Notes on My Notes on the Record Setting PCT Trip

Some thoughts after the epic blog post below:

• Experience: As Adam says throughout his journal entries, Bink (also known as Scott Williamson) was invaluable for knowledge of the trail: (1) water sources and water management; (2) local color; (3) setting the pace; (4) sharing food; (5) shelter locations; (6) sharing gear; (7) best routes through sections/avoidance of problems (for example, avalanches); (8) relaxation points at swimming holes; (9) colorful stories; (10) interaction with locals; and I am sure many other things I am overlooking here.
  This is not to knock Adam; he assisted Scott throughout as well and Scott said he would not have made it without him. It goes both ways when both partners work as a team.
  
• Physical Preparation: The second trip was much easier for Adam because of the preparation. As I have read, getting to the trailhead is the hardest part, and I believe it. Their second longest day was 47.6 miles (!) on July 5. The longest day was the last day, for 51.2 miles, but they pushed through the night on that one to finish.
  
• Support Network: Both men had partners willing to support them through the trip. Forgotten PCT through hiker permit? A cell phone call and it's on its way.
  
• Gear Preparation: The resupplies were managed fantastically well. Shoes and socks wear out, different sections need different gear, and so forth. Bugs, especially, were noted frequently (DEET, anyone?). Other, lesser things, were helpful in a pinch: ear plugs for windy nights; eye drops for errantly sprayed DEET. Big ticket gear items helped consistently: Adam's bivy, shoes, and pack, for example.
• Food Preparation: Variety to break up the monotony seemed to be noted frequently. :o) Otherwise, the most noteworthy points involved gorging at businesses along the way. Other things were marks of experience: caffeine pills to stay perky in the heat;
  
• Water Management: One of the biggest challenges, it seemed to me. Run out of purified water and things spin out of control rapidly.
• Friendly Faces: Lots of folks on the trail out to help with trail magic and caches.
• Luck: Hard to quantify this; but it seems some things did just come down to luck. River crossings, trail magic/caches, fortuitous weather, run-ins with friends, speedy resupplies, and so forth.
• Perseverance: Injuries, illness, mental challenges ("90% of it is mental"), exhausting physical challenges--as Adam says, "I go from being my lowest mentally to my highest in one day; lack of will is transitory"
• Focus: there were a lot of hikers on the trail. This had pros and cons; because Scott was so well-known, lots of "happy jacking" went on. To a point, I sensed both hikers appreciated this, but there was a point when it became wearisome and a point for avoidance to meet their own personal goals.
• Goal: I sensed one of the things which kept them focused and helped them persevere was setting an epic goal. Knowing they were making it inspired them to keep going on to new heights. Things went well on this trip and they made it; things might have turned out differently, and several times almost did--falls; illnesses; run-ins with wildlife; and so forth.
• Passion: count the number of times Adam says "killer" ;o)
  

I might think of other things to add later....