[pct-l] Mileage planning

[ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com]

As the trail-months go by, you grow stronger. Start slow and let your body 
get used to hiking day in and day out. There's no hurry.

Plan your schedule for it. As you hike along, work out the "bugs" of 
blisters, tendon pain, uncomfortable shoes and packs, and so forth. By about 
week three, you'll be feeling pretty strong (or you'll be miserable and 
thinking of heading off-trail to seek expert help and advise). At this point 
your daily mileage can increase without too much strain on the body. Let 
your body dictate how far you can go. It's natural to self-assess daily. If 
high mileage is your thing, try sun-up to sun-down and see how it feels. 
Don't rely on anti-inflamitories and mild pain killers to get you through in 
chronic use. If your body is hurting, take time off to let it heal. If your 
schedule can't handle it, meaning if you take too much time off you'll never 
reach Canada before the snow flies, you might have to leave the trail for 
the season. If you heal, work yourself back to the mileages you need, but 
don't push it.

Some people can do high mileage. Some don't want to. Some high-mileage folks 
can't do slow days; it's just not their style, the gear they like to hike 
in. Find out before you plan your thru hike what kind of hiker you are or 
want to become. The fun of the hike can be lost if you try to become what 
you're not.

Mtnned
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeffrey Olson" <jolson at olc.edu>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 10:07 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Mileage


>I got this from a journal on postholer.  Not having gotten beyond seven
> weeks on the trail I'm fascinated to hear how hiking changes as over the
> months as it becomes the day-to-day norm.
>
> Jeff...
>
> Since section O I have increased my normal daily mileage to 30+ and even
> managed a pair of 36 milers. Rather than being more tired as you might
> expect, I actually have more energy. My body is used to hiking from 6AM
> to 7 PM pretty much non-stop. I have found short breaks are best for me
> and lunch is usually just a 15 minute affair. I never would have guessed
> this strategy would works so well. You might think this is rushing
> things but actually I still travel the same pace, just longer. The
> result besides extra miles, is a more intense feeling of acomplishment.
> Besides if you sit somewhere too long out here the ants crawl all over
> you like right now!
>
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