[pct-l] [Cdt-l] Women on the trail...me too!

[Jeffrey Olson]

Be sure to monitor NOAA's 3 month projections (you won't have to make a 
decision until May anyway).  This is a "La Nina" winter, which means 
that there will more snow and colder temperatures in the northwest this 
early winter - through January.  If La Nina stays, that will continue 
through the winter.  A SOBO hike will be really difficult until the end 
of July.  In 2005 it was an El Nino year, and an early June start worked 
out just fine...

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

Jeffrey Olson
Martin, SD

On 11/9/10 1:35 PM, dave gantz wrote:
> I'm trying to get out there in 2011 too.  If I can make enough money 
> this winter I'll be heading SOBO!
>     -Gantz
>
> On Tue, Nov 9, 2010 at 1:52 PM, <hetchhetchyman at aol.com 
> <mailto:hetchhetchyman at aol.com>> wrote:
>
>     It is funny that I personally never made a plan to be strictly
>     solo. I in fact began hiking from the Mexican border with Chief
>     Chihuahua, Sarong, and Jack Beanstalk. I love those guys but by
>     the time we reached South peak, just the second day, our paces
>     were already different. I decided I had to be true to the pace
>     that made me happy. This meant I did not see my friends again
>     until the Gila. It was awesome to hike with them again if short
>     lived. Once again we became separated in the Gila and I ended up a
>     day ahead of them into Pie Town. That was so cool at Nita's
>     Toaster house when all these NoBo hikers just showed up at the
>     same time! Thirsty Boots, Doc, Jack beanstalk, Chief Chihuahua,
>     Sarong, Lime Green JellyBean, Irish, Brit, and Damp Dan. After Pie
>     town my pace became quicker cause I was just getting into the
>     groove. I saw JellyBean and Company once on the road and Whitefish
>     a bit further on around Mt Taylor, but then not another thru hiker
>     until I ran into Southbounders- The Noodleheads near Mack's Inn
>     Idaho. In all that time I never felt lonely. Maybe because of all
>     the really great people I met in resupply towns along the way
>     filled my need for socialization.
>     Anyhow I know I am rambling here and you asked about the numbers
>     of groups VS solo's. I just had to kinda run the whole trip
>     through my mind a bit first.
>     Although I can't speak for these people or be sure they were
>     strictly solo or strictly in a group, the following is what met on
>     trail:
>     Groups of thru's in NM: 3+4
>     Solos' in NM 1+1+1+1
>     Groups of thru's in Idaho 2+2
>     Groups of thru's in MT 2+2+5+2+2
>     Solo's in MT 1+1+1
>     *So I met 7 Solo thru hikers and 24 people hiking in groups when I
>     met them.*
>     I can't speak for Sage or Hydro Heidi. I am a guy so I can't know
>     what the differences are both psychological and real for women to
>     hike the CDT solo. I do know there were times when I really wished
>     I could talk to another long distance hiker. I also know there
>     were some pretty awesome sublime moments when I was glad I was
>     alone. Wow, I ain't making much sense, sorry. When I think back I
>     remember being a little jealous when I met that big happy group of
>     southbounders. It brought back memories of the great friends I
>     spent time hiking with on the PCT. There are things that only
>     another thru hiker can understand and when you are solo you don't
>     have an outlet for those thoughts and feelings.
>     Anyhow i am making a big 'ole mushy mess of this post now so I'll
>     just let it be. I loved meeting other hikers on the trail. I loved
>     the time we did spend hiking together. I also loved my solo time
>     and that made me appreciate meeting folks all the more I suppose.
>     Cheers-Matthew Edwards aka Iceaxe
>
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