[Cdt-l] Okay, trite question - Miles Per Day?

[Patrick Beggan]

Heh, I just know what I want to TRY and accomplish. Ultimately, whatever I hear, I'm still going to try for a mid october finish. Plus, as far as the internet goes, it's hard to be sure how reliable your information is, since you never really "know" the person on the other end (Although I recognize plenty of names on this list, and know their opinions are valid). This is particularly bad on the PCT-L, where if I asked if I could finish in August I'd have 50 people tell me that "finishing in august is too hard, I'd never enjoy myself, death march, etc. etc... but hike your own hike!" or some such. So I'm still going to go out and do what I want. Otherwise I never would've hiked the PCT for the fear generated on the PCT-L! :P And yes, I'm hiking in 2010.

Southbound mostly because I just need the additional time to save money. I just got off the PCT for a second year in a row and wasn't able to find a job until just now. So I'm going to need six months to get my funds together. But I had already preferred southbound, I'd heard from many CDTers that southbound gets you the best odds of finishing a one-direction hike, without skipping around. I'm open to doing what I have to in order to finish, but I'd definitely prefer to go straight through. 

Plus, people go on and on about "finishing in glacier" but it just doesn't matter to me. I get the most out of the beginning of my hikes. The last month is generally just going fast and eyes on the prize. Not because I don't want to be on the trail but because it just feels right. That and I'm usually running out of money. So why waste glacier when I'm doing big days and jaded on the scenery? Might as well hike it first!


On Dec 13, 2009, at 1:08 AM, Jack Haskel wrote:

> Joker, 
> 
> I love the honesty of your response. Regardless of what has been done, do what you believe you can. Your milage sounds reasonable for someone who is "pushing it". Enjoy it! Are you hiking in 2010? Why SOBO?
> 
>      Jack
> 
> 
> On Dec 12, 2009, at 9:54 PM, Patrick Beggan wrote:
> 
>> I had a feeling this would be the sort of information I received. Hard to predict. I'm not terribly concerned about it but I was hoping to be able to finish, southbound with a June 15thish start, by mid October. I'm basically just looking for information that builds my confidence in a finish date in that range. I don't really require it, but it'd be ideal.
>> 
>> Thanks again!
>> 
>> 
>> On Dec 12, 2009, at 8:37 PM, Jonathan Ley wrote:
>> 
>>> I did about the same miles per day on the PCT vs. CDT for an "average", but it varied on the CDT a lot more. The CDT has more extremes - there's more steep tread, more high-elevation, more loose/overgrown/disappearing tread, but more forest roads, and more flat stuff too. The PCT is just more consistent with respect to trail grade and tread. ymmv, of course :-)
>>> 
>>> Patrick Beggan wrote:
>>>> I know this has probably been done to death, but I'm looking on a miles per day for the average CDT (that is to say, not the great basin, and not glacier NP with snow, etc. -- the usual I could expect from the summer months for the majority of the trail). 
>>>> I understand miles change with terrain (I've hiked the PCT twice) so I know it's impossible to give an answer for 100% of the trail. I'm just looking for something I can do math from.
>>>> 
>>>> On the PCT I do 30s pretty solidly every day, 19-20s in the Sierras (with an early june entry) with the occasional 40+ in there when I'm really hungry and hauling. I finished in four months on the PCT, with 18 zeros.
>>>> 
>>>> Anyway, any information from other fast-ish hikers would be appreciated. I recognize the increased navigational difficulties on the CDT and that can throw you for a loop, etc, etc.
>>>> 
>>>> Joker
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>>>> 
>> 
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