Double zero in Ashland, no hiking.
This is in response to a reader question from a ways back, which I hadn’t forgotten about I just couldn’t figure out where to write about it but today was all about errands and laundry and all those other less sexy moments that make up thru hiking. So I wanted to take the time to elaborate on what our camp set up looks like.
Campsite selection:
When choosing a site the two big considerations are how close is it to the milage we want to hike today, and is it near water. The first consideration is relatively obvious and usually not that hard to manage as there are a lot of premade sites right along the PCT—by premade I mean we’re not trampling any grass or vegetation to make our camp, but instead using sites that have been developed by other hikers. And the second should also be somewhat obvious. Water is heavy and it’s nice to have access to as much as you want. Once we arrive in camp the first thing we’ll do is look up to make sure there are no dead trees that could fall on our tent and crush us.
The other big, though infrequent, concern is bears. If there are comments on Guthooks (the app we use most on trail for navigating and information) about bears in the area we will either camp elsewhere, or hang our food in a tree using the lightweight line that Keith carries. Doing a proper bear hang is a real pain and takes about 30 minutes to get it right, hence if we can avoid spots where bears are frequently reported we’ll camp elsewhere.
The rest of the aims when selecting a place to camp are to practice Leave No Trace – 200 feet from water and the trail, don’t camp on anything green or growing, and only in designated or preexisting sites.
Chores:
This is the best thing about hiking with your partner is divining labor. Once we arrive in camp Keith heads off to collect and filter water while I set up the tent. If we’ll have to hang our food I’ll also blow up his sleeping pad and lay out his quilt.
After camp is set up it’s time for dinner! Then comes washing up and bed. Honestly nothing all that exciting happens in camp. By the time we get off the trail we’re so tired that at best we’re near other hikers and can socialize, though most often we’re just ready to do a little phone errands (me writing, Keith watching TV) and sleep.