[pct-l] Fit for a thru-hike?
Jim & Jane Moody
moodyjj at comcast.net
Thu Feb 4 19:11:45 CST 2010
I did the AT in '06. I knew I was in shape when I found myself using the term "... only 20 miles."
Mango
----- Original Message -----
From: "Swope Christopher" <sswwooppee at gmail.com>
To: "pct-L backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 4, 2010 5:50:18 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Fit for a thru-hike?
I've never attempted a thru hike before, so I've had to do a lot of
reading about what I do to prepare for one.
I've read what seems like hundreds of threads about the merits of
being "in shape" on day one, as well as that it's not as important as
some claim it is.
What I can't remember ever seeing is some kind of a rough baseline by
which to judge whether I'm "in shape" or not.
What do you grizzled PCT vets consider to be "in shape" enough to
start a PCT thru hike? How do you come to the judgement that you're
ready?
Does one have to be able leap Mt. San Jacinto in a single bound or is
it; be able to string together 17+ mile days indefinitely?
What's your standard, and what is THE standard, as you perceive it?
What would you consider signs of definitely NOT ready? (the answer to
this question will probably be much funnier)
Thanks,
Swope
On Feb 4, 2010, at 4:14 PM, <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com> <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
> wrote:
> 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?
>>>
>>>
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>
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