[pct-l] Thru hiking alone or with somebody else?

[Bill]

Hey Sean,

My suggestion and I think others will echo this.

First, if you have friends that want to join you have them all commit to the
same section ahead of time.  The coordination of where you will be and when
will be difficult to put together and you will not likely want to do it more
than once.

That being said, having your close friends join you for a few days mid hike
can be very good for the soul for many reasons.   You get to show off how
friken strong you are.  You get to remember and connect to your home life
that will remind you how far you have come.  And you will get time with
people who know you in ways those on the trail don't.

Most people suggest that you need not worry about hiking alone.   Most
hikers have very different styles and speeds and priorities.   Rare is the
friend from home that aligns with you on the trail in quite the same way.
If you start alone, you WILL meet many other hikers.  If you are inclined to
company you will find yourself gravitating to hikers that share your hiking
style.   In addition, since the connection was adhoc, you are left without
obligation to continue at any given time.   When you feel the need to move
along, fall behind, or just want to be alone again to test your skills or
contemplate the planet - you have minimal tethers. 

This of course, is just my observations and experience - your mileage may
vary.

pGumby

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Sean Carey
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 8:23 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Thru hiking alone or with somebody else?

Hello again,

Got another question for all of you. I guess this has actually been in the
back of my mind since I realized that this is something I am going to be
doing. On a thru hike I am wondering how many people solo hiked it or hiked
with others? I have tried to talk most of my friends into coming with me. If
not the the whole way maybe for a part of it. I pretty much have had no
takers. LOL. A few would really like to, but they have other
responsibilities and so on to contend with.

Me I don't have as many of these responsibilities or tethers keeping me in
one place. I am going to do this. You could fit all of my possesions into a
van probably and even maybe a car. LOL.

Anyhow back to what I am really wondering about. I am not sure where exactly
I will be by the time I get ready to go. Or how I will feel about which one
of these I want to do. I am wondering if some people maybe hook up with
people and hike with them for a while and then return to solo hiking? Or
maybe some people hook up for certain portions like the Sierras?

I might find that when I get there I want some company sometimes. I might
also find I want to solo hike a lot of it. I don't really know yet. I guess
I am really curious though about the possibilities of both. I am wondering
what people have experienced and what they think about both? Also the
possibilities or maybe if people just will run into others along the way and
just hike for a bit and then break off?

Thanks for all of the input.

Sean C.
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