[pct-l] Juggling work, family, money, and the trail

[Douglas Tow]

Good afternoon!

There are very few people who spend most of the time during clement weather
doing long distance hiking.  It is easy to say "just find a job that pays a
lot, then save a lot of it, then quit, then hike, then lather, rinse and
repeat," but I don't know very many people who have the job skills, money
discipline, and opportunity that would allow that.  Usually, not hiking a
ton comes down to:

-They have a job that won't allow the long absences
-Money prevents (by choice, not by choice, let's not debate)
-Absence from family not thought healthy
-Health insurance for self and family often an issue
-Marriage, divorce, kids, houses, pets, break-ups, education, job change,
the list is endless...

So, catch a vision (which readers already have or probably soon will have
done).  Then, study and understand the basics, the rigors, the money, the
time, and the personal aspects.  Still going?  Make a plan.  Follow the plan
to finance, equip, test, prepare, condition, hike a lot, then hike some
more, until the long hike is merely the next step in the natural sequence.

Failure is always possible, but think of it like a car tire.  A perfect tire
can fail, but it's usually because it is in less than stellar shape, hasn't
been inflated properly, hasn't been rotated to schedule, etc.  The owner has
the manual, but...just...doesn't...read it...and follow it.

Doug