[pct-l] the on-trail obstacles of LD hiking

[S Daru]

I have to qualify my answer: I have not succesfully completed a  
longer trail than about 300 miles. However, what has been a real  
obstacle is confidence.

When we were hiking the PCT in Washington, we met a scout group. The  
leader told us that one of the kids had stayed behind. When the troop  
leader went back to find him, he found him on the edge of the trail,  
without his pack. He'd given up. First he had left his pack, which  
was 'just too heavy' and then he had planted himself next to the trail.

The scout still had to learn that giving up like that is not an  
option on the trail. I know that. However, I did recognise the worst  
part of myself in this story. There have been times when I just  
wanted to give up. And at times I have.

What I have also found quite hard, was to accept that everyone hikes  
their own hike. I hike with my life partner. He is much faster and  
stronger than I am. Accepting my own limits, and not resenting him  
for his, has been a struggle. Being out there and feeling day after  
day that I drag him down. Feeling that I have to jog, getting winded,  
overreaching. It's not good for your self-esteem, I can tell you.

The hike we have done this summer has been the first long trail we  
have finished completely. And five days too early. I badly needed  
this experience. To know that we can make it. To know that we can  
truly enjoy our time out there. But only when I acknowledge my  
limits. When I don't, it is a struggle every single day. And that is  
too much after a few weeks. Especially when chosing to get out and  
get on a bus seems so sensible and easy.

We have gotten to know ourselves better as a couple. I'll be  
eternally grateful to the trails for that.

Saskia (Sauce)

On 9-dec-2006, at 9:14, Ned Tibbits wrote:

> What are the real obstacles to a successful Long Distance hike like  
> the PCT?
>