[pct-l] permanent injuries from thru-hiking?

[kdpo at pacbell.net (Ken Powers)]

Being from Idaho the Idaho Centenial Trail intrigued me. So Google found
this: www.idahoparks.org/rec/hiking.html

I followed a few links and found a map. The route through what is described
as "the largest contiguous wilderness in the lower 48 states." The route has
to cross the Salmon River, "the river of no return," at least once. I
remember that wilderness as really rugged with almost no roads. The length
is described as about 1200 miles. Sounds interesting, but I see a big hole
with no possible re-supply in the middle of the state.

Ken
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joanne Lennox" <goforth@cnw.com>
To: "Ken Powers" <kdpo@pacbell.net>; "PCT-L" <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 4:15 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] permanent injuries from thru-hiking?


> I've never heard anybody on this forum mention the Idaho State Centenial
> Trail, which runs the length of the state north to south.  there is an
> alternate near Salmon.  but it is quite long and interesting ,mountainous
> terrain.  I do not know if there is a webvsite but I talked to somebody
that
> did it with a horse and he said that it was a very good trail.  It is
marked
> on the Idaho Delorme Map Gazeteer.(looks about 800 miles??)
>
> My knees have deteriorated over the years - the rowing/sculling career and
> some realinjuries from Aikido did not help.  And it is difficult to say if
> all the hiking and climbing is the primary contributor, but it is these
> activity that inflames them the most. The docs say I have too much
arthritis
> to operate and fix the problem.  Horses carrying me and my gear half the
> time helps me, but this is a very different trip.
>
> My Solution is to take LONG TRIPS.  Day hikes and shorter trips invariable
> involve a a big elevation going in and a large decrease going out.  This
is
> what really does my knees in.  I have found that I can play the edge,
which
> changes as I get in better shape.  Generally, the longer I stay out, the
> less large shifts in elevation I do, and I get in better shape.  The PCT
is
> great because it is so well graded and has relatively few large elevation
> gains and loses in any single day, ONCE YOU GET ON THE TRAIL( there are a
> few big exceptions of course)
>
> Joanne.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ken Powers" <kdpo@pacbell.net>
> To: "PCT-L" <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 2:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] permanent injuries from thru-hiking?
>
>
> > The only permanent injury that I have from thru-hiking the PCT  is that
I
> > can't get enough thru-hiking. I'm always looking for another long trail
to
> > thru-hike.
> >
>