[pct-l] the subjectiveness of a thru-hike

[jmertes@verizon.net (John Mertes)]

A few comments:

first, I agree with the poem. Life is like a backpack trip and vice
versa.  It is the journey that is important, not the destination. For a
backpack, the destination is the end; similarly for life, the
destination is death. And on/in either, one may achieve some goal or not
the important aspect is the journey.

Now as to labeling oneself a "thru-hiker". How much of the trail does
one hike to be a thru-hiker. Obviously more than the first few feet at
one border and the last few feet at the other border. I think it is
dishonest to claim to have thru-hiked the PCT unless you did. If one
took detours because of trail closures, that's OK. If one caught a ride
on one side of the road and resumed the hike on the other, no problem.
However if one skipped walking a mile or two or more, than I think one
should qualify the trhu-hike with "almost all" or some such descriptive
phrase. As to the trail varying from year to year, of course. The point
is you walked the trail.

I've hiked the JMT from Tuoulmne Meadows to Mt Whitney and out to
Whitney Portal in segments over several years. I haven't yet done from
Tuoulmne to the Valley, don't know if I ever will. But I don't say I've
thru-hiked the JMT.

Sure the trip is different for each one. But one shouldn't claim or give
the impression that one has done what one has not.

My view.

John