Beyond Backpacking- Ray Jardine

I just ordered this book online yesterday & CANNOT WAIT for it to arrive! Has anyone here read it, or it's companion books The Pacific Crest Trail Hikers Handbook or Trail Life? What do you think of the "Ray Way" & has it influenced your travels/the way you hike/backpack? I want to hike the Pacific Crest Trail eventually, and am planning on hiking the John Muir Trail next summer to kinda prepare for it a little bit. I'm hoping this will give me some valuable information about how to prepare. Anyone here hiked the trail, or any segment of it? Stories/experiences/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

eace: