[pct-l] To Patrick Maloney

[Paul Mitchell]

> The 700 miles of training up to the Sierras is pretty essential for making
it through them without too much suffering. 

Indeed, and it's not just a matter of fitness, but also altitude
acclimatization.  I know a hiker who had formerly thru-hiked and passed
through the high sierras without incident.  In 07 he was hiking the sierras
without having hiked the trail up to that point and the altitude and heat
hit him hard - a few days in he was so ill he had to be airlifted out.
Doesn't mean it's not possible to start there, but you'd be starting with
the most difficult stretch of the entire trail so unless you're very fit and
lucky enough to not be highly effected by altitude, you'd need to go slow.

Cheers,
P178