[pct-l] Williamson attempting to regain unsupported PCT speedrecord

[Bob Bankhead]

In my opinion:


If you are going to play the record game, there must be a standard mileage
length or the results are not comparable with past or future efforts. None
of this "I did the whole trail in 42 days, but all of Oregon was closed due
to active volcanoes and lava flows".

If you just want to say you did a thru-hike, then yes, you hike whatever
miles of the trail are open at the time you are hiking said trail. If you
come to an officially designated trail closure, you leap-frog it; no foul.
Those closed miles are not part of the trail (this year). If that closure
re-opens before you complete the trail, you are not obligated to go back and
pick it up. You hiked every mile of trail that was accessible to you at the
time you reached it. On the other hand, leap-frogging to avoid snow, high
water, or something you personally aren't comfortable facing right now still
obligates you to go back and complete those sections before ending your hike
for the year in order to claim having done a thru-hike.