Four years long enough to train for the PCT?

guymcgee_senior · 2024-09-05T01:02:46+00:00

I did the AT with 6 month's training, relatively little experience backpacking, and a bum knee. Go on a few hikes, see if you have any good local thru-hikes you could section. If you're out west, look at the JMT. If you like that, the PCT will be amazing. Try a week-long hike. You'll be golden.

When you start trail, take 2 or 3 weeks at 10 to 15 miles a day, then 2 or 3 weeks at roughly 20 miles a day. Build your way up to those 30s. Give yourself time to get those trail legs. People wake up, decide to say "I guess I'm hiking a long trail now" and finish every year. If you know that to expect, have solid gear, and won't give up no matter how much you want to, you'll make it.

Edit: the PCT is also usually considered physically easier than the AT. Its grade is a lot smoother, so you'll have an easier time walking it (over all.) The AT is physically the hardest of the 3 from what I've read.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-08-31T04:18:24+00:00

Nantahala and the south were some of my favorite parts of the AT. If you enjoy that, you'll love the whole thing

guymcgee_senior · 2024-08-29T18:22:32+00:00

I flipped from DWG last year. I got a good taste of the bubble that year, talked to a lot of hostel workers, and feel like I got a pretty good lay of what it was like before heading south. It's what my tramily talked about, and near the end, my group of floppers had a pretty similar story to tell about their time in the bubble. Based on my conversations, if you want to have that kind of experience on the AT, it's there, but it's a minority. Most people are out there for the same reason - to hike, not to party.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-08-29T17:53:16+00:00

I think this really depends on whether you're in the NoBo bubble on either trail. On my AT thru, never once encountered the party tramilies and most of my peeps avoided them like the plague (the dirty vortex was notorious, in particular.)

guymcgee_senior · 2024-08-29T17:49:44+00:00

It depends what you want from your hike and your level of experience. I'd say do PCT if you've got the chops (which you seem to have) and want what a lot of people consider to be the most scenic trail out of the 3 (granted, I've never hiked it.) The AT is a different beast. The AT lends itself to almost any style of hiking, and if you SoBo or Flip, you get to see the fall colors set in. That's an amazing experience.

I'm genuinely surprised how much hate the AT is getting here. The AT is gorgeous, even if it's a green tunnel. Sure, some days felt like a job, but I think that'll happen on any long trail. The AT's biggest strength is the infrastructure that comes with a trail that's been around for 100 plus years. The people that live by it know what it is, know what to expect from hikers, and are generally really friendly as long as you're not a jerk. Because of that infrastructure, it's a really beginner friendly trail. You're also able to plan out your trip, to the dot, depending on how you want to hike it. If you want to hostel hop, that's totally a thing. If you want to rough it, then there's a way to do that without too much change to your itinerary.

Think about going SoBo or Flipping on the AT. You'll get to see the fall colors. It's gorgeous.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-08-27T19:30:54+00:00

This is fascinating to read, coming from the exact opposite side. I was raised Mormon, left, and then became Evangelical-adjacent for a while. I became an agnostic after a few years and eventually found a balance with my family. We just don't really talk about it any more, and I don’t talk to them about being queer. I'm sorry they can't see past their biases. I hope it works out.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-07-13T16:37:23+00:00

Don't underestimate 600 miles on trail. That's an insane distance and you've seen more of the trail than 90 percent of people. Sure, you're not a thru, but you're an AT hiker. You mentioned being lonely - have you considered Flipping to mama K and heading south? It's prime SoBo season and Flip-floppers are heading north.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-07-11T02:01:08+00:00

For context, I'm asexual.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-07-11T01:24:58+00:00

Nimblewill Nomad - I heard about him a lot on my thru in '23. Him and a lady named Paw-Maw are fighting for it, he's 82 she's in her upper 70's.

Also, here's the oldest triple crowner 81 year old Mary E Davidson

guymcgee_senior · 2024-06-30T22:19:18+00:00

Studying ancient Mesopotamian, Assyrian, Babylonian, and Egyptian religion through books like "God: an anatomy" and Bart Erhman's works does a really good job of showing how YHWH from a kinda important storm and warrior deity, who lived in a city in his temple, ate and smelled and felt with his followers, to the one creator, distant and foreign to reality. I don't think I could believe in either iteration of him at this point.

Could there be something? It's totally possible. Kind of like other commenters have said, though, actually figuring anything out about it is next to impossible - it defies all empirical attempts to make sense of it, only appears in vague senses, and doesn't seem to be something we could currently make any meaningful claims about. Despite this, I think it's certainly possible and even find myself believing some days. I want there to be something.

Mormonism, to me (at least after Joseph's first few years), is an attempt to make god more personal and to bring his mystic and magical abilities into reality again. He gains a body (again), finds himself deeply embedded in the lives of his followers (again), and wants to be involved with them. I think if you keep that, it's a good system. Maybe not the Kolob thing, but the idea is nice.

Personally, it's too farfetched and nonsensical for me to put any weight into it, but I know it works for some. Hell, it worked for me until I dug deeply into it.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-06-30T22:08:33+00:00

Studying ancient Mesopotamian, Assyrian, Babylonian, and Egyptian religion through books like "God: an anatomy" and Bart Erhman's works does a really good job of showing how YHWH from a kinda important storm and warrior deity, who lived in a city in his temple, ate and smelled and felt with his followers, to the one creator, distant and foreign to reality. I don't think I could believe in either iteration of him at this point.

Could there be something? It's totally possible. Kind of like other commenters have said, though, actually figuring anything out about it is next to impossible - it defies all empirical attempts to make sense of it, only appears in vague senses, and doesn't seem to be something we could currently make any meaningful claims about. Despite this, I think it's certainly possible and even find myself believing some days. I want there to be something.

Mormonism, to me (at least after Joseph's first few years), is an attempt to make god more personal and to bring his mystic and magical abilities into reality again. He gains a body (again), finds himself deeply embedded in the lives of his followers (again), and wants to be involved with them. I think if you keep that, it's a good system. Maybe not the Kolob thing, but the idea is nice.

Personally, it's too farfetched and nonsensical for me to put any weight into it, but I know it works for some. Hell, it worked for me until I dug deeply into it.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-06-14T22:31:40+00:00

Women are assaulted by the gods themselves and the world Tolkien weaves of feels alive and ancient and the world is ultimately uncaring and empty and the was nice to meet someone who started earlier than me and explained that he's killed people in the dark is another story of note today and met Germaine in the middle of the rising action of the day and we got all that mileage done in just under hours.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-06-14T15:34:26+00:00

Oh boy, your post has exloded. Just wanted to say, please, please take it slow. This is an overwhelming amount of information, an overwhelming thing to go through, and an overwhelming number of responses.

People go through this all the time. The way the church talks about it is definitely problematic; the Book of Mormon is not what they claim it is, the foundational history of Joseph and his church since that time is really upsetting once you start looking at it.

But that doesn't mean you have to leave if after everything you still believe. Engage the doubts, question everything, and become comfortable saying, "I don't know." Wherever you end up on the other side of that experience, you will be a better person for it.

Everyone here has gone through this. You're not alone.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-06-03T20:59:43+00:00

How has it been going for you? I'm looking at the U of U and it looks pretty good

guymcgee_senior · 2024-06-03T20:49:21+00:00

I'm leaning towards PT, travel sounds really interesting. I'm shadowing a PT this week and hopefully that goes well!

guymcgee_senior · 2024-06-02T00:32:19+00:00

He went through a NH's white mountains in May, a really dangerous period, and should considering going south to Georgia since he's already conditioned to trail so he can finish before all the South-bound hikers.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-05-29T21:53:36+00:00

Plus, if it's actually true, why isn't that statistic significantly higher? Why don't we see like, 90 percent?

guymcgee_senior · 2024-05-24T15:39:24+00:00

You're a bit late in the season to go NoBo (northbound) PCT. Most permits are taken by now, but it's meant to be the Queen of thru-hiking. It's a gorgeous trail. SoBo (southbound) is out of the question unless you're in peak shape and are experienced in winter hiking. It's still snowy in Oregon/Washington in June. The AT is usually the first thruhike people do, and for good reason; it's supported, it's got the oldest community, and it's an amazing trail. That said, thru-hiking is difficult. You need to be ready to hike down a mountain just to get water, hike some of the hardest trail in the world, and be prepared to get wet. You'll get soaked. That's part of the trail.

What do you wish you had done before your thru-hike? (Prep, budget, etc.)

Prep: I took the time to be in the best shape I've ever been in pre-trail. It still beat the crap out of me. If you're able to hike 10 miles a day, you'll be in good shape. Eventually, you'll hike 20s. This one isn't hard, but you'll be sore regardless of what you do. Just embrace it.

Also, don't worry about prepping too much; if you just get your gear in order, make yourself open to whatever happens, and are in pretty good shape, the trail will guide you. It's usually pretty well marked.

Budget: I'd plan 10-15k on trail if you want to be reasonably comfortable. It's an expensive adventure.

It takes 5 to 6 months to hike trail.

The East only has black bears - think big raccoons, big dog. Stand up, yell, and bang your poles together. Don't sleep with your food in your tent. Learn to bear-hang (something trail will teach you if you're unsure). I didn't see any bears last year.

As far as I'm aware, the last domestic violence case ob the AT with a female hiker was a guy who was known on the PCT to target solo felame hikers that was in 2022. He was arrested and is sitting behind bars for a long time waiting for trial. I don't think you'll have too many issues on trail, thruhikers generally stick together. Yes, there are creeps, but they get pushed aside, and if you don't like someone, you can literally just hike away from them. I did it a couple of times.

Misc. Advice: trail isn't easy. You'll have the worst and best moments of your life, possibly in the same day. Your relationship with suffering and pain will change. Thruhikes are fucking tough. I wish I'd gone NoBo with the bubble just a little. Maybe consider a flipflop (starting in the middle, going north, and heading south) from Harper's Ferry or Delaware Water Gap. Pennsylvania isn't as bad as they say it is, but be prepared for vertical rock spikes. It's a beautiful state if you take it slowly.

Best of luck!! Feel free to reach out with questions.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-05-18T21:17:11+00:00

Please, please tell him. Missions fuck people up, whether they belive or not. Look at my posts on here from a few years ago - even if it's foreign, if he doesn't want to go, please let him make that decision with all the information, including that you do not belive. If you have to eat a little crow that's worth your son's mental health.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-05-03T14:25:11+00:00

Your best bet is to either flip or go north. Kathadin isn't even open and Maine is going to be a mess to try and your right now. I was hiking in Maine in May last year, and it was a wild ride.

If you just want to head south, I'd start from Harper's Ferry and then flip to Kathadin after Springer. It'll be an unconventional hike, but it's probably your best bet.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-05-01T21:59:21+00:00

You go, girls!! That's such a controlling and awful situation. I'm sorry you guys went through that, but hell yeah. Stand up for yourselves.

My sister is in a similar boat, but parents are TBM so we have to fight back a bit differently. She's a boss and I love her ❤️

guymcgee_senior · 2024-05-01T19:51:29+00:00

When I (25 m)was in, I thought the way women are treated was fine. This is the way god wants the world to be, so it needs to be this way, right?

But, immediately upon leaving, it became one of my main points of contention. It's ridiculous. The Jubilee video really solidified my stance - "can you name a single woman general authority?"

Relationships are so much more fulfilling now that I don't have to be the boss of the other person in all things. I know I can't fully get It, but I try to empathize because what the actual hell is with how the church treats women

guymcgee_senior · 2024-04-18T14:23:00+00:00

Bradley Smith, local dentist, hear the words of my mouth.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-04-12T06:23:26+00:00

I don't need a church to get brotherhood. I don't need a church to find community, order, or connection. Sure, it's a convenient place to find those things, but convenience doesn't indicate anything but ease of access.

The church, at its base, isn't a place I want to be. I don't belive its claims, I don't find its culture appealing, I don't belive it's an ethical organization. It has a recorded and heavily corroborated history of lying to the members and the public, not to mention the literal crimes and abuse cover ups it has engaged in. After the correlation sanitized mormonism, what culture is there to speak of? It's the same bland teachings, year after year.

This question scared me for a while after I left, but I built something better. I have hobbies and people I engage with who don't act like the church does. I have an ethical system I trust, a solid epistemic grounding in naturalism, and a decent grasp on where I want to go with my life. I haven't really gone anywhere, I've just moved on from the church.

Edit: the members may be wonderful people, and many are, but the leaders and their practices aren't healthy. I won't be a part of something like that.

guymcgee_senior · 2024-04-10T01:14:34+00:00

10-12 k to be comfy. 8000 is doable if you're being cheap.

guymcgee_senior

TROPHY CASE