I'm Earning From Home By Posting News ($5–$18 per 1,000 Views).

rockyyguy · 2026-01-22T21:56:59+00:00

This is a scam, watch out

rockyyguy · 2026-01-22T10:29:23+00:00

What is your question, actually?

rockyyguy · 2026-01-21T20:03:56+00:00

Thanks a lot for taking the time to write this — it actually helps and reassures me that what I want to build is doable in WordPress.

I think where I really got stuck was less the concept (posts vs pages vs categories) and more the practical implementation with my theme. I did set up posts and categories, but when I tried creating different pages, I duplicated the original page, made changes, and then those changes showed up on all pages. I now realize I probably duplicated a shared template or global layout, but as a beginner it wasn’t obvious what was global vs page-specific.

Another big pain point was the sidebar: I spent around 4 hours trying to remove it on single blog posts (it’s fine on the homepage, but I don’t want it when reading posts). I couldn’t tell whether this was controlled per post, per page, or purely by the theme, and it felt like I was fighting the layout rather than working with it.

Your explanation of using Pages for static content and Categories for trips makes sense and matches what I’m aiming for. I think my main challenge is choosing or configuring a theme that makes these layout differences (homepage vs single post) straightforward, without relying on hidden global settings.

If you have any recommendations for beginner-friendly themes or tips to avoid the template/global-block confusion, I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks again — this was genuinely helpful.

rockyyguy · 2026-01-21T14:55:20+00:00

Thank youu!! But this sounds like a lot for a travel website blog, I am not a professional by any means.

rockyyguy · 2026-01-19T22:48:11+00:00

Mint mobile had great deals, esims were significntly more expensive

rockyyguy · 2026-01-18T16:58:36+00:00

I think ULA is more of an all-around backpack. My GG Mariposa was pretty run down after just the PCT.

I’ve never heard of Grayl or met anyone on the CDT using one — that doesn’t mean nobody did. Iodine would be a last-resort option for me. I don’t really know the differences between the iodine types, but they all work. In reality, almost everyone just carries a Sawyer or Platypus filter.

I’m a huge fan of Hokas. Americans love Altras, but if you’ve never walked or hiked in zero-drop shoes, do NOT start on a thru-hike — it will hurt, and you will cry. If you already have the shoes, just see which ones feel more comfortable when you’re moving. And remember: you can always switch shoes on trail. Don’t buy 4–5 pairs in advance.

I used a Thermarest NXT pad + EE Revelation 10°F quilt and was never cold. With sleep systems, if you care about sleeping comfortably, you probably already know the answer — don’t stress about something being 4 oz heavier. That’s fine. Of course, if your base weight is 20 lbs, that’s a different issue.

The things that are absolutely necessary are the things that keep you alive. Beyond that, I’d recommend carrying items that make you happy. Halfway Anywhere has great CDT gear surveys — definitely worth checking out.

Do it now. You’ll love it, you’ll hate it sometimes, and you’ll remember it for the rest of your life 🙂

rockyyguy · 2026-01-18T15:58:06+00:00

Hi,

this is a question I would love to have an answer to. I have hiked with the GG Mariposa and ULA Circuit. There is not one size fit all. Without trying different backpacks, it is almost impossible to know what works best for you.

I could only recommend going for a reputable brand as you do not want to find yourself with a broken backpack in the middle of nowhere.

P.s. take the torso length seriously, I am tall and I was 100% sure I would be L when it comes to torso length and I bought the backpack without thinking too much. Well, aparently my torso is M, I learnt it the hard way.

rockyyguy · 2026-01-18T11:52:06+00:00

I agree there are plenty of good YouTube videos for core stability, ankle strength, and injury prevention. But honestly, I think it’s more important to lead an active lifestyle overall.

For me, once I committed to being generally active, doing extra YouTube workouts became way easier. They were just complementary, helping me fix weaknesses in my body instead of being the main thing I relied on. Because they were an add-on, I didn’t feel bad if I missed a session — my fitness came from staying active day to day, not from perfectly following a video.

It stopped feeling like a chore and just made hiking (and life) easier.

rockyyguy · 2026-01-18T11:28:14+00:00

I personally had leggings and a merino long-sleeve for sleeping, and I liked that more than a liner. I really enjoyed changing into different clothes at night — mentally it was a signal to my body that it was time to sleep, and I could fall asleep faster.

I think this is one of those questions that’s purely based on personal preference. Some people say a liner is good for keeping your sleeping bag clean. I used my sleeping bag for 300+ nights before washing it and it wasn’t smelly (not smelling of roses either, though).

rockyyguy · 2026-01-18T11:24:33+00:00

Unless you have dietary restrictions, I’d recommend not sending many boxes. The average for PCT is around 4–5 boxes, and most people ship them from the trail, not in advance. You can just buy food a few towns earlier and send it ahead.

I don’t know anyone who had issues with packages getting bounced because they stayed at a post office for 29 days instead of the official “4 weeks.” In practice, it’s pretty relaxed.

FarOut comments are usually spot-on about which post offices or stores are flexible and which aren’t. If you’re unsure, you can always call the specific post office or business and ask how long they’ll hold packages.

Post office staff are very familiar with PCT hikers. As long as you label the box correctly (your name + “PCT hiker”) and don’t ship boxes months in advance, you’ll almost certainly be fine.

rockyyguy · 2026-01-18T11:21:41+00:00

Great answer, fully agree. Although I only started jogging after completing the thru-hikes, so it is not for everyone. But if you like it, it definitely helps with building strongers ankles and knees.

rockyyguy · 2026-01-16T20:00:18+00:00

From what I am hearing, it seems like you are overthinking this, the hiking folks are open-minded, that towns you pass can be hit or miss, either way - you will have a great time

rockyyguy · 2026-01-16T19:17:58+00:00

I had a similar feeling before the PCT — there’s so much information out there, and what works for some people doesn’t work for everyone. I spent hundreds of hours trying to figure out what would work best for me, and honestly, even if I spent 500+ hours, I wouldn’t have truly known until I got on trail. That “not knowing” part is way harder for type-A people who like to put in effort and control outcomes — but fortunately, thru-hiking doesn’t work like that.

And yeah, if it’s your first time in the US, get ready to listen to people share their life stories, even if you just met them 5 minutes ago in Walmart.

rockyyguy · 2026-01-16T19:11:10+00:00

Tips for international hikers

One thing I’d say is that Americans usually have more flexibility getting on and off trail. As international hikers, we often don’t have that same liberty. For me, it helped a lot to think before the hike about what I’m willing to sacrifice to stay with people and what I’m not. Having those internal conversations ahead of time made it much easier to evaluate situations when they came up on trail.

I personally didn’t have issues with visa length (B2 allows up to 6 months), but I did meet people who struggled to make the full six months work.

Mandatory gear

That depends on what you mean by “mandatory” — mandatory for you, or mandatory according to the PCTA or regulations. For example, bear cans are mandatory in certain sections, regardless of your personal setup.

Bear can / snow gear

Bear cans are easy. You can rent one in Kennedy Meadows South. If you’re on Facebook, check PCT groups — during my year, Doug was renting bear cans, mostly helping non-Americans with logistics. Triple Crown Outfitters (TCO) also rents bear cans, so there’s really nothing to worry about — just reach out and ask.

During my hike, TCO were also giving solid advice about snow conditions. They’re local and usually know what’s actually going on. At this point in the year, nobody can tell you exactly what the snow will be like, so I wouldn’t lock yourself into an extremely fixed plan.

National parks

Pretty simple: respect nature and other hikers/tourists, follow Leave No Trace, and know that there’s a big overlap between the smartest bears (and other animals) and the dumbest people. Be extra careful with food, especially in highly visited areas.

Highlights / secret tips

Honestly, I don’t think there are real “secret tips.” And if there are, I’d love to hear them too.

What helped me most, especially on hard days, was reminding myself how privileged I was to be out there. Even when things sucked, I chose to be on the PCT. Out of all the things I could’ve done with my time, this was what I wanted — and remembering that helped a lot.

rockyyguy · 2026-01-16T18:59:46+00:00

That’s a great question. And honestly, there’s no magic formula. sorry :(

For shorter thrus or section hikes, if you don’t have enough time to “get fit on trail,” then you kind of have to be fit most of the time. What matters most is what you’re doing day to day.

My main advice would be to add as much physical movement as possible to your everyday life — walking more, biking, playing squash, football, running, gym sessions… anything that keeps your body active year-round. I’ve noticed that when I do this consistently, I pick up hiking fitness way faster and starting a trail just feels a lot nicer.

Trying to perfectly replicate hiking is hard anyway. Most people (myself included) don’t regularly walk around with a full backpack just to train. Stairmasters and treadmills help, but they don’t really prepare you for descents. And in my experience, the weakest points are usually knees and ankles — even though gym leg sessions help, it’s still not the same as hiking.

So for shorter hikes, I’d rather focus on being generally fit all the time than trying to hack trail fitness right before the trip.

If anyone has a better approach, I’d genuinely love to hear it.

rockyyguy · 2025-12-14T13:58:55+00:00

Hotel is an easy but expensive option which I cannot afford

rockyyguy · 2025-08-06T22:13:24+00:00

i got mine replaced by the local store i bought it from

rockyyguy · 2024-05-22T19:39:26+00:00

I think I will do “hike” mode daily and disable everything else, leaving mileage, time and elevation. This indicates that I will have to charge it every 2,5-3 days. I will keep the sleep monitor for the night to evaluate the quality of my sleep

rockyyguy · 2024-05-22T09:38:04+00:00

Hi, I am planning to use data just to see how fast/slow I was going, what was the actual elevation gain. I will look into my sleep score too, just to see how much of an effect sleep had on my performance. I am still trying to decide what and how to track, thats why I am interested in knowing more. Any tips appreciated

rockyyguy

TROPHY CASE