6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting story, June 15, 1999
This review is from: High Adventure Eric Ryback (Hardcover)
Having read Rybacks' book as a youth after its initial publication, I decided to read it a second time from the perspective of a 35 y/o outdoorsman.
I admire Ryback for surviving the hike, and regardless of weather he hitched rides or not, this guy was out there long before PCT thru-hiking was "hip". However, for someone considering imitating Rybacks' feat I have a few recommendations that will make their journey safer and more enjoyable.
1- Plan more food drops so your pack doesn't weigh 80 lbs.
2- Begin at Mexico in the Spring and work your way North. That way much of the snow in the Northern sections will be gone by the time you get there.
3- Avoid cotton clothing like the plague! Take advantage of the marvelous high-tech synthetic clothing available today.
4- A syntetic fill sleeping bag will still keep you warm when soggy wet where a wet down bag (except those with Dryloft shells) has NO insulation value whatsoever.
5- DON'T drink untreated water! Always use a filtering system or at least iodine tablets.
6- When hiking in snow country, beg, borrow, or steal an ice axe and learn how to use it. Don't rely on the frame of your pack to save you from a fall!
7- It would also be a good idea to have the following items along: Sunglasses, sunscreen, a lightweight full-brimmed hat, a good supply of bug repellant, gloves or mittens, a stocking cap, a decent flashlight or head lamp, and if you don't mind the extra weight, a GPS unit.
8- Protection from predators, both animal and human. If you don't like the idea of packing a large caliber side-arm, get some of the new foam-type pepper spray. While still not lethal it is much more effective than the aerosol spray.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST for all who love challenges!, June 25, 2001
This review is from: High Adventure Eric Ryback (Hardcover)
This book inspired me to take up a pack in my teen years and hit the trail. Though it is out of print, you can find used copies through Amazon. It is very well written and flows very well from chapter to chapter. There is some who dispute Eric's claim of the first to solo the PCT. I tend to believe he truly earned the right to say he was the first solo hiker. This is a good book for all ages but I highly recommend it to teens who need some inspiration in their life!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
praise the man, March 24, 2000
This review is from: High Adventure Eric Ryback (Hardcover)
Eric Ryback's book has inspired more long distance backpackers than any other single book. I walked cal pct in '77, ore-wash in '84, and all in '91 because of this man's book. Give him a break. Who cares if he may have taken a few rides. Anyone who has done the trail (espically north to south starting may or june) knows the impossibility of staying even close to the trail. Anyone who says they walked a thousand miles in snow and completed the PCT in one season lies. Eric I love you. Thankyou for sharing your spirit which allowed me to become a man. It's been 25 years I've owned that book and I still read sections to remind me of what the trail was like before todays guide-book freeway PCT spoiled the unkown of it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No