[pct-l] Where to start?

[Ken Powers]

This is an interesting thought. Based upon my experience every long trail is 
about 500 miles to long. By the time I get within about 500 miles of the end 
of a trail I am ready to finish. Never do I think about quitting. I am just 
ready to go on to something else.

Ken
www GottaWalk com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eric Lee" <saintgimp at hotmail.com>
To: "'Postholer'" <public at postholer.com>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:10 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Where to start?


Scott wrote:
>
Personally, I think it would be a mortal sin for anyone to miss places like
Glacier Peak Wilderness, Alpine Lakes Wilderness and Sequoia/Kings during
one's life. I know I'd be a lesser person for it. If starting at Aqua Dulce
increases your chances of seeing such places, great!
>

2,650 miles is a long way.  Based on eight or nine years of seeing
thru-hikers in Oregon and Washington, I think the trail is about 500 miles
too long for most people to really enjoy the whole thing.  That is, for many
people, when they pass around 2,000 miles or so, they stop having fun.
They're still committed to the trail and they want to finish but I can see
it on their faces; the attitude becomes, "I'm just going to grind this thing
out and be done with it."  Not everyone, of course, and of those who do
cross that threshold the exact mileage is always different, but yeah.  2,650
miles is a long way.

So . . . if you're willing to entertain the thought of starting where you
left off last year and do a two-year thru-hike rather than a one-year
thru-hike, I say go for it.  You may enjoy Washington a lot more if you do,
and as Scott said, it would be a mortal sin to miss some of those areas.  Or
maybe even worse, to walk through them with your head bowed, teeth gritted,
and no joy in your heart.

Eric

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