[pct-l] 8 cy VS 4 cy and seeing the light

[Tortoise]

Reinhold,

I am NOT arguing for or advocating for heavy packs. I appreciate the 
benefits of lighter weight gear and am cutting my pack weight as I can. 
Nor do I advocate short mileage days. But I do want to stop and enjoy 
where I at without always moving on to the next spot.

But read the blogs of at least some of the speed hikers -- lots of talk 
about mileage, etc.  little about stopping to take in a view or to be 
with nature at a spot.

So, HYOH and I'll hike mine.

See you at ALDHA-W.

Tortoise

<> He who finishes last, wins! <>

I switched to Mac OSX rather than fight Windows
Using Mozilla Thunderbird  http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/



Reinhold Metzger wrote:
> TORTOISE,
> You seem to be under the impression that speed hikers plow down the trail
> like a bulldozer, in a cloud of dust, oblivious of the surrounding scenery.
> Nothing could be further from the truth.
> On my speed hikes, because I travel ultra-light and solo, I move swiftly &
> silently
> and therefore, like Joe confirms, see more wild life and take in much more
> scenery
> within a given period of time making the hike much more panoramic &
> spectacular.
> Starting early, hiking late and managing your down time may do more to
> increase
> your milage than a faster pace and ''seeing the light'' to go ultra-light is
> probably the
> most critical factor to fast packing or speed hiking.
>
> Once you see the light Tortoise you will never go back to your old
> ways....it's
> much easier on your body, you see more scenery and you enjoy the hike more.
> Besides, there is much satisfaction in challenging your body and then
> meeting
> that challenge.
>
> I often ask myself why is it that some folks can't understan speed hikin?
> That takes you back to the turtle vs the rabbit argument.
>
> Given the choice, I would always preferr to be the rabbit.
>
> I ask you Tortoise, do you really belief that the tortoise or the turtle,
> lumbering
> down the trail with their heavy loads enjoy their journy more than the
> ult-light
> rabbit scipping along the trail?
>
> JMT Reinhold
> The rabbit
> ---------------------------------------------
>
> Tortoise wrote:   I'll never understand why anybody wants to set a speed
> record on
> the PCT, JMT, or any other trail.....mabe, just maybe, one of us slow ones
> will show
> you the pictures of all that you missed in your haste.
>
> ----------------------------------------------
>   
>> Reinhold wrote:
>> Joe,
>> You are so right, speed hikers are a misunderstood breed.....they are
>>     
> known
>   
>> as the ''crazy ones'' and forever criticized by ''purists'' for hiking to
>> fast and
>> and not enjoying their hike.
>> Many folks just don't understand us......but we crazy ones, we understand
>> each other.
>>
>> I LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS:
>> There are rabbits and there are turtles, they each enjoy their journey in
>> their
>> own way.
>> Turtles will forever criticize rabbits for going to fast and not enjoying
>> their hike.
>> Who is to say how to hike or how to enjoy a hike?
>> Who is to say if turtles enjoy their journey more than rabbits?
>>
>> In nature not all things are created equal.
>>
>> I like the way Lance Armstrong puts it......''Some of us are born with 4
>> cylinders
>> some of us are born with 8 cylinders''.
>> The 4 cylinders will forever complain that the 8 cylinders are going to
>> fast.
>>
>> I say ....HYOH....and who cares what everybody else thinks.
>>
>> By the way Joe, the first time I hiked the JMT in 1996 with the Boy Scouts
>> we also
>> did in 21 days and I hauled a 75 - 85 lb pack........NEVER  AGAIN!!!
>>
>> As I got older and wiser  ''I SAW THE LIGHT''  now I go ultra-light.
>> But you know Joe, some folks don't get wiser as they get older, they just
>> get older
>> and they never see the light.
>>
>> JMT Reinhold
>> The old wise one
>>
>> -------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>     
>>> TOTTOO  JOE wrote:
>>> I think one of the most often asked questions I have been asked is, "Why
>>> would you want to hike through the wilderness so fast?" A speed hike is
>>>       
> so
>   
>>> misunderstood. I like to mention all the benefits to hiking a fast hike.
>>> Rather than spending time in hotel rooms, I spend every night under the
>>> stars, which turns out to be a much more of a wilderness expirence.
>>>       
>> Rather
>>     
>>> than bringing what is not needed, I live life much more simple. Your
>>>       
> pack
>   
>>> weight is far more easier on your body, in return you are just as happy
>>>       
> as
>   
>>> can be tramping through the forest. You are at resupply much quicker,
>>>       
> and
>   
>>> just long enough to eat what is impossible to bring. The condition of
>>>       
> your
>   
>>> body, becomes the ultimate high. You can start behind everyone, meet
>>>       
> them
>   
>>> all and only stick around just long enough to enjoy ones company, but
>>>       
> not
>   
>>> too long that the trail seems crowded. You will have enough time to
>>>       
> enjoy
>   
>>> more trail for the rest of the summer. You walk early and late, when you
>>> will see much more wildlife. You will spend less time and MONEY, which
>>>       
>> will
>>     
>>> allow you to do it more often. ect.......
>>>
>>> Most any fast packers will also tell you that they were not born this
>>>       
> way,
>   
>>> that they evolved. I myself hiked the John Muir, in 21 days and less
>>>       
> than
>   
>> 6.
>>     
>>> Both hikes were completely different, yet just as rewarding. But, I will
>>> never hike it in 21 days again. I also carried a 70lb pack before, but
>>>       
>> after
>>     
>>> 35+ years of hiking, I learned what I need, and that the lighter the
>>>       
> pack
>   
>>> the more I enjoy the hike. In 2005, I thru-hiked with a sub-5lb pack.
>>> More information about the pct-l mailing list
>>>       
>>     
>
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