[pct-l] Choices and Completion Rates

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Quite a few hikers planning on hiking the PCT as a thru-hike pass through 
our doors in order to receive instruction, training, and just general 
exposure to snow and how to travel over it safely. It is often common to 
hear someone ask, "How do I know if I can handle the long day's walk, day 
after day?"

We encourage them to hike for a week at a comfortable pace in similar 
conditions to the Crest. If that goes well, of course learning many things 
about themselves, what they did not do well at, what they wished they'd 
brought, and what they will leave behind next time, we tell them to do a two 
or three week trip, usually the John Muir Trail or the North Cascades, with 
a resupply (for logistical practice) thrown in. If that goes well and with 
all that is refined through that journey, we usually encourage them to go 
all the way and schedule "the big one."

A thru hike of five (more or less) months creates a change of lifestyle. The 
rhythms of daily hiking, the exercise, the air, the basic living, etc. is 
nothing like a trip of three weeks, but similar. Those who walk the JMT 
begin to fall into this way of life, but it still doesn't have enough time 
to penetrate as deep into the soul and spirit (mind and heart as spoken of 
earlier) as for the thru hiker of such a trail as the PCT or CDT. Thus, 
re-entry is so difficult....



Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
1106A Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Len Glassner" <len5742 at gmail.com>
To: <ned at mountaineducation.org>
Cc: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>; 
<johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 3:50 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Choices and Completion Rates


> On Thu, Sep 2, 2010 at 2:35 PM,  <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:
>
>>
>>This speaks of applied skills, which really translates to, "I have done 
>>something similar before and I think I can do this."
>>
>
> And what would you characterize as similar to hiking for five
> consecutive months?
>
>
> -- 
> 'Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit' - Oscar Wilde
>
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