[pct-l] Hiking alone?

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

Pea,

I respect your comments, though I would disagree to a certain extent.  I feel that if solo hiking is one's goal this can still be accomplished.  In 2006 I was able to walk the second half of the trail from Old Station to Manning, virtually alone.  That was my desire and goal as I wanted to experience this solitude and challenge myself.  I ran into a few thru-hikers periodically but from Crater Lake north, I crossed paths with only 3 other thru-hikers.

Staying motivated is not all that difficult in my opinion.  I think this is really of factor of one's individual goals.  If one's goals are not clear or the goals change during a hike, I think motivation could be a problem, however, if one's primary goal is to complete a thru-hike of the PCT, the motivation is not difficult.

Just a different view to share.

Elevator
-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Pea Hicks <phix at optigan.com> 

> 
> 
> Louise Wholey wrote: 
> > On the trail Sunday I encountered Detour. She had hiked hundreds of miles 
> from Mexico alone without issues. Initially she was apprehensive, but as time 
> passed she felt growing confidence. 
> > 
> > 
> > I hope to hike the trail in the future, maybe 2011, probably alone. I wonder 
> how a solo hiker stays motivated. 
> > 
> > Louise 
> 
> 
> in this day and age, very very few pct thru-hikers manage to hike 
> "alone" in the literal sense. most of them are southbounders, and even 
> those folks will meet all the nobos along the way. there's just too many 
> hikers on the trail, and too narrow of a seasonal window to truly hike 
> the pct solo. even if you never formally partner up with anyone, you 
> won't be hiking "alone." 
> 
> girlscout 
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