[pct-l] Early start on PCT

[Mary Davison]

Hey, it's your hike. Do whatever you want to. In 2008 I had a staph
infection from a surgery on my knee that landed me in a nursing home. I got
out of the nursing home the end of January and my motivation for rehab was
that I was going to be on the southern part of the PCT in April. My rehab
had not progressed to the point I could do what thru hikers do by the time I
left. (Actually, I have never been able to do what thru hikers do.) I didn't
know whether I was going on a 10 mile hike or a 340 mile hike when I left.
My Doc said the knee would tell me. I could not bear weight on a bent knee
past a 4 inch step. But I researched how to do it on the easy style plan and
I went. I took 12 days to go to Warner Springs. I took 2 days to get to
Morena and took a zero. I had a couple neros too. I was (and am) slow. I
took pictures of every flower along the way. I had a great time. 

 

I am a section hiker, not a thru. I love the line I read in someone's
journal - "Everyone is a section hiker until they finish." I did do 340
miles that year. This year (2012) I completed the PCT about one week before
my 71st birthday. I think I may be the second oldest woman to complete the
PCT (according to Alcorns). Another good line I read in Harper's Ferry on
the AT (Yes, I did that one too section hiking.) - "There is more than one
way to do the AT" - Get over it. (I think the pun was intended. The same is
true for the PCT.

 

The point is - There is no one way and no wrong way to do the PCT. Enjoy
yourself. If you are bored - go faster or take more pictures. If you want a
somewhat leisurely start, do so. Research what you need to do for waterless
stretches. I had a cousin who gave me extra trail support with food and
water drops. I hitched a ride to Julian with a day hiker also admiring the
flowers. She took me back to the trail the next afternoon so I could go up
Felipe hills in late afternoon. I took 2 days to go to Barrel Springs from
Scissors Crossing. Well, a day and an afternoon-evening. Everyone was faster
than me. So what? I hiked the same trail. (Actually sometimes slow section
hikers hike more of the trail because we come back another year to do the
sections closed by fire or have to go farther off trail for more frequent
food drops to work.)

 

Read other hiker's journals - slow and fast. (Mine would be the slow one.)
Then do what you want to do. It's all good.

 

Medicare Pastor