[pct-l] Re: psychology question

[canuck013 at yahoo.com (Patrick Shannon)]

Eric,
 
Just to feed off of what everyone else has already said, definitely don't give up based on one bad experience (however bad it may have been). It sounds like the worst part of your experience came with the cross country section which will be nothing like hiking on the well marked, equestrian PCT. In five plus months you can bet that there will be times you will want to leave the trail. I certainly had mine. But if you are like me and most other thru-hikers I know, you will have many more moments where you can't imagine yourself being anywhere else. On your thru-hike you will become so used to living on trail, that you will become better able to deal with nature's suprises than an hour in a car (if you think I'm kidding, let me tell you how big a headache i had after driving from cascade locks to portland, an hour drive, after four months on trail!). The trail begins to feel like home as you adjust to it. You will come to know your gear, and what it is capable of, and know what changes
 need to be made if necessary. And most importantly in my mind, you will have a wonderful trail community to support you through the hard times. The One talked about his rough times in the high Sierra. I was with him through all of it and tried to support him as best I could, just like he did for me during my rough times, such as when I had an injured ankle that I was worried was going to end my hike. You will develop some of the closest friendships you will ever have. A PCT thru-hike is a magical experience, not to be missed. My hike changed my life forever, in a very positive way. Ask lots of questions to the wonderful people here about preparation (mental and physical), gear, and what ever else is on your mind, like you have started to do with this question, and you will begin to see the community of past hikers, trail angels, and other thru-hikers that are going to be doing everything they can to help you make it to Canada. 
 
The Northerner
PCT 2003

		
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