Frequently Asked Questions
In our blog entry 55 on May 1, we invited our readers to send in questions.
Here's a selection:
1) Does the hiking change over time?
In general, it becomes easier to hike because there's less body fat, also on the legs, but more muscle instead. Where initially we crawled up the mountain, it's much faster now - and less tiring. You gain confidence with respect to tackling more mileage. At first 20 km was challenging; now it's 40 km. However, the intense ascents over many kilometers with our heavy backpacks is often pure drudgery. The PCT really is tough work!
2) Does the writing change? Do you become more precise, more detailed? Does it become easier? Do you ever feel like not doing it?
That’s a process. First you have to figure out how, when, and why you're doing it. Over time, we seem to have become more detailed because we realized the blog isn't solely for our readers. It's become a journal. The details may be helpful in jogging our memories later, e.g. when we finish making the film. It's true we don't always feel like writing and typing, especially in the wee hours. Often we're just too exhausted. Besides, writing on the smart phone is pretty tiring and annoying. By the way, we only write when we have internet, because our app only works online. We try not to let too many days pass without journaling because we don't want to forget anything – and we want our readers to be able to keep up with our journey in a timely manner.
3) How do you motivate yourselves when you have a bad day? Or hasn't that happened yet?
Talk about it, analyze it, put it into perspective. Here on the PCT they say: "Never quit on a bad day."
Life on the trail is usually at the limit. You need stamina. Instead of our usual German routine, we now have a different routine: take down the tent, packe everything up, head down the trail, hike, hike, hike, pitch the tent, sleep. In between, we eat. Of course there are lots of terrific encounters, conversations, and film shoots.
4) Do you have a hiking rhythm, e.g., six days hiking, resting on the seventh?
The rhythm is dictated by the resupply stations, which are about 6-8 days apart here in southern California. After that they're less frequent. In such places, nero or zero days become an issue. A nero day is if you arrive, spend the night, and continue on the next day. If you stay another night, it's a zero day – which gives you an opportunity to rest. But because zero days tend to be crammed with things that need doing, the relaxation factor tends to be negligible. Beyond that, weather determines additional zero days.
(Questions by Annette Bauer, Ludwigsburg)
5) You two always seem to function as a unit. Are you always on the same wavelength, in synch?
Even though we've been married for 23 years, being together on the trail is different than being together in daily German life. Here, we're together 24/7, so it's not possible to withdraw for a time. The small tent is our home. Every decision must involve both of us and must be decided concordant with both our needs. The most important issues: when do we hike and how far or how fast. We're lucky in that our hiking pace is pretty similar. We're not so similar with respect to logistics, on the other hand – when we start and when we finish. Sabine prefers to start later in the morning, but likes to go on longer, into evening. For Olli it's the other way round. We've had a lot of discussions about this issue, but that enables us to find solutions. Meanwhile, for example, we occasionally split up on the trail, coming together later. By the way, a lot of hikers do this.
6) Do you ever have problems with motivation? Have either of you ever wanted to quit?
Despite the time pressure, hiking the trail is supposed to be fun. So you always have to find a balance. Following exhausting days, take the next day slower, doing fewer kilometers. If the weather's very bad, don't pull up the stakes. Maybe take an extra zero day. It's especially tough now, because the temperatures in California are much too cold for this time of year. It's apparently one of the coldest Mays to date! Among the sayings we've heard repeatedly: "The year February didn't stop" or "snowboarding in the Mojave Desert." And we're not even in the sierra yet!
7) Your feet look virginally intact – no blisters or sores?
Fortunately, we've had no problems here – unlike a lot of other people.
8) Do you live in a world of your own, at one with nature and far from civilization, with all its daily difficulties?
Yes, absolutely. Amazingly, after only a few days, our daily German life completely faded. It just didn't interest us anymore – even though we have a good life in Germany, with terrific friends and work. Of course these marvelous people are with us in our hearts, but everything else simply doesn't exist. Not once have we felt the urge to read the news online. No idea what's going on in Germany, or Europe, or even in the USA. No clue as to what's happened with the Brexit. Here, all that is far, far away! Exceptions are of course the resupply places, where we're thrown back into a consumer-oriented world for a day or two. But that usually only relates to food.
We did hear about the fire in Notre Dame from family. That really shocked us. Spoke with an Englishman about the Brexit, which he personally thinks is sh ...
9) When you're thrown back on yourself, how you think that affects you?
That question is the essence of what our film will be about. We ask it especially of the hikers we encounter repeatedly. As for ourselves: Although we've been on the road for a while now, we're still at the beginning. Let's wait and see ....
10) Would you hike the trail alone?
This is a universal question. Both possibilities have huge advantages and huge disadvantages. Those who like being alone and aren't very communicative might find going solo perfect. Olli can imagine doing a thru-hike on his own. Sabine, not so much.
(Questions by Geli Lach, Marbach)
11) How are you coping with your tent? The duplex is pretty small for two people. Many hikers use it solo, while couples usually choose the triplex. What if the wind is really strong?
Overall, we're very satisfied with the tent. It's unbeatably light (which is to be expected from a tent that costs just under 1000 € in Germany). Of course the down side is compromising on size. We agree, the duplex is the perfect tent for one person and one backpack. Whenever possible, Olli leaves his backpack outside, covered with the rain protector, so he has more room to lie down. The vestibules are a bit too small for the backpacks. Sabine takes hers inside and rests her feet on it, especially if the ground is a bit uneven. The advantage of the smaller duplex is that there are more camping spaces available for the smaller floor space, where as the triplex is a bit wider. If we had to buy another tent, we'd definitely consider the triplex. Especially for areas where it rains a lot. We can't say how the duplex holds up in strong winds; when we experienced the strongest winds to date, we still had the old Swiss "Exped" tent, which fared well. So we'll see – and will keep you posted.
(Questions by Stefan Febert)
12) Do you brush your teeth every day and where do you rinse out the toothpaste?
We brush our teeth every day after breakfast, usually flossing, too. In the evenings, we're not as regular, although Sabine manages more often than Olli. We use our drinking water supplies - albeit sparingly, of course - to rinse. There are always plenty of places to spit in nature ;-)! Just a drop of water on top, covered with dirt, and that's it. We don't use toothpaste with dyes or microplastics. When we're in resupply stations, we brush twice daily.
13) What does your camping site/cowboy camping site look like when you decamp?
At first glance, pretty chaotic. To pack our backpacks, we first have to empty them because thermal mats and sleeping bags go in first (the ultralite backpacks don't have a separate compartment at the bottom). So we first have to spread out all our belongings on the ground. Packing up requires an elaborate system so that everything fits and can be located quickly.
14) Whose idea was it to hike the PCT and how did the idea evolve?
We've always undertaken 2- to 3-week hikes. We didn't know there was a trail over 4,000 km long until we saw the movie “Wild.” After we saw the film “Picknicking with Bears” (about the Appalachian Trail) shortly after, Olli told Sabine about his long-held dream of doing something like that. Sabine was immediately captivated by the idea, especially because she’s a great fan of “Wild”: the film depicts author Cheryl Strayed’s life story, movingly portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, and Strayed's deep connection to her mother, convincingly played by Laura Dern. The clever, skillful use of flashbacks (a rarity), interwoven with memorable and cleansing experiences while hiking, the music by Simon and Garfunkel (especially "El condor pasa"; the condor is the national bird of California) – all gets to the heart of what it's all about – or could be about?
15) Why does it rain so often, when California is experiencing a drought?
2019 is an exceptional year in terms of weather in California: too cold, too much rain, extreme snowfall in the sierra. Maybe climate connoisseur Mister Trump has the answer.
16) I keep reading hikers have to quit the trail due to their physical condition. How is your physical and perhaps also psychological condition?
It's true, the PCT quit rate is high. Due to both physical and psychological reasons. The issue "quitting" is not foremost for us, but we do consider all eventualities. The freedom here makes it possible. Heat, cold, snow, alpine difficulties don't really bother us. We cope with it by adapting.
But the mosquitoes in Oregon really drove us to despair. The question is always: where's the limit? When does it stop being fun? This issue is part of the PCT; hiking it is no piece of cake, but in parts extreme. Only when you address the issue of quitting will you know why you continue.
(Questions by Philipp Willmann, Australia)
17) Do you ever have political discussions with your fellow hikers or the locals? If so, which issues are interesting/relevant?
Politics and religion are "inofficially" taboo, and an exception among the international hikers. The Germans, however, have a lot of discussions - these are topics that are relevant at home, too: education, social behavior, differences between the USA and Germany, among many others.
However, Ron and Carol – whom we met in Tehatchapi and who spontaneously invited us to spend the night at their home and gave us the use of their computer – were exceptions. Also at Fish Lake. Ron raised diverse current political issues and we also discussed the Hitler era. Brother-in-law Gary was in a platoon in Vietnam. But Ron and Carol, Gary and his wife Pat aren't hikers or trail angels ... Ron apologized next morning at breakfast for talking so much about politics. We assured him that we enjoyed the discussion. Former servicewoman Jackie and former serviceman Sugarslider hiked the trail with the support of the association "Walk off War" in order to process their experiences in Iraq. In the Jacinto Mountains we encountered an Englishman who wanted to discuss the Brexit with us (see below).
Sabine discussed the Balkan wars with a Croatian woman, "Old Men Voted." (She got her trail name one day at a breakfast café in Agua Dulce, where six older men decided hers were the loveliest legs of all). Leroy, Kelly’s partner, whom we met at Fish Lake, wanted to know what we think about America. Thus the "taboo" is relative.
(Questions by Iris Geigle, Stuttgart)