[pct-l] Contemporary Thru Hiking

Sun Feb 22 18:43:42 CST 2009

Thanks, Jeff, for the heart-felt reply. I ask this question all the time. My experience was so incredible that I want everyone to have one like it. But these days, my style seems to have faded away to various individual limitations and desires like not enough time, a greater desire to party, the ultralight challenge, speed-hiking, and so forth. 

It took me two years to plan my hike, between 1972 and '74. I really got into it, enjoyed it, and, by the time the journey started, I knew every inch of the trail, what I would see, what it would take, and had crazy desire to finally see it all and to go all the way. Of course, reality throws challenges and schedules get changed, but if you are flexible and creative, barring actual physical injury, you'll enjoy every bit of it. My motivation was to reach Canada, see and soak it all in, and take as much time as safely possible, so I didn't miss anything. I carried all the luxuries I could so I could enjoy the campsite as well as the trail. I averaged 17 miles per day from March 14th to Sept. 2nd, had only one 30 mile day (up to Snoqualmie Pass to receive a driven-in resupply box-had to be there at an exact time), and took a day off on-trail every 5th day or so to do side hikes, go swimming, wash clothes in camp, climb a peak, or do photographic essays on the wilderness I was so blessed to be able to live in for awhile.

In 2006, when I joined some of the "herd" out of KM on up to Chicken Spring to teach creek crossing and self-arrest techniques, I found many to be disillusioned with what thru hiking was all about. Some of these chose to leave the trail. 

What I want to know is why is it that people desire to thru hike these days, has it changed any over the years, and does the drop-out rate reflect a lack of realistic preparation and desire?

If I can be that one voice crying out in the wilderness encouraging aspiring thru hikers to be thoroughly prepared and motivated for the realities of such a trip, then, perhaps, more will come home in one happy, confident, satisfied piece, even if they drop off the trail, they will have found what they sought.

Mtnned
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: jeff.singewald at comcast.net 
  To: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com 
  Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 6:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes so great?

  Ned,

  I think you are bringing some good questions to the list today.  The question of "why you are out there" is a very interesting one.  One thing that has bothered me to some degree over the last couple of years is the comments that people share that it is not their priority to complete the trail.  I think this is interesting, given that they claim they are thru-hiking the PCT.  Why has the term, thru-hiking, changed so much over the years?  Thru-hiking is defined as hiking the entire trail in one year, or at least those sections of the trail that are not closed to fires or other natural phenomena.  Heck, even the folks that I journaled for last year, still talk about their "thru-hike" even though they quit before finishing Oregon and skipped a number of trail miles in California.  That is simply not a thru-hike.  Even Diane of Santa Barbara talks about her "thru-hike".  She didn't finish California and today indicated that her original goal was to hike the California section.  That is a long hike but not a thru-hike by any means.

  This motivation that you speak of is interesting.  You really do have to "want" to complete a thru-hike and prepare to complete a thru-hike in order to do it.  Your point about preparation goes on deaf ears often on this list.  I know for me this was a major reason why I DID complete a thru-hike in 2006.  Not a day, not one single day went by that I did not want to hike or thought about quitting.  Why?  Because I prepared and my #1 goal was to reach Canada.

  Anyhow, take care,

  Jeff/Elevator

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
  To: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>, pct-l at backcountry.net
  Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 9:27:09 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes so great?

  Fantastic, Diane! You hit the nail on the head.

  I don't know if its the shoes that contribute to the low success rate or any 
  of a number of issues, some of which you've mentioned, but to help hikers 
  have a great, safe, healthy, and terrifically rewarding experience out on 
  the long trails, I'm questioning the accepted norm. Are the current trends 
  in training, food, gear, schedules, pace, etc. really allowing hikers a 
  better time in the wilderness?

  I had an incredible time on the trail and want more people to have the kind 
  of experience you speak of, where you're prepared physically, mentally, 
  emotionally, and spiritually for all the trail has to offer. Some find what 
  they're looking for in themselves, in others, or in the spiritual and some 
  are out there for altogether other reasons. If you wanted to help hikers get 
  past the first few weeks or month and the calls of home, what would be your 
  advise?

  Mtnned
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
  To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
  Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 9:02 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes so great?

  >
  > On Feb 20, 2009, at 8:23 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
  >> ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com wrote:
  >>> I guess I'm still trying to figure out how come about 75% of thru
  >>> hikers
  >>> leave the trail....
  > You think it's trail runners?
  >
  > People who leave the trail in the first couple of hundred miles
  > probably were not prepared physically or mentally or both. People who
  > have made it through the Sierra are probably feeling lonely for
  > family and home and overwhelmed with how much distance is left to go.
  >
  > The PCT is more a mental game than a physical one. As soon as home
  > starts calling you, if you can't find a reason to continue, you'll
  > just go home.
  >
  > But don't think going home is a bad thing or a failure. Many of us go
  > on the trail seeking a spiritual experience and once it has been had,
  > we know the right time to go home.
  >
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