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Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

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Re: Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

#21

Post by ctrager »

There's so much bad policy in the USA that sucks, especially when compared to some European countries, but one thing the USA has done relatively well at is creating lots of public land and the creating these trails.

I hiked a section of the PCT starting at a paved road (mile 652 of the trail) and didn't cross another paved road until 290 miles of hiking later. I tear up with gratitude for the vision of the people who worked to protect the land and create the trail.

Also, sure, there is awesome gorgeous hiking in Europe too of course, but, say, in the Alps, mostly it's managed more tightly. You can't just hike for the day and set up a tent where you get tired. Camping is much more restricted to right next to the huts/refuges or not allowed at all.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Trails_System

Re: Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

#22

Post by helmholtz »

ctrager wrote: post #21

There's so much bad policy in the USA that sucks, especially when compared to some European countries, but one thing the USA has done relatively well at is creating lots of public land and the creating these trails. I hiked a section of the PCT starting at a paved road (mile 652 of the trail) and didn't cross another paved road until 290 miles of hiking later. I tear up with gratitude for the vision of the people who…

Yep, hiking in the alps is largely a hut-to-hut sort of affair. It's picture perfect, jaw droppingly so, but it is crowded, tamed and sterile. Goats are about the wildest thing you see.

Re: Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

#23

Post by ctrager »

This is a quote from the book "The Motion of the Body through Space" by Lionel Shriver. It's about exercise, but it applies to hiking ambition too.

"People who exercise less than you are pathetic; people who exercise more than you are nuts.”

Re: Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

#24

Post by ptidhomme »

et-al wrote: post #7
sydthrowaway wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is Bear Bait

It's the person's "trail name": https://www.atmuseum.org/trail-names.html

Made me think of hiker nicknamed 'Mostly Harmless' whom I heard about here on HN some months ago. I saw he was eventually identified to Vance Rodriguez.

Re: Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

#25

Post by js2 »

grantjpowell wrote: post #5

I finished the A.T. in October after 174 days, by far the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I can't imagine trying to do a whole triple crown in a single year. Hats off to these two! - Bear Bait

Care the share the story behind that trail name?

(I have a pretty good bear story myself, and that's just from a week-long hike on the AT.)

Re: Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

#26

Post by nend »

ctrager wrote: post #21

There's so much bad policy in the USA that sucks, especially when compared to some European countries, but one thing the USA has done relatively well at is creating lots of public land and the creating these trails. I hiked a section of the PCT starting at a paved road (mile 652 of the trail) and didn't cross another paved road until 290 miles of hiking later. I tear up with gratitude for the vision of the people who…

Part of the reason for restrictions is because the popularity of the area overwhelms the natural area and causes too much human impact, thus restrictions get put in place so the area can be protected.

I for one would love to see more permitting used in the white mountains.

Re: Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

#27

Post by tjr225 »

jean-malo wrote: post #19

Incredible. I did the PCT in 2019 and considered quitting multiple times. I can't imagine the mental strength required to push through the AT, CDT and PCT back-to-back.

Sincerely jealous. The one thing I long for most in my lifetime is enough time off from work so that I can actually train for and hike the pct.

Re: Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

#28

Post by TuringNYC »

I had friends do the Appalachian Trail and much of the decisioning was on how to start it after the winter but complete it before the next winter. I can see how the trail becomes nX more difficult during winter.

Doing three in a year is remarkable for this reason, I think the almost mandates you done some through the winter.

Re: Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

#29

Post by ctrager »

subpixel wrote: post #17
SyzygistSix wrote: post #13

I can appreciate their ambition but I can't imagine it being very pleasant to do all three in one year. I would find it far more enjoyable to do them in separate years and take more time.

Trail runner here and I wholeheartedly agree. Life is defined by experience, not achievement. But some people never reach this realization. I live surrounded by very accomplished retirees, and some, on first meeting, give me a rundown of the highlights of their illustrious career.

There's some irony here, no, that a trail RUNNER is saying that the OTHER guy is going to fast to smell the roses. That's what I - I'm a trail lumberer - think when the trail runners zip by.

Re: Hiking America’s three longest trails in less than a year. What could go wrong?

#30

Post by ctrager »

nend wrote: post #26
ctrager wrote: post #21

There's so much bad policy in the USA that sucks, especially when compared to some European countries, but one thing the USA has done relatively well at is creating lots of public land and the creating these trails. I hiked a section of the PCT starting at a paved road (mile 652 of the trail) and didn't cross another paved road until 290 miles of hiking later. I tear up with gratitude for the vision of the people who…

Part of the reason for restrictions is because the popularity of the area overwhelms the natural area and causes too much human impact, thus restrictions get put in place so the area can be protected. I for one would love to see more permitting used in the white mountains.

Yes, I should make it clear that the freedom on the PCT, in the Sierra, is limited to people who have a permit. You can't just show up and camp overnight; you need to get a permit in advance and the quantity of permits is limited to protect the area and the experience.

I don't know the White Mountains but here's a place that I've been that is going to start requiring permits: https://aspenjournalism.org/maroon-bells-snowmass-wilderness.... I was there in 2018. I remember hiking out on a Friday, about a two hour hike, and passing maybe 150 backpackers hiking in to camp overnight during those two hours.

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