[pct-l] Defining a 'Thru-Hike'

[Charles Williams]

I've lived in Mammoth Lakes for several years and now live in Quincy, another common resupply point.  I've met many long distance hikers and was a thru in '93.  I ask all the scroungy looking people if they are thrus and nearly all that I've met in towns and met on the trail identify with the term "Thru-hiker".  Often they voluntarily add (especially this year) a list of pieces they've had to miss, or their new destination since they're too late to make it to the border, or some other modification of their specific itinerary.  
 
But they all identify with the term "Thru-hiker".  As do I for my trip, even though I went home for a few days from Ashland and went to my brother's house in Seattle for a week from Snoqualmie Pass.  
 
There is another term for people that specifically walk every mile of the trail in a single season.  That is the "Purist".  To be clear I was not a purist, but the term "Thru-hiker" is a more inclusive term and a wide range of travelers seem to use it to describe their perticular version of a long distance PCT trek.
 
Charles
P.S. Soon I'll be a "Thru-rider" as soon as I breed a big enough chicken.

--- On Mon, 10/24/11, giniajim <jplynch at crosslink.net> wrote:


From: giniajim <jplynch at crosslink.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Defining a 'Thru-Hike'
To: "giniajim" <jplynch at crosslink.net>, "Dan C. aka Thumper" <dofdear at cox.net>, pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Monday, October 24, 2011, 8:13 PM


to follow up, the AT community debates this often.  The ATC has some 
criteria for the designation of a hiker as a 2000-miler, but not 
specifically for a thru-hiker.  Don't know that there is a corresponding 
organization like the ATC for the PCT, nor whether the terms and criteria 
have been debated as much as they have in the AT community.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "giniajim" <jplynch at crosslink.net>
To: "Dan C. aka Thumper" <dofdear at cox.net>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 11:07 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Defining a 'Thru-Hike'


> I'll toss my two cents in.
> 1.  The term "continuous hike" is not generally used to describe a
> thru-hike.  Taking time off is fine as long as the hike is completed 
> within
> a year.
> 2.  A chronological year as opposed to a calendar year.
> 3.  No.  That would be a fine accomplishment but not a thru-hike.  On the
> AT, the term for anyone finishing the complete trail over any period of 
> time
> is generally "2000 Miler" (because the AT is about 2000 miles long, but 
> you
> have to finish all of it!!  Not just 2000 miles!).  Not sure if there is a
> corresponding PCT term.
>
> As always, my every-so-humble opinion! :)
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Dan C. aka Thumper" <dofdear at cox.net>
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 10:51 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Defining a 'Thru-Hike'
>
>
>> Dear List,
>>
>> When defining a 'thru-hike' I heard terms like continuous and within a
>> hiking season.  This brings up some questions, at least in my mind;
>>
>> 1.  Does a continuous hike mean without significant stops, say greater
>> than a week, or two?  What if the hiker took a month off but ultimately
>> completed the whole trail, does this qualify?
>>
>> 2.  Is a season within a calendar year or within any 365-day period.  In
>> other words could a hiker start, say 1 Nov, and as long as he/she were
>> completed by 31 Oct the next year , would it be considered within a 
>> hiking
>> season?
>>
>> 3. And what about those who take several years to complete the trail by
>> section hiking the parts until completed.  I've seen the term 'thru-hike'
>> associated with that accomplishment.
>>
>> So I'm a little confused and seeking some guidance as to what really is
>> considered a 'thru-hike'.  Thanks
>>
>> Thumper
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