[pct-l] RE: pct-l Digest, Vol 5, Issue 28

[res0rf6j at verizon.net (Don C)]

I met this guy two years ago when I was doing the JMT.  We were near the
end of our hike and met him when he was doing the round trip JMT he
mentions in the article.  He was an animal.

This thing about records is pretty silly, esp saying the previous record
was 7 days.  In the early 70's a friend of mine who was living in
Yosemite was burned out on climbing.  He went to Degnan's got a weeks
worth of food, walked to Happy Isles, and I picked him up 7 days later
at Whitney.  No planning, he just did it.  I can't image that someone
else with planning and training hasn't done it faster.

There are lots of people that do incredible things and don't care about
recognition, they do it for themselves.

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Today's Topics:

   1. Winners? (Paul Magnanti)
   2. JMT Record? (AsABat)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 13:28:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: Paul Magnanti <pmags@yahoo.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Winners?
To: pct-l@backcountry.net
Message-ID: <20030927202850.73745.qmail@web13903.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

>>The real winners are the ones who can afford to take
>>as long as they want in reaching their destination. 

The real winners are those who enjoy their hike. No
other criteria needed. :-)

If you "only" made it 1/2 way, and had a blast. You've
won.

If hiked the PCT in 90 days, and had a blast. You've
won.

If you hiked it in 6 mos and had a blast. You've won.

It is just me...but I'd rather not judge another
person's  hike by my own criteria for having fun.

Some people enjoy setting records. I'm not one of
them...but who I am to say that by trying to set a
record, there hike was less valid than mine?
 
Using similar logic...why do bother trying to win a
marathon/triathalon? :-)

Just as some people are trying to just complete a
marathon (me!), some people are trying to push
themselves and trying to do something that is faster
than what other people are having done.  The PCT can,
for small group of hikers, bring out that same sense
of drive... I was just happy to complete the trail and
enjoy the many months and miles I spent in the
mountains. I did what felt good for me.

I waved bye-bye as people passed me on the PCT...but I
didn't think my hike was "better" because I was going
slower. (Conversely, didn't think my hiker was better
as I passed people as well...)
 

Mags (not a professional in anyway, shape or form..
who did a very average, nothing special, in a little
under 4 1/2 mos thru-hike...but I had a blast! :D)


=====
************************************************************
The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught,
a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 13:58:14 -0700
From: "AsABat" <AsABat@4Jeffrey.Net>
Subject: [pct-l] JMT Record?
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <001301c3853a$13947680$1501010a@sd.cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

There was an article in the San Diego Union today that Reinhold Metzger,
61, set the record for an unsupported backpack of the John Muir Trail in
5 days, 10 hours. 

It further states that Backpacker Magazine is the "unofficial
clearinghouse for such records, though there is no official book or
rules and regulations." It mentions that Brian Robinson "was rumored to
be attempting it this year, but he hadn't heard from him."

So does anyone know if and how Brian did this year? Congratulations to
Reinhold Metzger, but if Brian did it faster it'd be nice to set the
"record" straight.

The full story at 
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/sat/sports/news_mz1s29outdo
o.html

(Note this is dealing with UNSUPPORTED trips. I know there have been
faster trips with nightly support.)

AsABat
(Who doesn't care how fast or slow anyone goes)

------------------------------

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End of pct-l Digest, Vol 5, Issue 28
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