[pct-l] Break Strategies

[Diane Soini]

The best break strategy is the one that works for you.

I rarely took a break. I don't know why I felt so driven, but at  
first in So Cal with so many others on the trail, I hated having  
people get away from me. I wanted to know where everybody I knew was  
so as long as I didn't take breaks, I knew everybody was behind me  
and then I was in control of seeing them again. Just wait for them to  
catch up in town. I know that's weird.

Later on, I didn't take breaks because I felt great and couldn't get  
enough. What's around the next corner? What's around that one? I'll  
take a break when I get to the next water/next whatever.

Even later on, in Oregon, I wouldn't even stop for lunch because I  
would be eaten alive by mosquitoes. So I started carrying portable  
food. I can actually remember the times I stopped for lunch in Oregon  
because they were so few.

In Washington at first it was cold and rainy and I was underdressed.  
Stop and I would get dangerously cold. So I kept moving. Later I got  
tired of the rain so I kept moving to chew up the miles to the next  
warm bed. Later I was tired of hiking so I just kept moving. I wanted  
to go home.

Nowadays when I go I want to take a lot of breaks. On a long hike you  
get so used to being on trail and being as greedy eating up the miles  
as you want that you forget how precious it is to be out there. Now I  
want to take breaks and enjoy. Swim in a lake, perhaps, or pick  
berries or wash my legs or just sit at the summit and enjoy the view.