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Re: AT expeditions/group hikes
Russ -
I talked to Warren Doyle last weekend and he'll be runnig another expedition
in 2000. He'll probably start advertising later this year - certainly by Oct
and the Gathering. I won't expound on the benefits or otherwise of an
expedition hike, but you might want to talk to some others who have done it
before you go that way. I didn't so I'm not qualified to talk about it.
I will tell you that when I was 50 I was overage, overweight, over the hill
and on a long downhill slide to an early grave. Medical opinion is that my
AT hike added 15-20 years to my life. Didn't do my knees any good, but
that's another subject. Age isn't a reason to not thruhike.
Walk softly,
Jim
> I am gathering information for a future AT thru hike (I am 40 years old
>and want to do it before I am 50). I know it will be a
>physical challenge, but that is something I can prepare for (and any
>conditioning I am lacking, will be taken care of by the hike itself). I
>need to decide whether to go it alone, or as a member of an "expedition"
>or a "group hike". I am interested in Warrens Doyle's trips not only due
>to the shorter amount of time needed for the trip, but also due to the
>support the group members give each other (Warren's unbroken circle).
>The mental challenge of an AT thru hike is what led me to do research on
>completing my AT hike as a member of a group. Keeping a positive attitude
>on a thru hike must be very difficult, there are a million valid reasons to
>leave the trail every day (snow, rain, heat, bugs, mice, mountains, fatigue,
>pain, smelling myself after a week without a shower, and eating my own
>cooking just to name a few). Having a familiar group of faces to meet you
>and cheer you up at the end of each day would be great (a little trail magic
> along the way would be nice too).
> I understand there is a down side to group hiking, like sticking to a
>set schedule and itinerary no matter how you feel, and being stuck with the
>same people every night (having a familiar group of faces to meet you and
>piss you off at the end of each day).
>
>So I guess my question is whether to do an AT thru hike alone
>or with a group.
>
>Does anyone have a strong opinion one way or the other?
>Anyone out there done an AT group hike/expedition?
>Any comments on the mental aspects of a thruhike?
>
>Thanks for listening,
>
>Russ
>
>TrailAt@aol.com
>russelldade@attmail.com