[pct-l] The Teddy Roosevelt Challenge on the PCT

[Steel-Eye]

Good morning, Connie,

I well remember that period when JFK tacitly promoted the idea of 50-mile 
hikes for average civilians.  I thought it was silly at the time and I still 
think it's silly today.  What better way to discourage a bunch of 
couch-potatoes from a well reasoned exercise program than by encouraging 
them to try to walk a distance well beyond their capabilities.  As I recall, 
almost all of that fad-hiking was on pavement since few people across the 
U.S. had reasonable access to 50 miles of trail.  Even today I won't walk 5 
miles on pavement, if I can avoid it, let alone 50.

Steel-Eye


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Connie Davis" <conniedavis at earthlink.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 12:47 PM
Subject: [pct-l] The Teddy Roosevelt Challenge on the PCT


>I am visiting a friend in Boston and we just got back from the JFK
> library.  There is a special exhibit about JFK's efforts to renew the
> President's Physical Fitness Challenge.  Apparently in 1908,
> President Theodore Roosevelt wrote an Executive Order that all Marine
> Corps officers be able to walk 50 miles in 20 hours.  When JFK
> learned of this, he asked if the Marine officers of the early 1960's
> could do it and spurred a nationwide interest in hiking.  There was a
> magazine on display (looked like a LOOK or LIFE magazine,
> unfortunately the date and issue was not displayed) of a photo-essay
> of average people all around the US who decided to see if they could
> walk 50 miles in 20 hours.  The  photos showed a 10 year old in a
> Davy Crockett cap and women in plaid coats, head scarves and galoshes
> trudging through the snow.  I'm sure there are several PCT hikers
> who've completed the Teddy Roosevelt Challenge (I am not one of them!)
>
> Lookout
> Class of '05
> http://www.trailjournals.com/lookoutandmongous/
>
>
>
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