[pct-l] thru hike in 2006

[JPayne at standardsteel.com (James Payne)]

>From what I've seen on pct-l, the general consensus is to NOT line up
hiking 'partners' ahead of time...  plan on going 'solo' and start
during ADZPCTKO - meet many of the current year's hikers and many former
successful through hikers...  then start hiking the trail - other hikers
not matching your preferred pace will fall behind or move on ahead,
leaving some hikers that closely match your pace - you will see them at
breaks, meal stops, sleeping...  just let it happen, it will work out! 
And be mentally prepared to leave that 'group' if their pace changes
enough that YOU are not comfortable - you must 'hike YOUR own hike', not
someone else's...

Since you're planning on a 2006 hike, seriously consider going to
ADZPCTKO in 2005 - get tons of advice, techniques, equipment ideas, etc.
- meet the 2005 hikers - follow some of their journals, learn from their
'mistakes', see if you can tell who will make it all the way to Canada
and who will drop out along the way...  

I think the biggest hurdle is MENTAL, not physical as most people would
suspect - go YOUR pace, it's YOUR hike, don't overload yourself with too
high expectations, but you must keep YOUR goal in sight...  You will
naturally fall in with a 'group' of like minded hikers, yet you must be
mentally prepared to go on if some, or all, fall out (or move on ahead
of you)...  if any stay the course and you make it all the way together,
you will be that much closer to them...  Even after 'adopting' hiking
partners, you can still feel lonely - you may become homesick, missing
your family and friends too much...  it will be all of life's problems
wrapped up and crammed into one season - and that's precisely why, if
YOU are successful, you will be able to recognize other successful long
distance hikers: "You can see it in their eyes." (Go to ADZPCTKO, meet
previous hikers, and you can start to understand. Look at who is around
you at Kennedy Meadows, then Tuolumne Meadows, Tahoe, Oregon border,
Bridge of the Gods, and finally Canada - your understanding is deeper
and more complete with each successive location... )

Good luck!  Happy trails!!!