[pct-l] time required for pct thru hike

[Eric Lee (GAMES)]

Lauren wrote:
>
Is it feasible to thru hike the pct in 100 days? I know it's been done faster than that, but I guess I'm asking if it's possible to hike in less than four months and not feel like I'm killing myself.
>

The AT is 2,175 miles long and you did it in 148 days for a no-zero average of 14.7 miles per day.  The PCT is 2,650 miles long and to do it in 100 days you'd need 26.5 miles per day with no zeros.  Yes, I've heard that the daily mileage on the PCT tends to be higher because the trail tread tends to be better maintained, but I don't think it's *that* much easier.  If your AT trip represented the rough limit of your abilities then it's not likely you'd be able to step it up that much more on the PCT.

Another way to look at this is to see how many people have done the PCT in 100 days or less.  I don't have an exhaustive list on hand (maybe someone who follows such things more closely can chime in) but while it does happen, it doesn't happen very often.  I'd guess that in many years, *no one* completes the trail in 100 days or less.  (If I'm wrong about that, I'm sure someone will correct me.)

So the answer is yes, it's possible to do it, if you're among the handful of endurance athletes who are capable of it.  Without feeling like you're killing yourself?  Well, it's impossible to answer that without being you but I think the odds are rather stacked in favor of "No!"

Eric