??? Frequently Asked Questions ???

Where are you going to get 26 Wedding Gowns?

Beg for them of course!  There are surely 26 wedding gowns laying around somewhere that no one is interested in any longer.  Grab it from the back of your closet, stick it in a box, and send it my way.  No need to be so careful with it... REMEMBER... THAT GOWN IS GOING HIKING !!!

What are you going to do if you get more than 26 Wedding gowns?

I'll have to pick and choose.  Sadly I'll have to choose the best Gowns based on

Durability... Although they're not built for hiking, some of them aren't built tough enough to get through even a day hike.

Weight... One of the gowns I have used repeatedly is insanely heavy.  i'm using it in concept/fun photos, but can't use it on the trail.

Size... If it's entirely too small for me (I'm technically a size 12/14, but that doesnt' limit the smaller sizes) I may not be able to modify it to hike.  BUT that doesn't mean that I can't use it for the collection of photos I'm using to keep your attention.  I intend to use all of the photos in the end... every dress, every dollar counts !

Trumped importance ... "What the heck does THAT mean?"  Well, let's pretend Vera Wang decides to design me a utilitarian backpacker Friendly Wedding Gown... THAT just might trump the importance of 'that other dress that i really wanted to wear'....

How will you fit 26 Wedding Gowns in your backpack?

I don't have to.  I'll stop off at 're-supply' stations, (towns/resorts off the main trail) where I'll be able to restock my food supply, as well mail home last weeks dress, and pick up the next. 

Is this really a good idea?

NO... It's a terrible idea.  But it's certainly an attainable goal.  But "Man goes on hike" is Dull Dull Dull....

How can I Contribute or Donate?

I still need to work on becoming 'Not For Profit' so I can add a DONATE button to my site.  As of yet, i have not had the time necessary to investigate the necessary requirements for NFP status.  Soon... very soon... but for now, you can buy a shirt.

Any other questions or comments about this, email me at 

northwesternadventurer@gmail.com

How long is this going to take you? 

26 weeks,  is a concept that I'll push to a reality if possible... yeah, read on...It's estimated that the average hiker takes 6 months to traverse the PCT.  I based my number on the average completion time of six months/ half a year = 26 weeks.  The hike will begin sometime in April, official date based upon the amount of snow in the mountains.  If i begin too soon, I could get stuck waiting for snow to melt in the Sierra Nevadas.  Yet if I start too late, I face snow in the Cascades, in October. It's a distinct possibility that I won't have time to push this to 26 weeks if snow hits early near the end of the hike.

You're not going to hike alone, are you?

Yes.  A great majority of Thru-Hikers end up splitting up as they hike.  Finding someone that matches your pace, daily goal for miles, attitude, etc, is very difficult to find.  There will be many others along the trial, although they may not want to be seen hiking next to me. =-)

Are you going to wear a dress just for a picture, or wear it while hiking?

I intend to wear each dress when at all possible while hiking on the PCT. Zero days  (days of rest the body often requires), and resupply days when i head into towns/civilization, I will likely wear comfortable clothes, not a dress. 

Will it be hazardous to hike in such attire? 

When traversing dangerous snow slides, rivers and streams, raining for days and hypothermia / wet clothing become an issue, or any other time it would be hazardous to my health, safety and well being, I will remove the dress until I can safely continue on while wearing it.

Have you thought about doing this hike for Charity?

At this time, I'm not going to involve a charity, although the option will always be available. I have something in the works to raise money while on the hike... but for now.. I need to raise money to actually GO on the hike... 

Are you CRAZY?

Who's really to say

Have you asked anyone who's Thru-hiked the PCT about doing this in a dress?

I contacted several people that have Thru-hiked.  One gentleman actually began his journey in a skirt.  One is a well respected Long Distance hiker.  Only one responded to my (admittedly odd) requests about the feasibility of hiking in a dress.  This is something I am committing to do, however awkward it ends up to be.  Back in the early days of long distance hiking, Gortex, and quick dry fabrics were not readily available.  Not wearing hi-tech clothing isn't always necessary.  The3  Most Pertinent goal on the trail, according to the single received reply, is "I have to get to Canada, I have to get to Canada, and, I have to get to Canada"...