[pct-l] hiking with a partner

[Jeffrey Olson]

I've seen groups in clumps, hiking 5' apart, 10' apart, 100' apart, and 
a quarter mile or more apart.  I've hiked "with" someone when we were 
having conversations, but that doesn't happen often.

My hiking partner hikes a quarter to half a mile an hour faster than I 
do.  We "never" hike together.  He'll take longer breaks than I when he 
wants me catch up.  He'll wait at important trail junctions or stream 
crossings.  He compromises by taking more time to smell the flowers.  I 
compromise by taking shorter breaks.

We meet up for lunch and at an agreed on campspot.  We lounge and eat 
dinner together and sleep in different tents, far enough apart we can't 
hear each other snore.  I've seen groups put their tents up right next 
to each other and carry  on conversations until they fall asleep.

My guess is your friend will grow into hiking and get comfortable with 
the distance you need, and you'll get comfortable with her process of 
getting comfortable.

Jeff...

On Apr 18, 2013, at 2:09 PM, Kristin Hamann <aggie03.kh at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Thru-hiking this year with one of my best friends, and was just wondering
>> if anyone had advice on sticking together for 4 1/2 to 5 months.  Of course
>> we will both have to make compromises, but I was wondering if anyone out
>> there that had done a long trip with another person had any specific tips
>> on how they managed to stick together and preserve their friendship?  We
>> are carrying separate gear *just in case* but the plan is to stay together.
>> I have done a lot of solo backpacking, but my friend is very uncomfortable
>> with traveling solo, so if we split up it would probably result in her not
>> being able to finish the trail unless she met another hiking companion.
>> Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!
>>
>> Kristin
>> _______________________________________________
>>