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

[Stephen]

I agree with you Monty. You made your entry at X and hiked thru to Y.  I 
don't know if I consider my plan to gain the PCT just south of VVR and then 
hike thru to Timberline would be considered thru hiking, but I am not and 
have never been a trail nazi purest.  I don't knock those that are if it 
makes thier thing swing, but I am planning a side trip north of Tuolumne and 
again in Lassen.  However, I've done resupplied loop hikes and stuff I 
wouldn't consider thru hikes as these were eight to ten day afairs, nice 
long loops, and not like being out on the trail constantly for weeks, 
months, though I was but not along a single route with an entry and exit 
like a "thru" (and this is how I know a bit about hiking constantly with 
only a day off here and there).  Anyway, I'd consider anything of the 
entry/exit variety lasting multiple weeks and requiring the necessity to 
supply along the way a "thru".  By supply I mean picking upparcels, buying 
as you go, or hunting and gathering; the point being you would not be able 
to reach your destination without some sort of support whether by your own 
means or others help.  I've hiked from Onion Valley to Cedar Grove, east to 
west a couple times in a day but I consider that a Sierra crossing.
I know some folks will hollar that thru-hiking is border to border, or from 
the legaly named beginning to the same at the other end.  Mexico to Canada 
thru the USA via the PCT, and they arecertainly entitled to thier opinion 
based on the language I used here.  I hike thru a lot of pain, and thus I am 
a thru-hiker.  To say youtried to or attempted to thru-hike the PCT is more 
in line with my legal mumbo jumbo. I hacked a section of my shin out when I 
slipped on a wet log and am thereby a section-hiker.  Don't sound so good. 
I've section hiked most of the JMT using it as part of a  lot of fifty and 
hundred mile loops, and the only part I've missed and really don't have much 
desire to do is between Silver Pass and Donohue Pass.  But I don't consider 
hiking the JMT a thru-hike. It's too short, and hiked by the thousands, and 
canbe completed over and over in one season and also exactly when you hike 
it can be chosen much closer to jump off.  I've thought of hiking it one way 
and then back taking alternative routes.  People are still hiking in to the 
brown storage lockers and stashing food and fuel for themselves on thier way 
to Happy Isles. Not a good idea if you ask me.
Anyway, call it what ever you want, but if someone tells me they thru-hiked 
the PCT I'd think they meant the whole thing.  If Monty tells me he 
thru-hiked the PCT in two or three long sections over two or three years it 
makes sense to me, sounds fun.  If someone says they section hiked the PCT I 
have no idea what they mean.  A week here and there isn't thru-hiking, but 
is probably fun too.  There, I said the F word twice and thereby laid down 
the rules.  It is now up to you all to break them !  Have "F"


Stephen
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "montypct" <montypct at gmail.com>
To: <zaqueltooocool at gmail.com>; <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
Cc: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 4:56 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] What is a "Thru Hike?"


> One year I hiked 1800 miles from the Mexican Border to Crater Lake, 
> Oregon.
> I asked on this list if that made me a section hiker instead of a
> thru-hiker.
> Someone (a friend) posted a simple "Yes"
> I resented that   :)
> There's nothing wrong with hiking sections, but I liked the way 
> "Thru-Hiker"
> sounded better.
>
> I'm with Andrea.  It doesn't matter.  Besides, it was my hike, and I get 
> to
> call it what I want.
>
> monty
>
>
> Lightweight Backpacking
> The fun goes up when the weight goes down
> -Warner Springs Monty
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Andrea Dinsmore" <zaqueltooocool at gmail.com>
> To: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
> Cc: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 4:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] What is a "Thru Hike?"
>
>
>> >From what I've heard from the Thru Hikers who have made the complete
>> >journey
>> there is a lot of pride and self satisfaction that they made it the whole
>> way. Some hikers put themselves in danger (IMHO) to finish the trail. The
>> Thru Hikers who get cut off by the snow up north, if possible they make a
>> point of returning the next season to finish. It doesn't matter what you
>> call it or how long it is........you only have you to impress. HYOH
>>
>> PCT MOM
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