[pct-l] Wife Buy-In and Contracting Biz Prep For Thru Hike

[Jenn]

Not sure if I can add anything useful, but I'm on the other side of this. My husband planned a thru-hike this year. We have a 7 year old, a 3 year old and a 1 year old. My husband always has and always be an avid hiker and I suppose it did not come as quite a shock when he asked about the feasibility of planning a thru-hike. After much discussion, we agreed that this year was probably going to be the best opportunity for him to attempt a thru-hike in the next 15 years. 

I'm going to be honest here-I really did not want to be involved at first. Resupplying and meeting up with him when he was on trail that was local was fine, but I resented trying to be pushed into loving the PCT the way he did, so I don't necessarily recommend running the PCT propaganda machine. Please don't get me wrong. I enjoy hiking quite a bit, but thru-hiking occupies its own special niche and it's foreign to me; I have my own love for the PCT, mainly because it has brought such considerable joy and happiness to my husband, but I had to reach that point organically. Anytime my husband tried to coax me into doing anything revolved around the PCT, I balked. In my mind, the trail was already taking my husband. Why should it take my free time as well? Silly, but I had a serious mental stumbling block at the time. So my advice is to let the idea percolate. 

As others have suggested, emphasize to her that this is a dream you have. Ask her if she can help make it happen. Go over all the what-ifs. Make back-up plans. Ask her what her fears or concerns are. Ask her about what her dreams are and how you can help make them happen. Be honest and open. And get used to people thinking you are crazy. People constantly chided my husband for setting off on a thru-hike when he had three young children at home. 

Best of luck!

Jennifer

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 4, 2012, at 10:31 AM, Jesse Baldwin <jessembaldwin at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Basically, I have a goal of thru-hiking the PCT and it's time to put some meat to it by setting a date. I have chosen 2016 and I have some things to get in order by that time. I own an electrical contracting business, a home, I'm married to a "non-backpacker" wife and I have two sons. My oldest is 17 and almost out of the house (I hope) and the youngest is 6. The youngest will be turning 10 in May of 2016 (hopefully on the trail).
> My long-winded-point IS, I did a "Google" search re: wife permission PCT, etc since there is some resistance and mostly incredulity from the spouse. (Not much in the way of search results came up)
> I announced the date to her last week, and while watching the Nat Geo PCT doc (little lame, I know) I told her only 300 hundred or so people tried it in a year. She asked "How many people are in the US?" and I responded, "I don't know, around 300 million maybe." She said I should easily be able to figure out my odds for going by using the two figures...
> 
> My question is: has anyone else had similar experience with a less than ecstatic partner in fostering buy-in and successfully planning and carrying out a thru-hike?
> And/ Or
> Does anyone have experience with prepping a contracting (or other small biz) for being away for up to 6 months on a thru-hike?
> 
> Thanks in advance!
>  
> Jesse Baldwin
> Owner
> Baldwin Industrial Group
> CA C-10 License #925362
> www.BaldwinIndustrialGroup.com
> www.MammothLakesContractors.com
> Ph. (760) 914-2455
> 53 South Landing Road
> Crowley Lake, CA 93546
> 
> Thank you for choosing Baldwin Industrial Group!
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