PCT Q&A Part 2 | Pacific Crest Trail

[@chelseamarquart2783]

Firstly, I think you're awesome. Your commentary is super insightful. I saw a Texas shirt, idk if you're from here, but if so - me too! It's soooo rare to run across female hikers, much less solo (or maybe thats b/c none of my friends are, and I'm too introverted, lol) - but congrats on your 2600+ miles! Honestly, I'm not even sure how to get 6 months off from life, suggestions welcome! I typically stick with 3-7day hikes, but what an experience that 5-6 months must've been. I too have this list of trails I'm slowly ticking off. I like to split time between solo and 1x1; my dad's also into it, and sharing that with him has been wonderful. Hope you get to do your next big one with yours. I ran across your gear video (also awesome), wish I could just snag you, catch a coffee and pick your brain. Im hitting up Buffalo River Trail (AR) later this month, super stoked. And I am thinking of Big Bend this winter. What are your top 3 trails?

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+Chelsea Marquart aww thanks for the nice comment! I am from Texas :). It sounds like you're quite the hiker! You'll have to let me know how the Buffalo River Trail is. I can't say that I've done too many trails here in the US. I'm a bit more of a mountaineer than I am an actual hiker! Know of any good trails in Texas?!

[@chelseamarquart2783]

+Away With Ingrid Absolutely! Im so looking forward to going. I actually got into hiking not too long ago =]. I love it. Mountaineering is on my list, but definitely requires more knowledge/endurance on my part. Definitely wanting to get up to WY/OR/WA/Denali/Yosemite. As for trails in Texas, Im a huge fan of the woods (not everyones cup of tea), but I love tall trees, especially this time of year - they're intoxicating. I go out to the Piney Woods which is in east Texas; check out Davy Crockett National Forest / Sam Houston National Forest. I also hike around town (in Dallas) at Cedar Hill State Park. Enchanted Rock is cool (think North of San Antonio), and Colorado Bend Park (NW of Austin). If you're into arid hiking *our* version of mountains(lol) are in West Texas (try the Davis Mountains), and if you dig astronomy, you can hit up the McDonald Observatory while you're out there. =] Pls keep making videos!

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+Chelsea Marquart I've done some rock climbing around Austin, but I haven't hiked the Davis Mountains! Thanks for the tips!

[@jessb.7015]

Could you please do a video on your food experience/food planning process? Thanks for such a put-together, smart and very helpful series it provides a wonderful structure to copy off of.

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+Jess B. My next video will be everything you need to know about resupplying! Feel free to leave any specific questions regarding resupply and I will be sure to answer them when I film the next video!

[@johnanderson8096]

Just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed your videos... Doing the JMT this summer... PCT thoughts/plans have definitely taken residency in the back of my mind...and thats a good thing! All my best to you...

[@ScottHaneyHello]

Vancouver's Chinatown is definitely a crazy, noisy spot - I can imagine how jarring it'd be after being on the trail for so long. Some great answers in these two videos, especially in this part regarding being thankful for and aware of what you truly need to survive in life.

[@stephengarcia9493]

Thanks

[@brettanthony3106]

Hey Ingrid, love this video series. Sorry if this has been covered, but what was your average water carry for the trail? what were a few of your heavier carries, and what was your water carry while night hiking. Thanks.

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+Brett Anthony Hey Brett, my maximum capacity was about 4.5 liters. That is the most I carried at times when the water resupply points were 20+ miles apart. How much water I carried daily vastly depending on where the water sources were. Sometimes I could get by with just 2 liters on average, sometime more and sometimes much less. On an average day, I used about 4 or so liters depending on the part of the trail. Night hiking really helped me not consume as much water, so that's why I was forced to do it some days when the water sources were so far apart. Hope that answers your questions!

[@MackZero]

New sub. Looking forward to your future videos. Iam from New York. I feel like I relate to you a little more than a lot of people who put videos out about thru hiking. Sometimes they come across as a little to "granola" lol. I read you like a regular person who decided to do a cool thing. Maybe its the Texas thing. Thanks!

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+MackZero Funniest comment ever! I am a vegetarian eating tree hugger, but I guess I come off a little less like a granola girl and it is probably the Texas thing :)

[@trailtanadventures901]

Great video series! My son and I are planning a PCT thru hike in 2019. One question I have is contacts or glasses? Here at home our longest hikes are about 4 days and the longest trip I have taken has been 7 days in the BWCA so I have no real experience beyond that time frame. I'm leaning toward contacts but that's just more to carry. What are people on the trail liking or disliking ? Thanks.

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+Mike Kutney I think almost everyone carries glasses (just in case) whether they wear contacts while hiking or not... so in my opinion, if you're comfortable enough wearing and hiking in glasses then just take them because you're right, it is less to carry!

[@FredOroz]

You talked about one of the reasons that people get off the trail is lack of money or running out, what was you budget and was it hard staying within your budget?

[@mountaincat8]

+Alfredo Oroz ......There are several factors which can greatly determine how much money it costs to hike the PCT or any long distance trail. A few of these factors include 1. How many days you spend in motels. Each night in a motel can cost 50-120 per night. Sharing a room with another backpacker can cut this cost. 2. How many meals you eat out in restaurants. The more days you spend in towns taking zero days, the more likely it is that you will eat out, thus raising costs. 3. What shape your backpacking equipment is at the beginning of the hike. If you bought new equipment, it may be in better shape than another piece which has already been around the world several times. Some hikers may begin this hike with the idea that they will just replace equipment as necessary whereas other hikers know they plan to finish the hike with the same equipment they started with.

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+Alfredo Oroz I didn't have a set budget, but I definitely spent a loss less money than some other hikers I knew. I rarely ever bought alcohol or stayed in a motel. I want to do a video on how much I spent on gear and throughout the entire trail so that might give you a better idea about how much it might cost to hike the PCT.

[@sanneketting5345]

Did you have any problems with the spiders and snakes and scorpions? Hiking a trail like PCT is a lifegoal for me!

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+Sanne Ketting I didn't have any problems. Of course you will come across them along the trail though! You should totally DO IT! :)

[@sanneketting5345]

+Away With Ingrid I totally will someday :)

[@richholtzman9754]

New sub. Great videos about the PCT. Looking forward to seeing more. A couple of questions, How much did the total trip cost and how did you make the time? What do you do for work and did you quit your job? thanks

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+Rich Holtzman I plan on doing a video covering the cost of the trail and where the money goes! As far as work, I planned this hike for about 2 years so I did not have to quit a job and was still able to make money while I was hiking.

[@805gregg]

How about a PCT trail video, of the actual trail?

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+805gregg Hey! It was suggested that I put together a slideshow of trail photos. I obviously didn't take any video equipment other than my phone so unfortunately I don't have too many video clips of the trail... sorry!

[@desertdaveadv404]

did you take any of the classes offered by REI or other out back co.?

[@buaboy]

Are you hiking anything this year? I enjoy your videos, except the background music.

[@diabeticaaron3463]

was hitch hiking safe?

[@AwayWithIngrid]

+Diabetic Aaron A bit of a complicated question. Hitchhiking in general isn't the safest form of transportation, but it is a necessary part of the trail. If I had ever not felt totally safe, then I would not have hitched with that person. I'll do a hitchhiking video soon!

[@shable1436]

your a strong beautiful woman and should come hike at AT(appalachian trail) its has some tough legs also and is an experience, stay real

[@uloutdoors]

wait a couple of years than you might see what this trip has tought you..