[pct-l] A hike for a youngster

[at2002@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Gary Wright)]

On Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at 08:23  PM, adam davidoff wrote:
> They have repeatedly encouraged me to try and find a partner. I'm ok
> with the idea of a partner, i dont really know what to think of it.

Regardless of your age, it is very difficult to find a hiking
partner *before* you hike who will turn out to be compatible
with you on the trail.  This works best with couples who are
in a long-term relationship.  It doesn't work well with best
friends, "new" significant others, and so on.  There are
exceptions, but this was what I observed on the AT.

Speaking of the AT, I suspect it would be infinitely
easier to meet and hike with other folks on the AT than on
the PCT.  AT and PCT double-crowners might have some thoughts
on this.

A couple of practical considerations.  At 17, you are going
to find it impossible to rent a car (probably not a big
issue though). You might have trouble renting hotel rooms.

The youngest hikers I met on the AT were three brothers
hiking all of Virginia.  They were between 13 and 18.  This
excludes the Witcher family (kids 8 and 11) and Scratch (father)
and Tuf-e-nuf (son, age 14).  Train, also a 2002 hiker, was
18.