PCT Q & A Part 1: Personal Questions | Pacific Crest Trail 2022

[@pearljamin]

Thank you for these. It recently occurred to me I need to do this to save my life. I wasn’t really sure where to start, then I found your videos 🙂

[@connietorkelsen9655]

I’m one of those teachers that introduced many 7th and 8th graders to backpacking. The girls were much hardier and tougher and some of those girls are now teaching their children the skills I taught them. And where did we hike every year? The Tahoe Rim Trail to Round Lake and Showers Lake. Continue to spread the love of backpacking and doing long trails.

[@ArielleShipe]

omg yes!!! Your students were so lucky to have you to show them the magic of backpacking at such a young age!! And in such a beautiful area too. I may be a little bias after living in Tahoe/hiking the TRT but I just love that wilderness area so much!

[@kristymoore7052]

So nice! I raised my kids south of you near Bear Valley on highway 4. They were so lucky to have snow sports as part of their PE program. Though that was years ago, the tradition continues . I may put a bug into some educator’s ears about hiking/backpacking getting the same love.

[@thepandaknows]

Thank you SO much for the informed & gentle language used when answering the question about "how did your body change/weight loss" etc. It's extremely important to spread that message of "healthy looks different on everyone."

[@ArielleShipe]

Aw thank you! And I totally agree. I used to really struggle with an unhealthy relationship with my body so I've worked really hard to reframe my language around weight loss and body changes

[@thepandaknows]

@@ArielleShipe 👏🏻❤️

[@johnalden5821]

On whether to do the other major long-distance trails -- I understand your point of view. I live on the East Coast and I have backpacked or hiked sections of the AT from Maine to Georgia (although not the whole thing). The scenery is entirely different. You are in trees (the "green tunnel") for the vast majority of it, except in the more alpine parts of North Carolina, Tennessee, southern Virginia and New Hampshire. You are also getting rained on as much as a third of the time. Plus, contrary to what many people think, the AT is probably harder physically. The trail is older, so there are more pointless ups and downs with fewer gradual climbs and more straight up assaults of mountains with no switchbacks. The trail conditions are frequently very gnarly, and you end up expending more energy than you would think in mountains that are half (or one quarter) the height in elevation. So, I completely understand folks who prefer the West. I prefer it, myself, to be honest.

[@rhousto1]

As a teacher for 40 years, during my first 15 years we took students from age 10 to 16 backpacking in the Sierra out of Carson Pass. We introduced them to the basics and then did some backpacking in Big Basin State Park. We also had other activities over the month of summer school. I am most proud of that time in my amazing career. My three friends and I did everything, purchasing and cooking all the food with the exception while backpacking....a challenge but so rewarding. We had many students return year after year. That’s why I loved following you and others. A friend of mine completed it this year too.

[@ArielleShipe]

I love this so much!! I feel like its so incredible to get to learn about backpacking and self-reliance at a young age like that. Your students were so lucky to have you!!

[@Wondering_Fireball]

Young lady, I’m 58. I’ve retired from the military. Worked as an electrician for 17 hrs. I plan on being a triple crowned at the age of 70. Never Say never for the trail always calls you back. LOL wish you the best.

[@ArielleShipe]

Wow that's amazing! 💪🏼

[@AMCD18]

Thank you for sharing. The tubes and the towelettes are a great idea. Addressing the weight loss or not: thank you for been so honest. It makes a huge difference! It’s about the journey and not a weight loss solution.

[@ArielleShipe]

Always happy to keep it real

[@TheHungryHiker]

Yay! I love these PCT Q&A style videos. Thank you for giving us all a more "behind-the-scenes" look into your incredible PCT thru-hike this year!! It was so much fun to watch your entire journey and get to trail angel for you along the way here in Washington!

[@ArielleShipe]

SO freaking awesome to finally connect with you in person!! Thank you so much for supporting our secret mission hehe I hope you are doing well!!

[@genaoliver3854]

Yep, I've just got the frozen river on audio. Hope it is good via that format 😊

[@SlaxFvv]

Great hack with those tubes! For shorter trips (8-10 days), I used 1/2 a dehydrated face wipe for each night and a contact lense case, with a D for daytime lotion with SPF, and a N for nighttime moisturizer.

[@ArielleShipe]

I'm just now learning about the contact lens case hack!! SO smart!

[@robertsherwood6378]

As a male outdoorsman ( Boomer ) the media often leaves me with a depressed view of the future for my grandkids . Then I watch one of your vids and come away with mood lifted knowing that with young adults like you and my own children everything is good ! Health and happiness are the worthy goal . You and your husband have captured that . Thank you!

[@ArielleShipe]

Aww thank YOU! ❤️

[@Get_to_the_Point]

These were great questions. You did a nice job answering them. Thank you.

[@ArielleShipe]

:)

[@scotttan6377]

Admire your candid and frank speaking style. The provided information on weight changes between men vs women was very interesting. Thank you for your openness discussing how you managed your periods. Kudos to your husband for his support of your goal.

[@ArielleShipe]

Aw thank you so much for the support! Hope you had a great weekend!

[@micheandmikey]

Always fun to watch your content Arielle. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us all. I'm bummed that our final sections here in Washington were smoky & or shut down. We all thought we had dodged the smoke this year, unfortunately that wasn't the case. Cheers!

[@ArielleShipe]

Aw thank you so much! And I was definitely a little bummed about the smoke/closures but I guess that just means I will have to come back! :)

[@hikeandsee7621]

I love the sierras. Been going since I was a kid, actually went last weekend for my birthday 😁

[@ArielleShipe]

ahhh its the freaking best! Where did you go last weekend?

[@hikeandsee7621]

@@ArielleShipe mammoth My hubby isn't a huge fan of hiking so we just did a few small trails, ran into a bear. Yikes Last month a few friends and myself hiked mammoth crest. Super awesome. I live near big bear so it was fun watching you go through my neck of the woods 😁

[@gaylewalker4239]

Keep being amazing. Thank you for the info.

[@ArielleShipe]

Aww thank you! ❤️

[@Karenwhitepaints]

Thank you for sharing this excellent adventure and your thoughts! As an about to be retired Mom of 3 grown kiddos, I am getting ready for thru hike #1 at 57, so its very possible you will be out there again when you are my age!!

[@ArielleShipe]

Love that!

[@leahstancliff951]

What about your hands prior to your skincare routine at night? Did you wash them with something first? I'm super crazy with my skin too and I'm glad you covered this topic, thank you!

[@robertsherwood6378]

Skin care on the trail…and I chuckled to myself…realizing that the female endurance of hikers appears to remain more up lifting than the long term emotional condition of the male. Female hikers have taught me a lot about psychological discipline and adaptation. I no longer dismiss what I previously saw as trivial . The personal nurturing practiced by females is definitely playing a part in this positive psychological attitude .

[@SigfridSWE]

Question; packages/resupply?? You said in the prep video before the trail tjat you would do an update on that. For example you had a plan to send 25 packages... did you send all of them? Or would you change anything? Im vegan/lactos intolerant/and gluten free meals. Would mean a lot to get an update. Doing my meal prep/boxes right now for PCT23 😊

[@ItsAStephanieB]

Hi Ariel! Somewhere in one of your PCT prep video did you show your excel spreadsheet. At the time you sent or posted the link for the spreadsheet, but I've since upgraded my phone and can't find it anywhere? Is it possible to share it again please? It had all the towns, food parcels sent when to sent etc on it. Im still saving up for the PCT, but that document was gold to me, and I can't find it... 😔 Pleaseee share it with me (again? Pretty please!) 🙏 Thank you so much, Steph

[@chrisharmon5453]

Did you have any issues with the bug spray leaking?

[@TheHikingChick1]

Thx for sharing!🌻💛

[@ArielleShipe]

Thank you for watching :) Have a great week!

[@suzanholder2525]

I love your hoodie

[@ArielleShipe]

thank you! :)

[@CBne1997]

Will you ever go back and try to get to the terminal? That would have crushed me mentally hiking all that way and not reaching the terminal.

[@richardinjapan4578]

I was curious how you felt about the resupply stops along the route -- especially in the High Sierra. Would you rethink any of it or keep it the same?

[@ArielleShipe]

I think I would stick with what I did (KM South, Bishop, VVR, Mammoth, KM North). That being said, I wouldn't go down into Yosemite Valley again (unless I could camp down there for the night). It was just too hectic to get down and back up in one day! I would just stop by the Tuolumne general store and call it good.

[@richardinjapan4578]

@@ArielleShipe Thank you for your reply. One quick follow-up: I had family in Independence. Used to spend a lot of time in the Owens Valley. I can understand why 40 ~ 50 years ago most people would opt for resupply in Bishop over Lone Pine. Back then even folks living in the OV would generally migrate to Bishop for shopping, medical care, etc., so I can understand why Bishop has a good reputation. At the same time, with the relative explosion of popularity of backcountry activities over the last few decades and Lone Pine being the primary gateway to Whitney Portal, reasonably backpacker friendly, and much closer to Onion Valley, I was wondering why so many PCT-ers flock to Bishop. Is there something lacking in Lone Pine? I'm not criticizing your decision. Bishop is a great place for resupply. I've just noticed the general trend to flock to Bishop and am curious what is this magical spell Bishop seems to hold over PCT-ers exiting over Kearsarge when it's actually much further away than another viable option. Any ideas about this from the point of view of the PCT thru-hiker?

[@hikersteph]

​@@richardinjapan4578 I hiked the PCT in 2019 in a crazy 200% snowpack year, and I did end up stopping in Lone Pine as well as Bishop because the snow slowed our pace a lot. I think some of it might just be word of mouth amongst hikers that Bishop is a cool place, and perhaps also the fact that Bishop has some really fun hostel options that are affordable. The Hostel California is right across from a laundromat and has bikes for an easy way to get to Von's (which also has a larger variety of options for resupply). Also the bakery is pretty well known too! That's my best guess as a hiker :)

[@richardinjapan4578]

@@hikersteph Thank you Stephanie. Appreciate your reply.