Monthly Data Update (M-2; 31-60 days)

All data below in italics is for M-1, for comparison

Distance traveled on PCT: 554 mi / 892 km

(631 mi / 1015 km)

Total time: 280 (280) hours

Total ascent: 99,040 ft / 30,190 m (117,830 ft / 35,915 m)

Total descent: 99,730 ft / 30,400 m (115,912 ft / 35,330 m)

Highest point: 13,120 ft / 4000 m (9407 ft / 2867 m)

Average distance/day: 18.7 mi/30.1 km (21 mi/34 km)

Average distance/hiking day: 21.3 mi/34.3 km (21.8 mi/35.1 km)

Average time hiking/day: 9.3 (9.3) hours (incl Zero days)

Average pace: 2 mi/hr (or) 3.2 km/hr (2.3 mi/hr (or) 3.6 km/hr)

Number of Zero days: 4 (1)

Number of Nero days: 8 (4)

Weather-related breaks: 1 Zero & 1 Nero (incl in above)

Number of meals eaten that I hadn't carried on my back: 25 (15)

Number of proper showers taken: 14 (7)

Number of bears seen: 1 (1)

*Most of the trail was above 8000-9000 ft in M-2, unlike in M-1.

Comments

Pleasures of being on PCT (D-16; 303.7 - 328.8 miles)

Heading out from the cowboy camping experience last night, I was looking forward to Deer Creek Hot Springs that is apparently very popular among the locals too & tended to get crowded during the weekends, even though one has to hike in a mile or so from the trailhead parking (or hike 308 miles on PCT 🙂). Reached it early enough, but still it was chock full of people - locals & thru-hikers both - most of whom had camped there overnight in spite of it being a No Camping zone. People were lazing around in some of the pools in various states of undress, as it was a clothing optional area. It was way too crowded for me and I decided to head out. But, as I was heading out, I saw a small pool of water with nobody in it and the water was pleasantly hot (not just warm). Pool I "discovered" away from the crowds Close-up of the pool Me in the pool 😋 What a lovely feeling to be in a hot pool, especially after not having had a hot

Why you shouldn't (or should) thru-hike the PCT? (D-115: 2592.1 - 2613.1 - Nero @ Mazama, D-116: 2613.1 - 2642.6)

Over the last 116 days, I have had plenty of time to think about what's good or bad about this thru-hike and just in case, one of you is thinking about doing a PCT thru-hike, here are my thoughts about why you shouldn't or should do it. Why you shouldn't do a PCT thru-hike - It is very tough physically and mentally - There is less than 50% chance that anyone starting it will finish - Almost everyone seems to have negative physical effects including weight loss, muscle loss, days & days of tired legs & feet etc - You will definitely get scratches, bruises and cuts, if you are lucky. If you are unlucky, major sprains, muscle tears & other hike-ending injuries. Btw, most people who stop do so 'cos of injuries. - You will trip & fall down multiple times (when the avg number of steps is 50000 - 70000/day over uneven paths, the law of large numbers takes over and some of those steps will lead to falls) - It is an expensive activity, with a bulk o

A thru-hike attempt... successful! (D-117: 2642.6 - 2653.6, D-117S (SOBO): 0 - 17.1, D-118S (SOBO): 17.1-30.6)

It is done! Finally, on August 10th, 2022, 117 days after I started at the US-Mexico border on April 16th, 2022, I reached the US-Canada border. Walked 2653.6 miles (4270.6 km) south-to-north through the states of California, Oregon and Washington. No bittersweet moments...just sweet relief to be done 😀. We were few of the lucky thru-hikers this year who were able to go south-to-north continuously without any interruptions. People who started even a couple of weeks earlier and maintained this pace hit a lot more snow in Seirras and a hell lot more in Washington, the latter being almost hike-stopping. By the time we got to Seirras, the snow was much more manageable, and almost all the snow had melted in Washington. People who started later or were slower have had to skip parts of Northern California due to forest fires. Even Oregon and Southern California have some fires starting already. Anyway, reached the northern terminus of the PCT yesterday morning around 8:40 am

A thru-hike attempt

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