[pct-l] Post PCT
Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com
diane at santabarbarahikes.com
Sat Feb 27 08:56:11 CST 2010
I think it is different for everyone, and different for the same
person who does it more than once.
I met Frodo in Old Station and she said that the people who do best
with the transition have something to go back to.
Some friends on the trail had to go back to work the day after they
got home and they reported that it was the strangest feeling, as if
the whole PCT hike had never happened and was only a dream.
Most people suggest taking some time to transition back. Things in
the regular world will seem odd. I was reminded to bathe a couple of
times. Cars move too fast. People talk too loudly and about stuff
that doesn't matter. I couldn't handle my type of work right away
because it takes too much brain power and concentration. It's hard
not to overeat. I've tried not to overeat and yet the pounds piled
back on anyway. I think it's because on the trail your body thinks
you're starving so no matter what you do, your body's going to hoard
everything it can in case you start up again.
I hiked two summers in a row. After the first summer my feet were
injured (that's why I went home) and I spent about 6 weeks walking
around town barefoot to heal them. It actually worked. It took until
almost the anniversary of when I left the Mexican border before I
felt 99% back to normal physically. I met another woman who said it
was about the same for her.
So far after this year's hike I am still physically a mess. Lingering
injuries to my feet (different ones this time around) and generally I
just hurt all over all the time. I went to the doctor and there's an
elevated enzyme indicating muscle damage. Not sure what that means
yet. I will probably be told to settle into my chair and drift off
to the black hole of normal American life. A fate worse than death.
I'm left with a lingering feeling that this "normal" life is
completely wrong, 99% meaningless and pointless and that most things
people are so concerned about are not important. If the whole oil
crash scenario were to happen, I would be cheering it on. Finally we
can go camping permanently.
On Feb 27, 2010, at 12:51 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> Hey everybody,
>
> I was wondering what advice the veterans of the PCT have about what
> to expect post trail. I'm sure it's different for everybody, but
> what can one expect as far as physical and mental recovery time?
> Any helpful tips as far as the best ways to make a smooth
> transition back to the "real world?"
>
> Thanks!
> Flyboxer
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