The Magazine of Lightweight Hiking and Backcountry Travel

M Pacific Crest Trail Kickoff 2005: The Scoop!

by Don Wilson

An online subscription ("Premium Membership") is required to view this article.

Already a Premium Member? Please login using the form to the right.

Not yet a Premium Member? Subscribe now.

Not ready to become a member, but need the article? Buy access to this article.

Article Summary:

Every year on the last weekend in April, the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kickoff (affectionately known as the ADZPCTKO) is held in Lake Morena County Park, which lies right on the PCT just 20 miles north of the Mexican border. This year's kickoff was held on the weekend of April 22-24. The ADZPCTKO was started in 1999 as a way for past hikers to give something back to the through-hiking community. Its mission is simple - provide inspiration, information, and moral support for the new class of through-hikers each year. The event has grown from about 30 attendees in 1999, to over 550 at this year's kickoff. Backpacking Light staffer, Don Wilson, reports on gear trends and new gear from this year's kickoff.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

  • Introduction
  • Gear Notes
    • LuxuryLite
    • Gossamer Gear
    • Six Moon Designs
  • Gear Trends Among PCT Hikers
  • PCT Section Hike

    WORD COUNT: 1,600
    # PHOTOS: 8

    Buy Access to This Article

    If you do not want to subscribe and get access to all BPL articles, you may instead opt to buy this single article: "Pacific Crest Trail Kickoff 2005: The Scoop! "