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

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There are many reasons for doing relatively low daily mileages. The main one is the avoidance of injury. Many hikers are injured early during their hikes, primarily with blisters and repetitive strain injuries. Unless you are trail-fit before you start (and very few hikers are), you shouldn’t be hiking for more than between five and seven hours each day in the first week. Even when fully fit, your body won’t be able to cope with walking 25 miles or more a day, day-after-day, without a rest. Those exceptional hikers who set trail records have been building up their strength and stamina over years rather than weeks or months.

Do you want to enjoy your hike? Many people think the best parts of any hike are the rest periods! You’ve earned those rests and will appreciate the views, a mug of tea and the chance to chat to other hikers. You’ve earned that swim or soak in the hot springs. You can read that book you’ve never had time for at home, or even write your own book. You won’t have time for long breaks if you plan to hike 20 or 30 miles every day. You should instead follow the example of the gentleman from Seattle who ‘wanted time to smell the roses’.