[pct-l] quick question on my hiking performance

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

On Oct 26, 2010, at 7:21 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>
> 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.
You can't really speed up. Your pace is your pace. To cover more  
distance, simply hike more hours.

At 2mph you can go 20 miles in 10 hours. It is easy to hike 10 hours  
a day as a thru-hiker. The sun is out for more hours than that. Start  
early to maximize the daylight and cool morning hours. You will make  
the distance.

Fortunately the PCT has a gentle grade for at least 600+ miles. You  
may find that your pace quickens naturally without trying. Then it  
will slow down as you labor through the Sierras. Then you will be  
really strong and may find that up hill doesn't make a whole lot of  
difference in your speed anymore.