Thanks for your very thoughtful ideas on what section hiking. I appreciate your sharing these words. Very good reading.

I finished the PCT in 2016 over a five year period. My only constraint was that the trail sections had to be contiguous. Transportation logistics drove a NOBO or SOBO run. The trek paralleled a very difficult period in my life and kept things balanced to say the least. I definitely have a “hike your own hike” philosophy. I was grateful for everyone out there, however they traveled.

That said, a thru hike is definitely a great accomplishment. I get the skill and persistence of this approach. I get the intangibles you incorporate in your life going forward. As I got to the end in the Cascades, I joined with other thru hikers completing their treks. They were going to make it for sure. But I observed quite a few were also pretty blown out. Some had serious stress injuries. Some were having to put in very long dawn to night days. Gear was banged up. Food was tight for a few and I shared if needed. Trail was being cut. As the saying goes, Speed Wins/Speed Kills. Seemed like a tough finish. But that’s just my perspective.

Relatively speaking, I had a pretty cush finish and injury free trek overall. The trail had given me everything I had needed as a section thru hiker over an extended period of time. In my case, time healed. I had grown a little. Gratefully, I recall a moment on a run toward Lake Tahoe. Under a clear blue sky, I just stopped, leaned down and placed my hand on the trail. I sensed its importance (not my own) and its positive “energy” up and down the line. Gratefully, I recall happening upon another hiker I had met two years earlier, picking up the conversation where we had left off and walking a few miles together.

All to say, your piece made me clarify that I am of the school where it’s really all fine. Each approach just has its tradeoffs. You have also helped me to reconsider the chunk approach to the CDT next spring.

Thanks Again
Bill Kollar

I think it is a great way to hike the CDT. Less (perceived) bragging rights, but that only matters to a teeny-tiny percentage of the public. Have fun!

Chunk Hiking. I’ll tell my wife I’m not just slowing down at 65.

I’d suggest an alternative – the Theodore Solomons Trail. It is essentially a 271 mile lower elevation version of the JMT and like same, begins in Yosemite Valley, albeit from Glacier Point. It ends at the Cottonwood Roadhead at the end of Horseshoe Meadows road below Mt. Whitney. You can easily jump on the PCT from there.

Wandering Bob

Ah..but the SHR is a made-up route initially. So, I can easily make up my own route, too 🙂 Re-supply is another story..but this all just wool-gathering anyway.

Nice!!!

Oh, you probably missed the part about “I should also state that if I were fortunate enough to get another block of time, I don’t think I would do any of the three trails again. There is so much to do, see and experience out there and something new always appeals to me.”
See this link:
https://pmags.com/the-gift-of-time-my-dream-adventure

So much to do…and so little time!