[pct-l] Being 61

[Jim Keener]

Hi William,

There are some people older than you or I who have completed a thru- 
hike of the PCT. One of them, Stretch, was a very fast finisher,  
sometimes hiking for 40 miles in a day in Oregon. Take a look at Mr.  
D's journal and others.

One difference I noticed in 2004 between me and younger hikers was how  
much more energy they seemed to have at the end of the day than I did.  
One way I'm adjusting for that this year is to not cook in southern  
California. I'm trying that to save time when I get to camp. I am  
shipping a stove in my bounce box, though, in case that turns out to  
be something I don't much like.

Take a look at Gottago's site: http://www.lindajeffers.com/

She first hiked the PCT when she was 57, and she plans to hike a  
significant portion of the CDT this year. Thanks for bringing this up.

Walk well,
Jim Keener ( J J )
http://oldmanwalking.net

On Mar 16, 2008, at 6:42 PM, William Skaggs wrote:

>
>> I am new at this so forgive my transgressions. I plan to hike in '09
>> and I am really hoping that this old body(I'll be 61) will make it.
>> Even though my knees are creaky the Dr says they should make the
>> milage. I have been doing 15 mi on the weekends and I feel pretty
>> sore afterwards. I exercise on a regular basis so I am a bit
>> disheartened. I plan on doing 20 mi. days once on the trail so I am a
>> little nervous. Perhaps you guys can offer some advice to help me get
>> ready for my trip? Will there be suggestions made at ADZPCTKO?
>
> There is an old saying:  the only useful practice for backpacking
> is backpacking.  You should do a couple of of weeklong soloes this
> summer -- your response to these will be a good clue to your response
> to the trail.
>
> The way the PCT works, in most years you're not really in a hurry for
> the first few hundred miles.  You can't really make it through the
> high Sierra until the snow melts to a pretty good degree, and that
> generally doesn't happen till around late May at the earliest,  
> sometimes
> a good bit later.  So in most cases you have time to build up your  
> mileage
> and take rest breaks in the early part.  This means that success is  
> more
> about having the psychology to keep going day after day, and about
> not getting a really serious injury, than about being able to make a
> certain number of miles day after day.  By the time you reach northern
> California, either your body is collapsing completely, or the miles  
> are
> coming a lot easier.
>
>  -- Bill
>
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