[pct-l] Re: 33+ miles/day average

[brick@fastpack.com (Brick Robbins)]

At 10:20 PM 7/23/02, Carl Siechert wrote:
>33+ miles/day average? Do people hiking at that pace have time to enjoy the
>trip?

Yes, I do.

I just enjoy my time walking, instead of spending time sitting in camp or town.

There is no need to rush doing 33 miles a day. That is only 11 hours of 
walking at 3mph, a very reasonable speed with a light pack. Still another 
13 hours left in the day to rest and relax....

Some (like Tom) would say that 17 miles a day is way too fast to see 
anything. Personally I think a heavy pack robs more enjoyment than high 
miles. I've seen WAY too many hikers slouched into their shoulder straps, 
sagging under their 50# packs, staring at the ground in front of them 
oblivious to anything but the sweat dripping in their eyes.... I'll take 33 
miles with my 12# pack any day.

Yes, spending 6 months on the trail yields 6 months worth of fun, but what 
if one only has 3 months?  33 miles a day for 3 months still yields 2665 
miles of fun.

It is not a race, and there are no points for finishing fastest, but there 
is nothing wrong with cramming as much as possible into the time available.

HYOH, IMHO, YMMV.


--
Brick Robbins

  The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and
   the intelligent are full of doubt.
------- Bertrand Russell