[pct-l] What is a "Thru Hike?"

Sun Feb 22 18:13:18 CST 2009

Jeff brought up an interesting question,

Is a Thru Hike still going from Border to Border in one shot? 
If you didn't make it all the way, did you just "Long Hike" or still Thru Hike?

Do many of those who start really have the realistically educated motivation/desire to go all the way, or are they out there for a "taste" of the experience, or do they start with the dream and, because of insufficient/inadequate planning and unrealistic expectations, drop out along the way?

Mtnned
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: jeff.singewald at comcast.net 
  To: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com 
  Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 6:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes so great?

  Ned,

  I think you are bringing some good questions to the list today.  The question of "why you are out there" is a very interesting one.  One thing that has bothered me to some degree over the last couple of years is the comments that people share that it is not their priority to complete the trail.  I think this is interesting, given that they claim they are thru-hiking the PCT.  Why has the term, thru-hiking, changed so much over the years?  Thru-hiking is defined as hiking the entire trail in one year, or at least those sections of the trail that are not closed to fires or other natural phenomena.  Heck, even the folks that I journaled for last year, still talk about their "thru-hike" even though they quit before finishing Oregon and skipped a number of trail miles in California.  That is simply not a thru-hike.  Even Diane of Santa Barbara talks about her "thru-hike".  She didn't finish California and today indicated that her original goal was to hike the California section.  That is a long hike but not a thru-hike by any means.

  This motivation that you speak of is interesting.  You really do have to "want" to complete a thru-hike and prepare to complete a thru-hike in order to do it.  Your point about preparation goes on deaf ears often on this list.  I know for me this was a major reason why I DID complete a thru-hike in 2006.  Not a day, not one single day went by that I did not want to hike or thought about quitting.  Why?  Because I prepared and my #1 goal was to reach Canada.

  Anyhow, take care,

  Jeff/Elevator

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
  To: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>, pct-l at backcountry.net
  Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 9:27:09 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes so great?

  Fantastic, Diane! You hit the nail on the head.

  I don't know if its the shoes that contribute to the low success rate or any 
  of a number of issues, some of which you've mentioned, but to help hikers 
  have a great, safe, healthy, and terrifically rewarding experience out on 
  the long trails, I'm questioning the accepted norm. Are the current trends 
  in training, food, gear, schedules, pace, etc. really allowing hikers a 
  better time in the wilderness?

  I had an incredible time on the trail and want more people to have the kind 
  of experience you speak of, where you're prepared physically, mentally, 
  emotionally, and spiritually for all the trail has to offer. Some find what 
  they're looking for in themselves, in others, or in the spiritual and some 
  are out there for altogether other reasons. If you wanted to help hikers get 
  past the first few weeks or month and the calls of home, what would be your 
  advise?

  Mtnned
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
  To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
  Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 9:02 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes so great?

  >
  > On Feb 20, 2009, at 8:23 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
  >> ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com wrote:
  >>> I guess I'm still trying to figure out how come about 75% of thru
  >>> hikers
  >>> leave the trail....
  > You think it's trail runners?
  >
  > People who leave the trail in the first couple of hundred miles
  > probably were not prepared physically or mentally or both. People who
  > have made it through the Sierra are probably feeling lonely for
  > family and home and overwhelmed with how much distance is left to go.
  >
  > The PCT is more a mental game than a physical one. As soon as home
  > starts calling you, if you can't find a reason to continue, you'll
  > just go home.
  >
  > But don't think going home is a bad thing or a failure. Many of us go
  > on the trail seeking a spiritual experience and once it has been had,
  > we know the right time to go home.
  >
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