[pct-l] Fit for a thru-hike?

[ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com]

Hi, Paul,

If a hiker dreams of hiking 2650 miles, you'd think that they'd start in as 
best a physical fitness as they possibly could, being informed that if they 
don't and get hurt, they'll have to quit, wasting all that planning, 
preparation, and expense. We are in equal agreement with you that we, too, 
want everyone's dream to be realized and more. That's why we offer our snow 
skills training courses for free--to help them overcome the challenges of 
the trail by learning about them first-hand, on the snow, with an 
instructor, so they'll be ready to use the skill when the need demands it. 
We want everyone to come out the other end with a new sense of completion, 
confidence, and knowledge of who they are and what they want out of life, 
and these are just some of the benefits of long trail hiking.

There's nothing wrong with starting with the herd or being social along the 
trail. But if you let another person's speed dictate your's when your body's 
not up for it, you're asking for trouble. So, do as Paul pleads and get in 
shape for hiking before your trip starts! If you can't do or don't want to 
do 20+ miles a day straight out of the gates, then lengthen your trail time 
by starting earlier. So you run into a little snow, maybe? Are you so purely 
a summer hiker that you won't even prepare for it? Snow can fall in the 
Sierra any month of the year.


Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
South Lake Tahoe, Ca.
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Bodnar" <paulbodnar at hotmail.com>
To: "pct-L backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 12:32 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Fit for a thru-hike?


>
> Ned,
>
>
>
> My research shows that most hikers start the PCT at the Kick Off or the 
> last weekend of April.  I don't see this changing in 2010.  Most people 
> want to travel in a herd, it is typical animal and human behavior. 
> Because of this most people will probably start close to the last week of 
> April.  This limits the time window to about 5 months for the majority 
> (more like 90+%) of thru-hikers (see link below for statistical data).
>
>
>
> My primary goal is to increase the success rate of thru-hikers completing 
> the entire PCT.  Because of this I can not endorse starting the PCT out of 
> shape.
>
>
>
> I have fallen victim to my own laziness and I admittied this to the list 
> to encourage myself and others to get in shape for this PCT thru-hike. 
> This trail is not a joke, it will eliminate about 60% of the thru-hikers 
> if they follow the same trend they did last year.  I don't want that to 
> happen.  I want every thru-hiker to finish.
>
>
>
> Getting into shape before your hike is the right thing to do. Not only for 
> the hike but for your health.  Everyone knows this, but again here comes 
> the excuses....
>
>
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> 2009 PCT Migration Pattern
>
>
>
> http://hikethru.com/about-the-pct/pct-hiker-migration
>
>
>
> 2009 PCT Success Rate
>
>
>
> http://hikethru.com/about-the-pct/thru-hike-success-rate
>
>
>
>
>> Paul,
>>
>> Your math is good, but presumes an average start date. What if hikers 
>> start
>> "early?" Wouldn't they, then, have more time to go slower at first, 
>> speeding
>> up to their own desired daily mileage to pull in before the snow flies in
>> Manning as they get stronger?
>>
>>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection.
> http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469227/direct/01/
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>
> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus 
> signature database 4836 (20100204) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>