The PCT Games

I need to update this blog more, I've been using Facebook as a bit of a journal, but friends tell me they have a hard time seeing these updates so I'm going to try blogger again.

I’m departing from the southern terminus of the PCT on Mar 26th.  2016.  

I'm in the last few weeks, and as I start prepping my final list, ordering food, etc., it’s now time to publicly share some of my eccentric PCT plans. I’ll provide updates as these events progress via Facebook (feel free to friend/follow me), I hope you all enjoy them and share. 
 

If you can see this message - YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE (and feel free to share with others).    Let me know if you'd like to Meet Up, Section Hike w/Me, Glamp / Epic Camp, or play TRAIL SHENANIGANS. (more below)

Here is a brief description of each:

1. MEET UP

If you live in CA, OR, WA grab yourself, and possibly more friends and visit a town or section along the trail. As I’m traveling I’ll be posting my dates/travel times, and let me know your travel, let’s meet up. Novice/non hikers welcome. During PCT hiking season it’s perfect weather, and a lot of little towns in the mountains have festivals, concerts, etc. so there’s lots to do. In my experience each of these towns along the route has such amazing energy that I simply can’t wait to explore them all, I’ll be one of the homeless looking guys with a big smile on my face. If you’re a vendor trying to sell me something, tell your boss that you’re meeting a client and use your expense account.

2. BECOME A SECTION HIKER (GET ON THE PCT)

Seriously, Come on out. Want to do a section of the trail, but don’t know who/how? Hit me with a message or post on this thread. Sections can be as short as a mile. I don’t care how fast or slow you are, the company is all that matters. If you want to spend a night or a few in the wilderness that can be arranged too (no permit required for less than 500 miles), if you’re interested but scared, or need to borrow gear just let me know. REI sells/rents everything you’d need. 

3. GLAMPING / EPIC CAMPING.

I’m fortunate enough to live in an airstream travel trailer which is known as “the shiny bean”. My daughter Kim and other close friends will be transporting the bean to various campgrounds along the route (it’s also available for rent/your own adventures while I’m gone btw).

These glamping/epic camping nights will be parties with lots of cold beer, great music, and gourmet food. We’ll be posting dates once I have a better idea of the pace, but if this sounds like your brand of fun, let me know. 
 

4. TRAIL SHENANIGANS

Trail Shenanigans is a game I invented to break up the monotony of long distance hiking. Anybody in United States or world can play. 

The RULES:  YOU choose any item(s) up to 5 lbs. send it to my sister with a note about WHY you included this item, a quote, or whatever/for me.  SHE will put it in an unmarked envelope, decide which package, and write a starting mile -- ex: “do not open until xxx miles”.

I will NOT know what is in the package, so I'll need to channel my best Tom Hanks/Castaway impression and carry it unopened, contemplating what I've been sent.  I will take a picture at the PCT mile marker when I do open it, and I’ll send you a little note via email or facebook, and keep notes in my trail journal. Examples of items are below.

So the plan is to let anybody in the universe send me anything and I’ll carry it for up to 100 miles. My sister Lisa, who I viciously tormented as a child, has eagerly volunteered to run the game.

Examples of Items:

Awesome gifts include anything lightweight non/perishable: paperback books, sd cards with music or audio books, cards/notes, energy bars, cash, candy, jerky, hot sauce (especially taco bell packets), water flavors, starbucks via packets, AAA batteries, fishing lures, lottery tickets, etc.

Funny gifts include lightweight games (ex: paddle balls), rub on tattoos, febreze, personal lubricants and/or sex toys (ex: fleshlights), whoopie cushions, halloween masks, bear mace, fresh underwear, blow up sex dolls or inflatable pool toys, funny signs, boas, jewelry, pretty much anything photo booth silly, etc.

Payback’s a bitch gifts .. this is for all my former employees, co-workers, and jilt’ed ex’s. At various stages in my life I've done things I'm not proud of .. so I’m offering this opportunity for the universe to meter out the justice I deserve.

These karma inspired gifts might include anything heavy+probably useless ex: rolls of pennies, or nickels, heavy salt water fishing tackle, large hard back books, office supplies, broken hard drives, rocks, etc. For you -- it’s cheaper than therapy. If I’ve done you wrong, let me know, we can bury the hatchet (an example of useful but still heavy gift). Yes, I know I’ve got "it" coming. (more about this in the faq below)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Why are you doing this?

A: I want to see what happens, it’s a bit of a social experiment. I hope it will involve more people in my experience and simultaneously make me feel less isolated and happier. I think it’ll be a fun game to share with other hikers, and it’d be great if it starts a trend. Life always needs more shenanigans. I might be a masochist too.

Q: Are you crazy. Aren’t you afraid you’ll receive lots of heavy items?

A: Yes, I’m probably crazy, but that’s another topic. Yes, If I receive brick after useless brick, I will get discouraged, and while I do expect to receive a few rocks, because I’ve done plenty of things I regret, if this small opportunity gives people a chance to heal a bit at my expense I’m okay with that. If it's heavy and it slows me down the worst case is I have to spend more time in nature (no bad choices here).  This hike will be a reflective experience for me, it will be more amazing the more people interact.  I do believe that in my life there are more people on my team who want me to succeed than people who want me to fail. This seems like a good way to find out.

Q: You're an ass, but I love you dude. What’s the nicest “payback” gift I can send you?

A: well, a pound of pennies, costs only $1.45 and is enough to buy an ice-cream sandwich or soda at the next town.  You can also use copious amounts of duct tape with the pennies or other change to make a fun puzzle, I’ll have lots of free time to work on this at night, so do your worst.

Q: Where did you get the idea?

A: I invented it, when I was trying to come up with a way to make the trail more silly, fun and involve more people in this.

Q: What are you going to do if you get something heavy?

A: Carry it in my backpack. There are no trash cans out in the wilderness so I’ll have to pack everything out till I get to a place where I can let it go or put it in a trail stash for other hikers to find/discover/use.
I’m expecting to make friends on the trail, and so I believe no matter what the universe sends me I’ll either be strong enough to carry it by myself, or have enough people around me to help me carry anything life throws at me. Let’s find out what happens. 

Q: Do you really think random people on the trail are going to help you carry stuff?

A: Yeah actually I think other people will like to play the game with me. It'll likely be somebody who I'm travelling with, I'll share both the spoils and the spoilers.  We'll probably spend some time talking about whoever sent it, and sharing parts of our lives.

Q: Okay, I’m in -- how do I get you something?

A: Send Lisa Gunnett a friend request on Facebook. Lisa is my sister and will be coordinating the game with my parents who are shipping my supplies and gear and mailing it to various locations such as Post Offices and REI’s where I can pick it up along the route. Space in each box is limited.  I hope the plotting and planning for you will be as much fun for all of you as it was for me. You can simply order anything on Amazon and have it shipped.

Lisa will also be hosting a private facebook group for coordinating these so i don't get 26 different fleshlights and zero love ewes.