[pct-l] 8 cy VS 4 cy and seeing the light

[Reinhold Metzger]

TORTOISE,
You seem to be under the impression that speed hikers plow down the trail
like a bulldozer, in a cloud of dust, oblivious of the surrounding scenery.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
On my speed hikes, because I travel ultra-light and solo, I move swiftly &
silently
and therefore, like Joe confirms, see more wild life and take in much more
scenery
within a given period of time making the hike much more panoramic &
spectacular.
Starting early, hiking late and managing your down time may do more to
increase
your milage than a faster pace and ''seeing the light'' to go ultra-light is
probably the
most critical factor to fast packing or speed hiking.

Once you see the light Tortoise you will never go back to your old
ways....it's
much easier on your body, you see more scenery and you enjoy the hike more.
Besides, there is much satisfaction in challenging your body and then
meeting
that challenge.

I often ask myself why is it that some folks can't understan speed hikin?
That takes you back to the turtle vs the rabbit argument.

Given the choice, I would always preferr to be the rabbit.

I ask you Tortoise, do you really belief that the tortoise or the turtle,
lumbering
down the trail with their heavy loads enjoy their journy more than the
ult-light
rabbit scipping along the trail?

JMT Reinhold
The rabbit
---------------------------------------------

Tortoise wrote:   I'll never understand why anybody wants to set a speed
record on
the PCT, JMT, or any other trail.....mabe, just maybe, one of us slow ones
will show
you the pictures of all that you missed in your haste.

----------------------------------------------
> Reinhold wrote:
> Joe,
> You are so right, speed hikers are a misunderstood breed.....they are
known
> as the ''crazy ones'' and forever criticized by ''purists'' for hiking to
> fast and
> and not enjoying their hike.
> Many folks just don't understand us......but we crazy ones, we understand
> each other.
>
> I LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS:
> There are rabbits and there are turtles, they each enjoy their journey in
> their
> own way.
> Turtles will forever criticize rabbits for going to fast and not enjoying
> their hike.
> Who is to say how to hike or how to enjoy a hike?
> Who is to say if turtles enjoy their journey more than rabbits?
>
> In nature not all things are created equal.
>
> I like the way Lance Armstrong puts it......''Some of us are born with 4
> cylinders
> some of us are born with 8 cylinders''.
> The 4 cylinders will forever complain that the 8 cylinders are going to
> fast.
>
> I say ....HYOH....and who cares what everybody else thinks.
>
> By the way Joe, the first time I hiked the JMT in 1996 with the Boy Scouts
> we also
> did in 21 days and I hauled a 75 - 85 lb pack........NEVER  AGAIN!!!
>
> As I got older and wiser  ''I SAW THE LIGHT''  now I go ultra-light.
> But you know Joe, some folks don't get wiser as they get older, they just
> get older
> and they never see the light.
>
> JMT Reinhold
> The old wise one
>
> -------------------------------------------
>
>
> > TOTTOO  JOE wrote:
> > I think one of the most often asked questions I have been asked is, "Why
> > would you want to hike through the wilderness so fast?" A speed hike is
so
> > misunderstood. I like to mention all the benefits to hiking a fast hike.
> > Rather than spending time in hotel rooms, I spend every night under the
> > stars, which turns out to be a much more of a wilderness expirence.
> Rather
> > than bringing what is not needed, I live life much more simple. Your
pack
> > weight is far more easier on your body, in return you are just as happy
as
> > can be tramping through the forest. You are at resupply much quicker,
and
> > just long enough to eat what is impossible to bring. The condition of
your
> > body, becomes the ultimate high. You can start behind everyone, meet
them
> > all and only stick around just long enough to enjoy ones company, but
not
> > too long that the trail seems crowded. You will have enough time to
enjoy
> > more trail for the rest of the summer. You walk early and late, when you
> > will see much more wildlife. You will spend less time and MONEY, which
> will
> > allow you to do it more often. ect.......
> >
> > Most any fast packers will also tell you that they were not born this
way,
> > that they evolved. I myself hiked the John Muir, in 21 days and less
than
> 6.
> > Both hikes were completely different, yet just as rewarding. But, I will
> > never hike it in 21 days again. I also carried a 70lb pack before, but
> after
> > 35+ years of hiking, I learned what I need, and that the lighter the
pack
> > the more I enjoy the hike. In 2005, I thru-hiked with a sub-5lb pack.
> > More information about the pct-l mailing list
>
>