good luck, I kept this penny on me for the remaining 900 miles of my journey.</p>
<p><a title="The Lucky Rappen by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332660893/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6332660893_9663454799_z.jpg" alt="The Lucky Rappen" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>The more I wrote, the more a writing style was forming. I would increase the size of words to show importance.</p>
<p><a title="Mile 800 by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333077408/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6221/6333077408_0c032d7d0e_z.jpg" alt="Mile 800" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Unfortunately, despite writing so often on my journey, there were days I didn&#8217;t make time to write. Oddly enough, I had a hard time writing on &#8220;zero&#8221; days, or days of zero hiking. While at Vermillion Valley Resort, a hiker-friendly community just off the trail, I didn&#8217;t write at all in my journal. Instead, I jotted down some notes about the time spent there that will hopefully jog my memory when I get around to writing in more detail on the blank pages. I plan on doing this sooner than later, before more of those small details of the day slip away forever!</p>
<p><a title="Journal Notes by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332326803/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6055/6332326803_abb9a0bccc_z.jpg" alt="Journal Notes" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I like adding color to my pages in the form of beer labels. Plus, I like beer. Especially beer after hiking for hundreds of miles. While in Mammoth Lakes, California, I took a much-anticipated trip to the Mammoth Brewing Company to try a selection of their beers. I discovered this delicious beer while on a previous backpacking trip to the Sierras. I also love the creative (and humorous) graphic design of the labels. Note how the text on the right and left of this label is meant to be read while drinking from the bottle.</p>
<p><a title="Floating Rock Hef by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332327169/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/6332327169_e970171f06_z.jpg" alt="Floating Rock Hef" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I made an effort to get postmarks whenever possible. In fact, I once hiked 4 miles out of my way to get one from a small-town post office off of the PCT. At the small post office in Tuolumne, located in Yosemite National Park, the postal clerk was nice enough to give me an assortment of postmarks, including one made only to be used on June 5, 2010, commemorating <a href="http://usparks.about.com/od/trailspathsdayhikes/a/national_trails_day.htm">National Trails Day</a>.</p>
<p><a title="Tuolumne, CA by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333078474/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/6333078474_1517001e0b_z.jpg" alt="Tuolumne, CA" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I tend to stick with writing utensils I trust. Here you can see the exact moment I switched from a dying Staples Xeno 1.0 ballpoint pen to a Papermate ballpoint pen. I liked the slightly finer point of the Papermate that I&#8217;ve switched favorite field pens. Also on this page is the beginnings of an experiment to find out how productive I am on the trail when it comes to hiking.</p>
<p><a title="Pens and Productivity by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333078782/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6114/6333078782_6ab7148860_z.jpg" alt="Pens and Productivity" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s one of the first pages of my third PCT journal, providing valuable calculations/information that I would use throughout the trek: locations of post offices, their zip codes, and what mile they fall on the PCT. For instance, I noted that Etna, CA is at mile 1,606 of the PCT, located 15 miles off the trail, has a grocery store (for resupplying), and when I estimated I would arrive.</p>
<p><a title="Journal 4 Data Page by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332328309/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6228/6332328309_c123be397d_z.jpg" alt="Journal 4 Data Page" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I discovered the historic Benson Hut while hiking and stayed there for an evening. I spent an hour or so sketching the inside of the unique &#8220;emergency ski hut&#8221; found near Truckee, California. Sketching a place helps me remember it more vividly.</p>
<p><a title="The Benson Hut by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332328667/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6332328667_5ac2cf9895_z.jpg" alt="The Benson Hut" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Hiking journals shouldn&#8217;t be clean unless your hike is clean. In this example, you can see dirt and smears of ink, a subtle clue that I was grimy and had just applied insect repellant to my hands. At the time, I was a little upset that the chemicals had smudged the ink, but I have learned to appreciate that my journal records more than just the words I print on it, for better or worse.</p>
<p><a title="The Peter Grubb Hut by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333079872/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6045/6333079872_207b7f533b_z.jpg" alt="The Peter Grubb Hut" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Now here&#8217;s something I found interesting: each of the four black and white butterfly wings were found miles from each other along the trail. I rarely saw this species of butterfly alive, but it seems to be a popular snack of the local bird population. When I arrived into Sierra City and went to the post office, it seemed appropriate to adhere the 64-cent Monarch stamp on the page.</p>
<p><a title="Butterflies by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332329323/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6039/6332329323_db4f94187d_z.jpg" alt="Butterflies" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I draw maps to help learn the geology or terrain of the trail or to note reroute options to share with future PCT hikers. In this instance, I learned of a short and steep trail for getting back on the PCT from Drakesbad Resort in the Lassen Volcanic National Park. I generally would only consider taking side routes if they were equal or greater in distance than it would be to stay on the PCT. A motto of all thru hikers is, &#8220;Hike your own hike.&#8221;</p>
<p><a title="Maps and Animals by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333080478/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/6333080478_9916fe1878_z.jpg" alt="Maps and Animals" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>To record the excitement and messiness of finding ripe blackberries on the PCT, I smeared the berries onto the page. Until then, I never considered using natural pigments as a way of adding color to my journals.</p>
<p><a title="Blackberry Juice by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332329977/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6332329977_d7d5cdccdb_z.jpg" alt="Blackberry Juice" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Am I the only one who finds beauty in the colors of poison oak? They say that &#8220;leaves of three, leave them be!&#8221; but I broke the rule and plucked a few for my journal, careful not to touch them. On this journey, I started carrying scraps of wax paper in the back pocket of my Moleskine to be used in preserving items like this.</p>
<p><a title="Poison Oak by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332330281/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/6332330281_3895884a0a_z.jpg" alt="Poison Oak" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>On the left, I recorded a water source near the trail that isn&#8217;t well documented in the books and maps. I also found an interesting Orthopteran that I took time to sketch on the trail. I enjoy coming home with these sketches and try identifying them in my collection of nature guidebooks. If I&#8217;m confident in its identification, I&#8217;ll go back and write the common and scientific name in the journal.</p>
<p><a title="Gold Creek by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333081476/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6109/6333081476_5654f49e37_z.jpg" alt="Gold Creek" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Reaching mile 1,500 on the PCT was a feel-good moment for me. I never thought I&#8217;d be able to hike so far. It just goes to show you that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.</p>
<p><a title="1500! by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6333081910/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6019/6333081910_d5e27369d3_z.jpg" alt="1500!" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>One of my favorite stamps to look for in the post offices along the trail is the Go Green stamp called &#8220;CHOOSE TO WALK.&#8221; It was the perfect representation for my journey. (Unfortunately, in this instance, I forgot to put the stamp in the journal BEFORE getting it post marked. d&#8217;oh!). The notes below the stamp are mileage estimates designed to calculate food resupplies. The thrown in notes on the left are for when I find time to write about the week I spent in Etna waiting for a snowstorm to roll through. Unbeknownst to me at the time, these would be my final days on my journey. The snow was too deep and so I called the hike finished, leaving the trail and going home on October 6th.</p>
<p><a title="Etna Notes by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332331327/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6332331327_7b84b96fba_z.jpg" alt="Etna Notes" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I love hiking data. Here I diligently recorded my latitude and longitude every evening from my campsite. I picture myself someday revisit these sites with my family, maybe even with my unborn children.</p>
<p><a title="Campsites Lat/Long by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332331605/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/6332331605_5166a79ee0_z.jpg" alt="Campsites Lat/Long" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>More PCT data. Everyday at the end of the day, I would record what PCT mile I was at, how many miles I did that day, what kind of accommodation I stayed in (ex. &#8220;T&#8221;=tent), and the location. I had fun naming my campsites if they had not already been named. For instance, &#8220;Camp Buddha Belly&#8221; was the name I gave the campsite I stayed at immediately after leaving Drakesbad on a full stomach.</p>
<p><a title="Mileage Data by retro traveler, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunna/6332331945/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/6332331945_891df43458_z.jpg" alt="Mileage Data" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>While on this amazing journey, I learned a lot about myself and the art of keeping a journal. Since you made it this far in the post, maybe you&#8217;d like to learn more? I am currently writing a guidebook that I hope will help hikers and travelers start and retain their own journals while on the trail. If you follow me on Twitter (<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/thehikeguy" target="_blank">@thehikeguy</a>), I&#8217;ll keep you posted on the book&#8217;s publication.</p>
<p>&lt;end&gt;</p>
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		<title>2011 Goals, Take Two!</title>
		<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/04/06/2011-goals2/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=2011-goals2</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/04/06/2011-goals2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:01:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kolby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2011]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ADZPCTKO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Crest Trail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PCT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehikeguy.com/?p=834</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It all started with a lost journal. Two weeks ago, while attending a live performance of Radiolab at UCLA, I lost my hiking journal. In the journal was all of my notes, maps, ideas, and thoughts about my 2011 resolution to hike Mt. Whitney. I was a bit devastated, admittedly. During the week of the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It all started with a lost journal.</p>
<p>Two weeks ago, while attending a live performance of <a href="http://www.radiolab.org/">Radiolab</a> at UCLA, I lost my hiking journal.  In the journal was all of my notes, maps, ideas, and thoughts about my 2011 resolution to hike Mt. Whitney.  I was a bit devastated, admittedly. During the week of the lost journal, I started loosing hope that my hiking partner, Michael, and I wouldn&#8217;t get our permit to climb the mountain.  I heard report after report of potential climbers getting rejection letters from the permit office.  Last weekend, in fact, Michael and I ran into a pair of hikers who were also hoping to climb Whitney in September, but all of their dates were taken.  Over 7,000 climbers submitted applications this year and only a handful would get a chance to climb to the top of the continental United States.</p>
<p>I began thinking about other options.  I started looking into a replacement resolution if our permit was denied.  It was around this time when I saw a National Geographic program on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).  It wasn’t the first time I had heard of the 2,650-mile trail that runs from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington, but it was only until I saw the hour-long program did I start dreaming of hiking the entire trail in one season (called “thru hiking”).  Since most thru hikers start in April and end in September, it wouldn&#8217;t be feasible to do this year. But next year&#8230; Yes, next year I&#8217;d do it.  I ordered a few books online on the subject of the PCT and signed up as a spectator to attend the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off (<a href="http://www.siechert.org/adz/">ADZPCTKO</a>), which would be held on April 28-30 this year.</p>
<p>Then came Thursday, March 31st.  I had received a call from UCLA that they had found my journal!  Great news and completely unexpected.  Also, I was laid off from my employer of six years.  Also completely unexpected.  While driving over to campus to retrieve my journal, I thought about what a great opportunity my <del datetime="2011-04-06T05:20:19+00:00">employer</del> ex-employer had now given me. The problem with doing the Pacific Crest Trail in one season is finding the time, money, and energy to do it.  Well, thanks to my previous employer, I’ve found my window of opportunity… and I’m grabbing the bull by the horns!</p>
<p><img class="alignleft" title="PCT" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/Logo_PCT_Clear.png" alt="PCT" width="73" height="74" />On April 28th, 2011, I will depart for Campo, California, a small town near the border of Mexico, and start the six-month long trek northwards.  Before then, I have only a few weeks to move all of my belongings into storage, make sure I have all the gear and supplies, tie up loose ends, and say farewell to my friends.  More now than ever before, I don’t know what my future holds, but I am fairly certain that by the end of the month, my time as a resident of Southern California will come to an end.  It is my intention to find a job in the Pacific Northwest (my birthplace) after completing the hike in September/October.</p>
<p>Among the reasons I’m doing the hike is to raise money and awareness for Soles4Souls, a charity that finds shoes for those in need.  As a hiker, I’ve learned to appreciate a good pair of shoes.  As a world traveler, I’ve learned that not everyone has them.  Soles4Souls has made it a mission to give shoes to those who need them.</p>
<p><strong>You can make a donation to Soles4Souls here:  <a href="http://www.soles4soulsfundraising.org/kolby_kirk">http://www.soles4soulsfundraising.org/kolby_kirk</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>You can follow my progress online as I aim to complete the entire Pacific Coast Trail within the next six months. Check it out here: <a href="http://pct.thehikeguy.com/">http://pct.thehikeguy.com/</a></strong></p>
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		<title>Hidden Canyon Trail</title>
		<link>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/03/29/hidden-canyon-trail/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hidden-canyon-trail</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehikeguy.com/2011/03/29/hidden-canyon-trail/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:03:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kolby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Utah]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hidden Canyon Trail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weeping Rock]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zion National Park]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehikeguy.com/?p=809</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There&#8217;s a trail in Zion National Park that gives you the impression that you&#8217;re not simply hiking but on an expedition to discover a lost city or a legendary relic. Even the name &#8211; Hidden Canyon Trail &#8211; conjures up visions of adventure, danger, and zombies. Well, maybe not zombies. On an overcast day in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There&#8217;s a trail in Zion National Park that gives you the impression that you&#8217;re not simply hiking but on an expedition to discover a lost city or a legendary relic.  Even the name &#8211; Hidden Canyon Trail &#8211; conjures up visions of adventure, danger, and zombies.  Well, maybe not zombies.</p>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 560px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/01_850.jpg" alt="" width="550" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Weeping Rock as seen from the switchbacks of Hidden Canyon Trail.  Strong winds blow the waterfall into the Navajo sandstone.</p></div>
<p>On an overcast day in March, I spent a day in Zion National Park hiking along the Hidden Canyon Trail. The trail is best explained in three sections.  The first section, starting at the Weeping Rock trailhead, consists of eleven switchbacks which quickly climb about 800 feet of elevation.  A lot of care went into building this section of the trail, with sandstone retaining walls and a patchwork of old pavement. Both are most likely relics from when the trail was built in 1928.  After the steep but steady climb, the trail levels out yet becomes more difficult.</p>
<p>In this section, the most famous section, the trail has been literally carved into the side of the sandstone walls of Zion. If you slip on this section, an old chain that looks as old as the park is all that keeps you from falling off the cliff.  I could see the parking lot almost directly below, the parked cars just small squares of color from this height. This section of the trail reminded me of Angel&#8217;s Landing, another famous vertigo-inducing hike of this park, but not as challenging.  Where Angel&#8217;s Landing has long stretches of thin ledges climbing a fin of rock with 1,000-foot drops off of both sides, this section of Hidden Valley Trail is just 200-300 feet long, about 2-3 feet wide, and <em>just</em> a 800 foot drop on <em>one</em> side.  So not that bad, in comparison.</p>
<p>The third section of the trail is Hidden Canyon itself, referred to by some climbers as the &#8220;Great White Crack.&#8221;  The official trail, in fact, ends near the entrance of the hanging canyon.  A sign is posted warning visitors of the dangers that are ahead, suggesting that only fit hikers continue on.  In no time at all, you&#8217;ll be scrambling on slickrock, over boulders, and through a seasonal stream.  It is stunningly beautiful. Every hiker I talked to was happy to be there.  One gentleman from Wisconsin couldn&#8217;t have been happier. &#8220;This is the kind of hike I have dreamed of doing in Utah,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This is just perfect!&#8221;  With the right footwear and some hiking experience, there&#8217;s a lot to explore in this canyon.  However, the main feature is also the destination for many who are drawn to the trail. A half mile into the canyon is a small 25-foot tall natural arch.  With a unique striped grain that matches the wall behind it, and a mix of greens, browns, and yellow blotches of lichens make this worth the challenging hike.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21583851?byline=0&amp;portrait=0" width="850" height="478" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/02_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Another view of Weeping Rock and the waterfall gushing out of Echo Canyon high above.  Note the switchbacks of Hidden Canyon Trail can be seen in the lower right of this photo.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/03_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">On my hike, there were some patches of snow.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/04_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The chain section of Hidden Canyon Trail.  From up here, cars at the Weeping Rock trailhead look like small dots of color.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/05_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Eons of winds and rain have created interesting textures to the sandstone.  The trail traverses the top of this slab.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 610px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/06_600.jpg" alt="" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Don&#39;t slip!</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/07_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">A lot of care went into the creation of this trail back in 1928.  They don&#39;t make trails like this anymore.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/08_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Once in Hidden Canyon, the trail is less defined and follows the canyon floor.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 610px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/10_600.jpg" alt="" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">It is said that the canyon was discovered by a climber in 1927. While attempting to climb the Great White Throne, he fell. The ensuing search discovered not only the injured climber but this canyon.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/12_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My favorite section of the canyon. I love the juxtaposition of the bright green moss-covered wall on one side of the canyon and the naked Navajo sandstone on the other.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/13_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Another view of this stunning section of the canyon.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/14_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">This is the destination for most visitors to the canyon: a small natural arch.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/16_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">On the way out of the canyon, I met Laura and Josh. These two Buckeyes seem to love this park just as much as I do.  The next two photos were taken near the tree in the top center of this shot.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/17_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">A long way down!  Note the vehicles in the Weeping Rock trailhead far below.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/18_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Just chillin&#39; on the rocks, checking out the view.</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 860px"><img title="water" src="http://www.thehikeguy.com/images/hiddencanyon/20_850.jpg" alt="" width="850" /><p class="wp-caption-text">One last look at the impressive waterfall.  Notice the group of people below Weeping Rock (right).</p></div>
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