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.
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.
Europe is far more free than the US for a lot of this, no permits required, right to roam in many countries, and camping is tolerated most places it isn’t a nuisance.
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.
Long time lurker. Seeing this on hacker news surprised me. I'm a triple crowner myself, though not single calendar year. It's impressive. Those trails are a crazy ride! - Lunchbox
In 2019 when I was 63 I did a 500 snippet of the Pacific Crest Trail. Because of needing to resupply, my long hike was really a series of 9 trips, each individual trip lasting about 5 days, more or less, like a work week. I started to think of a day hiking as "a day at the office". Already on "Monday", my first day back on trail I would be thinking about "Friday", the day I could get to town and eat restaurant food instead of the food in my pack that I was tired of.
I don't know how these guys and other long distance hikers maintain their motivation, or rather, I don't know how they continue to find enough reward in the activity to make up for the deprivation, repetition.
> or rather, I don't know how they continue to find enough reward in the activity to make up for the deprivation, repetition.
I totally feel you on this. I’ve done a reasonable amount of backpacking, and more and more, I’m not sure if I like backpacking or like looking back and saying I’ve done it. I certainly feel a sense of accomplishment from the treks I’ve done, but in the moment, it often just feels like drudgery, shading into misery when the days get long and the trail gets hard.
The exception is when the natural beauty of the surrounding area is high enough, the whole experience is totally worthwhile. The American west (Tetons, Sierra Nevada) still does it for me, but the AT definitely does not.
A 60-something may have the advantage of requiring less food weight than a young man because metabolism has slowed down. I have certainly noticed this when backpacking with much young college students. I eat like a sparrow; them like hogs.
If you follow ultra-light hiking gurus like Andrew Skurka, food can be 75% of your pack weight after a resupply- 9 lbs base weight and 25 lbs food.
I have the same problem if I go hiking with a destination in mind. 7 years ago while touring Europe with some friends I learned to totally ignore the destination of the day, just go in some direction and look in the evening for a place to slip. That make it all about the journey, not the destination, and it is so much relaxing and fun.
Andrew Skurka has done several millennium-mile trips in the US and Alaska. He has resupplied exclusively through US Postal general delivery. He prepares his high calorie 4-5 packets before the trip and has Mom mail them in timely sequence. He says he hadnt had a failure yet.
I like bicycle touring for the reasons you listed. Bike tours are physically just as hard, but you tend to run into decent food and drink more often. There's no shortage of nice camping.
Most people fail to realize how incredibly difficult walking even one whole trail could be. These folks did all 3 in 295 days. ~7500 miles (a lot of those with unforgiving terrain esp. C.D one) within a calendar year. That's quite an achievement.
Not gonna lie, I have a warm fuzzy feeling for them topped by a tinge of wonder (+ envy) at this achievement!
- jester
People who do a single-year triple crown are nuts because you can't take the time to enjoy it at the sort of pace that is required. Head down, dash for the objective is not how to enjoy nature!
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!
Having done just one of the three and suffering through Washington's winter conditions late in October, I'm full of awe when hearing about people who over the course of a Calendar Year Triple Crown had to hop back and forth from one bad weather to another.
In June 2018 I've been lucky to get glimpse of Anish (Heather Anderson) while she was getting her own Calendar Year Triple Crown.
Later I read her first book "2600 Miles to Home" where she tells the story of her 2013 Pacific Crest Trail Fastest Known Time (a term that describes record-setting on long trails as well as the name of the website that track those FKT attempts) of the Pacific Crest Trail, which she completed (unsupported) in 60 days and 17 hours.
She still holds that record as well as the record that she set for the Calendar Year Triple Crown (251 days and 20 hours). I can only wish I had half her drive.
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.
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.
I always love hearing about the logistics of trips like these, and this article leaves me with lots of questions.
On the AT section, they mention starting out with packs that weighed over 20 pounds, which is extremely light for backpacking. That’s probably a few days of food, a change of clothes, 2-3 liters of water, and an ultralight sleeping bag. But then they mention a tent, too! In contrast, I talked with someone who thru-hiked the AT in the winter, and they said that their packs were routinely over 70 pounds, and that they had ditched their tent in favor of staying in the shelters and wrapping their sleeping bags in Tyvek. How were the guys in the article resupplying? Trips into town every few days sounds very time consuming.
The article also casually threw out that they went through 26 pairs of shoes! Are they buying those at retail? Did they get sponsored by someone?
It also says they mailed themselves packages of food to be picked up at post offices, but it wasn’t dehydrated backpacking food: “Almost half of the airtight bags they had stuffed with rice and beans, tortillas and other fare broke, leaving their food covered in mold.” Has anyone else heard of people relying on perishable food to sit in a post office for weeks/months?
Overall, I read this article with a tremendous amount of respect for the physical and mental accomplishment (that’s a lot of miles and those trails are not easy!), envy, and…bewilderment, I guess? Is dropping $25k and taking a year off school to speedrun three of the most iconic trails in the US a good use of time or money? Part of me would have loved the idea when I was that age, but part of me thinks about all the travel, gear, time asked of family, and time asked of myself, and thinks it would not be worth it.
That "20 pounds" is certainly their base weight--not counting whatever food and water they are carrying. Quite possible with ultralight gear, although a little light in the safety department for my tastes.
26 pairs of shoes between the two of them I actually find surprising--that they used that few.
I'm surprised at the mold--you don't have it sit around all that long, you update whoever is sending them with your location so they know when to send them. There's a limit to how long a post office will hold a package for pickup. And that sort of fare doesn't sound that perishable. I can't imagine beans on the trail, though--they take too much cooking time. Fuel is weight!
(And, no, I've never done any of the great trails, but they certainly sound like an experience. Section hiked in decent weather, not a speedrun like these guys did. I don't think I could handle any of them, though.)
A typical, ultralight backpack weighs about 10lbs, but that can be anything from 5lbs to 15lbs, depending on your preference. Winter conditions add 2 or 3 lbs roughly.
An ultralight tent weighs less than a pound.
Typical stretches between resupplies are sth like 2-6 days, depending on region and preference. Food for a day weighs sth like 1 - 1.5 lbs. So packs with about or a bit over 20lbs sure is no magic. 70lbs with modern equipment sounds weird or unnecessary.
Resupplies are time consuming but necessary, you need to wash yourself and your clothes, repair or replace gear and first and foremost eat. Because while on trail it’s unlikely you manage to eat enough.
My most typical weight on the Sierra portion of the PCT, with a typical amount of water, food, was about 30 lbs. That includes warm clothes, tent, bear canister, microspikes (but no ice axe). And my luxuries: Crocs, Kindle, inflatable pillow. No stove.
But where I started (mile 652, Walker Pass) was hot with no sure water until 30 miles in, so for that stretch I started with 13 liters of water, my total weight about 45 pounds.
On a 5-day, 4-night trip I'll bring 4-5 pounds of food. I'm getting better at not carrying more water than I need. If I have to go 10 miles to the next water, I'll drink up and carry 3 liters.
My hiking boots were good for about 400 miles. Now I use trail runners and I don't trust them after 200 miles - the souls get too smooth. Their combined 14,000 miles divided by 26 means they were getting 540 miles out of each pair.
My tent is about 3 pounds and the sleeping bag and insulator padding another 4 pounds. They said they purified a lot of water using pills, so they did not carry too much water with them. 20 pounds is light, but doable.
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.
I did a section of the PCT. Too early in the year? Too much snow. But if you go later in the year the melting snow makes the streams too high and fast and dangerous - people drown. But if you go later in the year the mosquitoes will drive you insane. But if you go later in the year, that's when things dry out the fires will drive you off the trail...
The limiting factor going south to north is that you have to climb Katahdin in Baxter State Park at the northern end. And you probably want to do this by about October 15 (and will run into park restrictions shortly after that). (There is a lot of steep rocky terrain through northern NH and areas of Maine as well).
So you have to work back from that to when you start from Springer Mountain in GA which can be as early as about March 15 I gather although you're still sort of semi-winter conditions. Some people recommend starting more like mid-April for better weather and fewer through-hiker crrowdsbut you're obviously giving up 30 days or so of margin.
> A black bear charged at one of them in Washington state.
I'm a 43 yo French guy. In all my life, I only know one man that had problems with wildlife in France: he was charged by an angry wild boar and had to jump in a river to evade it.
So I'm not worried at all about my safety when hiking in France.
However if I was hiking in the US I'd probably carry a 44 Magnum at all times (the ultra lightweight one from S&W). I don't know how you guys decide to go in the woods with just some pepper spray and think it's enough! I'd worry that it makes the bear angrier! :D
I spent 5 days alone in the wilderness in Denali National Park with only bear spray and another week with a partner in Wrangell-St. Elias. Being in the wilderness in Denali was really unlike anything I had ever done before; hard to explain but I had never been that alone before.
Despite having spent lots of time in wild lands in the lower 48, the only time I felt like I wanted a firearm was during my first 24 hours in Denali.
At the time firearms were not allowed in the national parks but I wouldn’t have brought one anyway. It was good to experience that vulnerability and learn how to just get on with it.
The only time I've seen a black bear in the US was in my backyard and it got scared of me. It ran away and jumped over a 4.5ft fence. I have seen hundreds of deers on my hikes though...
I appreciate the goals and tenacity to achieve them of the folks who do this kind of thing but it's not my style.
I've spent a lot of time in our State and National forests and for the past 15 years most of it has been off trail and the past 10 most of my trips have been solo.
Thru hikers tend to focus on the trail and their only goal is making miles. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's not even close to the same as experiencing the "wilderness". It's much more akin to running a marathon. So it's easy to spot thru hikers on a trail. They most always have their heads down and eyes focused on the trail and often won't even say "Hi" as they race by you.
To really experience the wilderness you have to learn how to "bushwhack" off trail. To do that you need to learn how to use a compass and triangulate your position on a map. That's not near as common of a skill as one might imagine thru hikers have.
For me, making miles was never a goal. Immersing myself in the wilderness and finding "Super Scenic Spots" to hang out for awhile has always been the goal.
One of the things you learn when you start bushwhacking is the wildlife will be hiding from you before you even get there. They can hear or smell you coming. But after a bit, if you're quiet, they'll come out and get back their normal routine, and that's really something awesome to experience.
I have to give them credit though because it was thru hikers that motivated me to get off the trails more. Over the years I've increasingly had those folks walk into my camp and ask, and just as often demand, that I give them food and supplies because "I'm out" of whatever it is they needed.
And over the years I increasingly had to to cut trips short because I couldn't say "No" and some of them were truly in desperate need. The first few times I was glad to help and it felt good to help, but after awhile I noticed this was getting to be too common and I grew tired of it because my trips kept turning into rescue and relief missions for those folks and getting cut short.
But when I get off those trails no one ever walks into my campsite. And when I backpack solo I can leave no trace, but when I invite friends who're not really backpackers they tend to want to build a campsite. What I do is much more akin to "Shinrin-yoku".
I do get that when there are too many people the experience is different. I do get that being in the wilderness with, like, earbuds in your ears is different than listening to the sounds of nature. I do get that being off trail can be different than on a trail. I do get that navigating with a map and compass can be different and fun versus using a GPS app on your phone.
But I wouldn't say, "to really experience the wilderness you have to....".
Instead I would repeat the maxim, "Hike Your Own Hike".
A great story, no regrets, but I also feel a little click-baited. "Hiking... longest trails..." That sounds rough. "What could go wrong?" Well, that it was indeed rough, apparently...
Impressive. I've taken a liking to day hiking recently in a way I didn't appreciate when I was younger... But ultimately I just want to go home and sleep in a bed.
I did the west highland way in Scotland which was 100 miles in 5 days and my right foot was just a single uniform blister. Good job lads, a serious impressive feat!
[+] [-] ctrager|4 years ago|reply
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
[+] [-] nend|4 years ago|reply
I for one would love to see more permitting used in the white mountains.
[+] [-] peterbraden|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] helmholtz|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|4 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] DavidGetchel|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ctrager|4 years ago|reply
I don't know how these guys and other long distance hikers maintain their motivation, or rather, I don't know how they continue to find enough reward in the activity to make up for the deprivation, repetition.
[+] [-] pythko|4 years ago|reply
I totally feel you on this. I’ve done a reasonable amount of backpacking, and more and more, I’m not sure if I like backpacking or like looking back and saying I’ve done it. I certainly feel a sense of accomplishment from the treks I’ve done, but in the moment, it often just feels like drudgery, shading into misery when the days get long and the trail gets hard.
The exception is when the natural beauty of the surrounding area is high enough, the whole experience is totally worthwhile. The American west (Tetons, Sierra Nevada) still does it for me, but the AT definitely does not.
[+] [-] peter303|4 years ago|reply
If you follow ultra-light hiking gurus like Andrew Skurka, food can be 75% of your pack weight after a resupply- 9 lbs base weight and 25 lbs food.
[+] [-] AdrianB1|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] peter303|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hodgesrm|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] randomsearch|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] srvmshr|4 years ago|reply
Not gonna lie, I have a warm fuzzy feeling for them topped by a tinge of wonder (+ envy) at this achievement! - jester
[+] [-] ctrager|4 years ago|reply
"People who exercise less than you are pathetic; people who exercise more than you are nuts.”
[+] [-] JKCalhoun|4 years ago|reply
— Carlin
[+] [-] LorenPechtel|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] grantjpowell|4 years ago|reply
- Bear Bait
[+] [-] js2|4 years ago|reply
(I have a pretty good bear story myself, and that's just from a week-long hike on the AT.)
[+] [-] sydthrowaway|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] almog|4 years ago|reply
In June 2018 I've been lucky to get glimpse of Anish (Heather Anderson) while she was getting her own Calendar Year Triple Crown. Later I read her first book "2600 Miles to Home" where she tells the story of her 2013 Pacific Crest Trail Fastest Known Time (a term that describes record-setting on long trails as well as the name of the website that track those FKT attempts) of the Pacific Crest Trail, which she completed (unsupported) in 60 days and 17 hours. She still holds that record as well as the record that she set for the Calendar Year Triple Crown (251 days and 20 hours). I can only wish I had half her drive.
[+] [-] SyzygistSix|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] subpixel|4 years ago|reply
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.
[+] [-] jean-malo|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pythko|4 years ago|reply
On the AT section, they mention starting out with packs that weighed over 20 pounds, which is extremely light for backpacking. That’s probably a few days of food, a change of clothes, 2-3 liters of water, and an ultralight sleeping bag. But then they mention a tent, too! In contrast, I talked with someone who thru-hiked the AT in the winter, and they said that their packs were routinely over 70 pounds, and that they had ditched their tent in favor of staying in the shelters and wrapping their sleeping bags in Tyvek. How were the guys in the article resupplying? Trips into town every few days sounds very time consuming.
The article also casually threw out that they went through 26 pairs of shoes! Are they buying those at retail? Did they get sponsored by someone?
It also says they mailed themselves packages of food to be picked up at post offices, but it wasn’t dehydrated backpacking food: “Almost half of the airtight bags they had stuffed with rice and beans, tortillas and other fare broke, leaving their food covered in mold.” Has anyone else heard of people relying on perishable food to sit in a post office for weeks/months?
Overall, I read this article with a tremendous amount of respect for the physical and mental accomplishment (that’s a lot of miles and those trails are not easy!), envy, and…bewilderment, I guess? Is dropping $25k and taking a year off school to speedrun three of the most iconic trails in the US a good use of time or money? Part of me would have loved the idea when I was that age, but part of me thinks about all the travel, gear, time asked of family, and time asked of myself, and thinks it would not be worth it.
[+] [-] LorenPechtel|4 years ago|reply
26 pairs of shoes between the two of them I actually find surprising--that they used that few.
I'm surprised at the mold--you don't have it sit around all that long, you update whoever is sending them with your location so they know when to send them. There's a limit to how long a post office will hold a package for pickup. And that sort of fare doesn't sound that perishable. I can't imagine beans on the trail, though--they take too much cooking time. Fuel is weight!
(And, no, I've never done any of the great trails, but they certainly sound like an experience. Section hiked in decent weather, not a speedrun like these guys did. I don't think I could handle any of them, though.)
[+] [-] zeank|4 years ago|reply
An ultralight tent weighs less than a pound.
Typical stretches between resupplies are sth like 2-6 days, depending on region and preference. Food for a day weighs sth like 1 - 1.5 lbs. So packs with about or a bit over 20lbs sure is no magic. 70lbs with modern equipment sounds weird or unnecessary. Resupplies are time consuming but necessary, you need to wash yourself and your clothes, repair or replace gear and first and foremost eat. Because while on trail it’s unlikely you manage to eat enough.
[+] [-] ctrager|4 years ago|reply
But where I started (mile 652, Walker Pass) was hot with no sure water until 30 miles in, so for that stretch I started with 13 liters of water, my total weight about 45 pounds.
On a 5-day, 4-night trip I'll bring 4-5 pounds of food. I'm getting better at not carrying more water than I need. If I have to go 10 miles to the next water, I'll drink up and carry 3 liters.
[+] [-] ctrager|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] AdrianB1|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kaymanb|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] TuringNYC|4 years ago|reply
Doing three in a year is remarkable for this reason, I think the almost mandates you done some through the winter.
[+] [-] ctrager|4 years ago|reply
Pick your poison.
[+] [-] ghaff|4 years ago|reply
So you have to work back from that to when you start from Springer Mountain in GA which can be as early as about March 15 I gather although you're still sort of semi-winter conditions. Some people recommend starting more like mid-April for better weather and fewer through-hiker crrowdsbut you're obviously giving up 30 days or so of margin.
[+] [-] LorenPechtel|4 years ago|reply
IIRC we are now at the point where there have been the same number of single-year triple crowners as moonwalkers.
[+] [-] ur-whale|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jmnicolas|4 years ago|reply
I'm a 43 yo French guy. In all my life, I only know one man that had problems with wildlife in France: he was charged by an angry wild boar and had to jump in a river to evade it. So I'm not worried at all about my safety when hiking in France.
However if I was hiking in the US I'd probably carry a 44 Magnum at all times (the ultra lightweight one from S&W). I don't know how you guys decide to go in the woods with just some pepper spray and think it's enough! I'd worry that it makes the bear angrier! :D
[+] [-] mmmBacon|4 years ago|reply
Despite having spent lots of time in wild lands in the lower 48, the only time I felt like I wanted a firearm was during my first 24 hours in Denali.
At the time firearms were not allowed in the national parks but I wouldn’t have brought one anyway. It was good to experience that vulnerability and learn how to just get on with it.
[+] [-] authed|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] alphakappa|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tastyfreeze|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] oblib|4 years ago|reply
I've spent a lot of time in our State and National forests and for the past 15 years most of it has been off trail and the past 10 most of my trips have been solo.
Thru hikers tend to focus on the trail and their only goal is making miles. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's not even close to the same as experiencing the "wilderness". It's much more akin to running a marathon. So it's easy to spot thru hikers on a trail. They most always have their heads down and eyes focused on the trail and often won't even say "Hi" as they race by you.
To really experience the wilderness you have to learn how to "bushwhack" off trail. To do that you need to learn how to use a compass and triangulate your position on a map. That's not near as common of a skill as one might imagine thru hikers have.
For me, making miles was never a goal. Immersing myself in the wilderness and finding "Super Scenic Spots" to hang out for awhile has always been the goal.
One of the things you learn when you start bushwhacking is the wildlife will be hiding from you before you even get there. They can hear or smell you coming. But after a bit, if you're quiet, they'll come out and get back their normal routine, and that's really something awesome to experience.
I have to give them credit though because it was thru hikers that motivated me to get off the trails more. Over the years I've increasingly had those folks walk into my camp and ask, and just as often demand, that I give them food and supplies because "I'm out" of whatever it is they needed.
And over the years I increasingly had to to cut trips short because I couldn't say "No" and some of them were truly in desperate need. The first few times I was glad to help and it felt good to help, but after awhile I noticed this was getting to be too common and I grew tired of it because my trips kept turning into rescue and relief missions for those folks and getting cut short.
But when I get off those trails no one ever walks into my campsite. And when I backpack solo I can leave no trace, but when I invite friends who're not really backpackers they tend to want to build a campsite. What I do is much more akin to "Shinrin-yoku".
[+] [-] ctrager|4 years ago|reply
But I wouldn't say, "to really experience the wilderness you have to....".
Instead I would repeat the maxim, "Hike Your Own Hike".
[+] [-] sverhagen|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] emodendroket|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Bellend|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sieabahlpark|4 years ago|reply
[deleted]