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Re: [pct-l] Jamie and Ray and 4 months



Jamie and Ray,

Margo is so well on track.  This was the best interpretation of "Hike your
own hike that I have seen on the list:

>I created one that was manageable,  .  .  .  Not all of us can or
>want to do the kind of mileage necessary to complete the trail in 4
>months. Doesn't mean that we don't love being out there for long periods
>of time, nor does it mean we are inferior cuz we're not full on thru
>hikers.

>I watched many people this summer go through a great deal of physical
>and mental discomfort in an attempt to maintain a schedule that was
>pushing their bodies harder than they were meant to go.     .      .      .

>I say honor
>your body, start with reasonably short mileage - whatever that means for
>you - and build up in a way that allows the journey to be pleasurable as
>well as challenging.

I believe that trying to emulate Jardine will result in early burnout,
possible injury, feelings of failure to reach unreasonable goals, etc.  HIKE
YOUR OWN HIKE!  DON'T assume the goals of ANY author or advice source.  Make
your own goals, re-examine them constantly, re-arrange them as necessary, be
flexible!   Don't try to push yourself in a manner inconsistent with your
physical and mental capabilities.  Only you can be the judge of whether a
thru-hike in 4 months is reasonable.

From a person who was physically and mentally capable of thru-hiking in 4
months, I chose to maintain a reasonable pace that got me to Canada in 5 and
2/3s months.  Smell the roses!  Twenty one years later I have rarely had the
opportunity to re-visit more than a small amount (less than 2%) of the
trail, but not for the lack of desire.  The opportunity that you create to
hike on the PCT may not reoccur again in your life for a long time.  Enjoy
whatever portion you cover.

When you walk you see 100 times what you would see on a bicycle and 1,000
times what you might see from a car.  When you walk 20 miles in a day you
see possibly two or three times what you might observe from a 30 miles per
day pace.  IMHO.

Answer the question: "Why are you hiking the PCT?"  and you may get the
answer to how fast of a pace you will want to set.  Your pace, of course,
isn't set in stone and can and will be adjusted as you hike.  In some
sections your pace might be only ten miles per day due to weather and large
elevation gains and losses.  Other areas may call for 25 miles per day due
to flat elevation, bad mosquitoes or simply boring stretches.

Good luck!

Greg "Strider" Hummel

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