[pct-l] quick question on my hiking performance

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good evening, John,



The question is more about distance than speed – a subtle distinction.  Given
about 140-150 hiking days, the average day would be about 18 miles.  Every
“zero” or “nearo” day will increase that average target a bit, but too many
such days will extend the season from “border-to-border” to
“border-to-snow”.



A reasonable target could be 20 miles per day.  That won’t be constant:  Early
in the hike the miles could well be less while the body adapts, the process
is honed, and the gear gets sorted out.  Most hikers can easily throttle-up
a bit in the later 2/3 of the hike finding that 25 and then 30+ miles to be
reasonable and comfortable.



I view this as a hike rather than a “camping trip” such that almost all of
the daylight hours are devoted to hiking.  If there were 15 of those hours
one would only have to produce about 1.3 miles-per-hour.  Some of those
hours are rest stops, dawdling, talking to others, eating lunch and snacks,
etc, but an average of 2 miles-per-hour is a very good pace.



Enjoy,



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 6:09 PM, John Abela <pacificcresttrail2011 at gmail.com
> wrote:

> Hey All,
>
> I know the issue of "hiking speed" is not one of those issues that is
> really
> an issue... so please do not think I am all hung up on this issue - grin.
>
> And, I know that there are a ton of factors that go into this issue, this
> is
> just me trying to get a feel for what most of you out there are able to do
> on a daily basis.
>
> Basically what I am looking for is thoughts on whether my performance is
> where it should be or if I should "pick it up" a bit more... you know...
> man
> up and all that.
>
>
> Just to be clear and honest... the vast majority of my hiking is between
> zero elevation (lots of trails under 100 feet here in the Redwoods) and
> 2000
> feet.... so, pretty much all sea level hiking at this point... kinda woosie
> in that regards.
>
>
> What I have been doing is 10-12 mile trips - with a total pack weight of
> 12-18 (water dependent) - and I have been doing 4 miles per two hours with
> an average of 1000 feet elevation changes.
>
>
> So anyway, just wondering if that is decent or if that is really pathetic
> and I need to suck it up some more and push myself a bit harder.
>
> Thanks.
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