[pct-l] hiking speed - a thought about "the Ray way"

[enyapjr at comcast.net]

With all the 'talk' recently about fastpackers vs. slowpackers, many times there seems to be a
reference to pack weight equating to hiking speed...  
This is not so in most cases - an ultralighter does not necessarily hike 'faster' than someone with a
heavier load...
Ray Jardine stated he did NOT hike any faster with a light load than he did previously with a heavier
load...  But he definitely could hike more hours in a day with less break/rest time, also - thus he got
more mileage per day than before...  He was less tired at the end of the day and could rest sufficiently
overnight to start hiking early the next day - and do this day after day after day (making even more
miles beyond his previous "normal" "average")...  More benefits became apparent - more miles per
day meant less consumables had to be carried between resupply points, being less 'tired' resulted in
less zero days, less minor injuries/aches/pains with less weight carried, etc. ...

Jardine hiked the PCT in 3 1/2 months at the same hiking 'speed' as when he took almost 5 months previously...
So, he should have been able to 'see' the same both times - but Jardine said he actually saw more on
the shorter duration hike...  Why?  He was rested enough to start very early each day, and felt good
enough to keep hiking into the late evening hours - he saw more wildlife and the morning/evening
shadows and twilight on the landscape while hiking...

Just a thought to ponder...................................

Happy trails!!!
Jim
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