Читать книгу The Pacific Crest Trail. Hiking the PCT from Mexico to Canada онлайн

29 страница из 49

Planning

Can the ‘ordinary hiker’ thru’-hike the PCT?

The most difficult thing about thru’-hiking the PCT is making the decision to attempt it. To most people, the idea of a continuous 2650-mile hike sounds such a daunting expedition that they assume it is only for the super-fit young person. It is actually a challenge that is achievable by the ordinary hiker.

My experience prior to my successful 2002 thru’-hike is worth relating, as there are lessons to be learnt. By 1997 a foot injury became so serious that my surgeon said he could do no more for me and recommended early retirement from teaching. By 2000 I was able to start walking again and I hiked a section of the PCT in the High Sierra, averaging eight miles a day. In April 2002 I arrived in Campo to thru’-hike the PCT. I only managed 10 miles on the first day before I had to camp, because I was exhausted and hurting. Yet five months later I stood at the Canadian border.

I hadn’t done any training but I had done a lot of preparation. In particular, I had worked out a strategy to complete the hike and had prepared a detailed schedule, which recognised that I was very unfit. In fact I finished about 14 days ahead of my schedule. Most of all I succeeded because I had the mental strength to overcome the difficulties I encountered (others would say I was too stubborn and pig-headed to give up!).