[pct-l] psychology question

[themtgoat at yahoo.com (The Mountain Goat)]

Greetings Eric;
 
Sounds like you had a terrible trip.  I agree with what others have said about the PCT being a Horse Trail. It sounds like you may have just taken a bigger bite than you could chew. Or that Cross country may not be your cup of tea.
 
I have done a good number of cross country trips, and rather love the 10-14K elevations. It is something that I enjoy. It is not something that probably a fair number of people on this PCT-L may enjoy. Sometimes Pacman and I would go almost 3 miles an hour cross country, on a easy flat section .  Others times we did 1/4 mile in 2 1/2 hours.(unamed pass above dumbell lakes). All in the name of fun. The thril of going wear few have gone, the sheer remotesness and the beautiful mountains peak.
 
On the other hand when you are doing the PCT (which I am planning on next year) 
instead of doing 10 mile days, the trail is fairly flat and easy to follow (except some overgrown sections in say section N?)  so you can do 20 or more mile a day at 2-3+ miles an hour. Doing lots of miles can be really fun, and lets you see lots of country every day.
 
Another aspect of doing the PCT is social. There are, what? about 400 people who did it this year, and I would presume about the same next year. So you will be around people part of the time and alone other times. Granted as you go farther North, I understand people start falling out, so the trail may get more sparce as far as social contact. But I think you get the idea.
 
The question to you is what do you enjoy?
Cross country, rugged turain? meeting people? Comraderery? Distance hiking? 
Enjoying the PCT may be determined by what you enjoy doing. after a little while, you wounds will heal. Sunburms will get better, new equipment will replace your thrashed equipment and you will probably start thinging about some trail or place to go to. But decide for yourself what do you enjoy doing? 
 
See you on the trail...
-Mountain Goat-
www.geocities.com/pct_2005

Eric <radpin@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello all;

I was easily 100% ready for the PCT as of Wednesday, but I just
returned from a five day hell-a-thon starting in Kennedy Meadows,
going to the gage station bridge on the Kern, then taking a cross
country route following the river back.

Sitting at home, my pack has been torn nearly to shreds, my legs torn
by thickets (and yes, I had knee high OR gaiters on), many restless
nights as my Sierra Designs Wild Bill left me chilly in the 20 degree
temperature, and much joint pain from two consecutive 9 hour cross
country days.

This was probably one of the hardest trips of my life, due in part to
the incredible temperature swings, cross country movement, and sheer
quantity of injuries sustained.

I am left asking myself: do I actualy want to do the PCT this spring?
I know I just went through an extremely bad version of backpacking;
I've had great trips and I've some rather ugly ones. But the PCT thru
hike, if done well, is better than this? I'm afraid that one month
into the trip I'm going to be feeling about as bad as I do right now.

Any thoughts and opinions would be very welcome,

Eric

PS: And I of course have pictures of nearly the whole thing which I
will post later.



-- 
http://www.radpin.com
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