[pct-l] Finish thru-hike in mid-August?

[Vincent Rupp]

One thing I learned during a couple months on the PCT this year is that the
experience is worth the trip no matter how far you go. Just plan a hike
starting at a reasonable time and go at your own pace without worrying too
much about how far you get each day or where you'll be in mid-August. If you
pack resupply boxes for WA and don't get there, well then you'll have plenty
of food once you get back (assuming you pack food you'll eat at home).

And don't make a big deal out of it. Just get some gear you like, buy a
plane ticket, and head out. You can buy as you go until Kennedy Meadows, and
if you ever decide you'd like to spend a little of the summer lying around
at home drinking beers with your friends, there are trails and buses and
hitchhikes that will get you there within a couple days.

Unless you really need the bragging rights to say you did the whole thing in
one year, there's not much reason to let mileage interfere with enjoying
your life. No one you ever meet will say "You only did 2200 miles? Wimp."


On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 8:03 PM, Madison Condon <rohark.del at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi all!
>
> I'm new to the forum but it looks like an excellent source of  information.
> I've been casually planning a thru-hike of the PCT for the summer of 2010 -
> leaving as early as the snows allow in April.  I'm just beginning to get
> serious about the plan -- I have to restart school at the very end of
> August
> so a thru-hike is only possible if I can finish in early to mid-August.  Is
> this an unrealistic goal?  I have lots of section hiking experience on the
> AT but its hard for me to transfer mileages - from hikers I've talked to
> and
> journals I've read it seems like folks are able to average more distance
> per
> day on the PCT.  Am I crazy to hope to finish early?
>
> Thanks for any opinions!
> RO-del
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