Pacific Crest Trail Hiker's Handbook: Innovative Techniques and Trail Tested Instruction for the Long Distance Hiker

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Summary: Jardine has changed backpacking forever
Review: Being an Eagle Boy Scout, I was prepared for everything. In fact, I was so prepared I could hardly carry my pack. Ray Jardine has shown me a new way: less is more. Less weight is more enjoyment while backpacking.

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Summary: I tried it and it works...
Review: Last summer I walked 515 miles using the techniques in Jardines book. I walked through the entire state of Washington. I encountered rain, snow, mosquitos galore and a host of other problems that were all easily handled with the techniques outlined in Ray's book. I even made my own backpack on an old Singer sewing machine with the plans in the book. I wore running shoes the whole way. I finished the hike in 23 days, counting the five rest days I took. This book is excellant, not to mention well written.

Rating:
Summary: I tried it and it works...
Review: Last summer I walked 515 miles using the techniques in Jardines book. I walked through the entire state of Washington. I encountered rain, snow, mosquitos galore and a host of other problems that were all easily handled with the techniques outlined in Ray's book. I even made my own backpack on an old Singer sewing machine with the plans in the book. I wore running shoes the whole way. I finished the hike in 23 days, counting the five rest days I took. This book is excellant, not to mention well written.

Rating:
Summary: Jardine has changed backpacking forever
Review: The book was great if you can keep an open mind. The book can really change your hiking style.

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Summary: great book completely un-standard
Review: The book was great if you can keep an open mind. The book can really change your hiking style.

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Summary: Great book for ideas about lightening your pack!
Review: Thirty five years of hiking, Twelve years with Moutain Search and Rescue and I was blown away by the consept of ultra light back packing. Ray Jardine's systems make perfect sence to me. The pct trail surounds our town and I look forward to putting much of these systems to work this winter, when this part of the snow bound trail seems like mine.

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Summary: Best "How-to" for the PCT, period.
Review: This book completely transformed the way I plan and execute multi-day backpacking trips. What's more is that the transformation was literally overnight. In August of 1998, before I read the book, I hiked 187 miles on the PCT in 14 days and averaged about 13 miles per day. After that hike, I bought this book an went back out on the PCT two weeks later to apply Jardine's methods, which resulted in covering 221 miles in 9 days for an average of almost 25 miles per day. I was able to double my daily mileage just by reading the book!

Its not just the increased mileage that impressed me, but also the increased comfort. Because I was able to lighten my load tremendously, I was more comfortable while hiking and not as worn out when I stopped. No more back pains from huge and heavy packs.

Almost all the techniques that Jardine teaches are simple and easy to learn. Like I said above, in just two weeks, I was able to apply everything in the book that appealed to me and the results were immediate and direct.

Some people do not like Jardine's authoritative writing style, but it didn't bother me in the least. I jsut took the ideas that I liked and didn't bother with the few I found to be unappealing.

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Summary: The bible of ultralight backpacking.
Review: This watershed volume encourages backpackers to shed scores of ugly pounds from their backs, travelling faster and lighter. The author contends that this leads to smoother, easier travel, covering more miles per day with less fatigue. There is some controversy about recommendations like wearing running shoes to pack in, but Jardine presents the pros and cons and explains the importance of training to be able to use these new techniques. If you aspire to ultralight packing, fast packing or long-distance packing this is an important book to read. And it's pleasurable reading too!