[pct-l] Late May for an ole man

[karl jorgensen]

Cooper

I do not see that a mid to late May start is a problem at all if you are
willing to put in the miles.   In 06 i did not start until May 8 and i
finished the trail on Sept 9.  If you want to hike the whole trail then
that will be your "job" for 4 months.   If you start hiking at 6am and hike
until 6 pm that is 12 hours.   At an average of 2 miles per hour that is 24
miles, and that is very easy hiking.  I hiked the trail and I through hiked
it in 06 and i turned 61 on the trail.    It is very doable if that is your
goal.   Good luck, and i may see you on the trail as I did not go last year
because of the snow.   I am thinking of doing it this year, and i will not
start until May.

jorgy 06

On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 6:33 PM, Webmail dcooper <dcooper at bigsky.net> wrote:

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Webmail dcooper
> Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2012
> Subject: Late May for an ole man
> To: pct-1 at backcountry.net
>
>
> Im a former (what we used to call) long distance hiker; from 1980 thru 1985
> we section hiked the full length of the Continental Divide from Mexico to
> the Bering Strait (Russian border)...about 14,000 trail miles (if you want
> to call that...). Man, has technology changed things. In place of hours of
> hanging around the old Oregon Mountain Community store talking to fellow
> backpackers and climbers, begging to help pack up crews headed out for
> climbing expeditions throughout the world (learning how to do food
> logistics, et al), I just sit on my 58yo ass with my iPad now and read how
> it's done now.  Petty cool.
>
> So here it is my fellow thru-hikers of the new age, I want to thru-hike the
> PCT this year but can't start until after my Calculus final (taking
> Calculus because smacking my nuts with a hammer got old...that and I am
> redefining my career after selling my company).  This means a start date of
> mid to late May.  I'm 58 and in decent hiking shape...10 miles a day with
> 35 lb pack around Mt Hood trails is easy for me...BUT I need a good 2-3
> week break in period prior to the Sierras. And for the first time in my
> life, I will be doing this alone...at least that's the way it looks
> now...it's not my preference and honestly I am a little skittish about it.
> Yes, there are questions coming...
>
> 1. I'm assuming 60 mi in first 5 days, rest, another 60 mi in 5 days, rest,
> and 15 mi a day after that. Assuming this and a late May start date, Is a
> border start realistic assuming heat and water issues?
> 2. If not a southern terminus start point, are there any suggestions on
> time and location for a starting pont given the above parameters? I am not
> against section hiking.
>
> Thanks,
> Cooper
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