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

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Billy Goat:‘How much training did you do for the PCT?’

Ancient Brit:‘None – I wasn’t fit enough to train!’

However, between 20 and 30 per cent of thru’-hikers give up in the first week. Many of those are ill-prepared ‘ordinary’ hikers; a good number of those succumb to injury. That means that between 30 and 50 per cent of those who fail to reach Canada actually give up in the first week!

Examples of mistakes made by hikers in 2006 include Ladybird, who set out from Campo carrying two bear boxes packed with enough food to last 12 days; Luigi, who had a 75lb load on his back; and Three Gallon, who set off carrying three gallons of water. That latter example might sound like good planning until you learn that it was a wet spring, it was raining and 10 creeks were running within the first 20 miles.

Despite those early errors, all three made it to Canada. Each started with an easy schedule, which meant that they got the most important part of their planning right. If you prepare properly and give yourself enough time you should be able to achieve a successful thru’-hike.