Monthly Data Update (M-4; Day 91 to 118)

All data below in italics is for M-1, M-2 & M-3 respectively, for comparison.

M-4 is 28 days (all other months were 30 days)

Distance traveled on PCT: 702 mi / 1130 km (631 mi / 1015 km; 554 mi / 892 km; 798 mi /1284 km)

Total time: 281 (280; 280; 320) hours

Total ascent: 126,923 ft / 38,686 m (117,830 ft/35,915 m; 99,040 ft/30,190 m; 123,951 ft/37,780 m)

Total descent: 128,161 ft / 39,063 m (115,912 ft/35,330 m; 99,730 ft/30,400 m; 123,921 ft/37,771 m)

Highest point: 7174 ft / 2187 m (9407 ft/2867 m; 13,120 ft/4000 m; 7580 ft/2310 m)

Average distance/day: 25 mi / 40 km (21 mi/34 km; 18.7 mi/30.1 km; 26.6 mi/42.8 km)

Average distance/hiking day: 26 mi / 42 km (21.8 mi/35.1 km; 21.3 mi/34.3 km; 26.6 mi/42.8 km)

Average time hiking/day: 10.0 (9.3; 9.3; 10.7) hours (incl Nero days)

Average pace: 2.6 mph/4.2 kmph (2.3 mph/3.6 kmph; 2.0 mph/3.2 kmph; 2.5 mph/4.0 kmph)

Number of Zero days: 1 (1; 4; 0)

Number of Nero days: 11 (4; 8; 5)

Number of meals eaten that I hadn't carried on my back: 19 (15; 25; 18)

Number of proper showers taken: 10 (7; 14; 11)

Number of bears seen: 1 (1, 1, 0)

Comments

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...

Gratitude (D-114: 2577.8 - 2592.1 - Nero @ Mazama)

As the last town day on the trail ends and a few dozen miles left to the end point, I would like to speak of gratitude. Every so often on the trail, there are moments of "why the heck am I doing this?" and that's when I have to compel myself to remember that this is an option and an opportunity given to me. I am fortunate enough to be able to hike on this trail for a long period, which is essentially a vacation (albeit, a physically & mentally demanding one). Not everybody gets the option of taking such a long vacation from work, family and other commitments. It may be a cliche, but I am full of gratitude for this. I am also deeply grateful to a bunch of people who made this hike possible and I would like to use this post to mention those people. Ravin & Deepika opened their home and hearts so that I could do all the preparatory work before the hike. They were generous to a fault and I used (& perhaps, abused) their generosity. Even during the hik...

Wind, constant wind & Trail Provides (D-4)

Finally the hike thru the "real" desert - as I had imagined it - happened today. No trees at all, only shrubs, cacti, dusty, wide flat vistas and absolutely relentless wind that almost never let up till the late evening. The wind was so strong in the second half of the day that it even literally pushed me uphill sometimes. The extra backpack weight seemed like the only thing that kept me from being blown here & there 😄. One good thing about the wind...it made the day seem cooler. And wind/sun way better than wind/rain. I have been drinking water from 1 liter bottles that are kept in the side pocket of my pack. Unfortunately they are not easy to access and I have to carry a bottle in my hand when I need to sip it frequently. This is a pain! So, I had decided to buy a thin tube at the next town in a few days and insert it into the bottle cap to make a flexible straw to make my life easier. However, this afternoon, I came upon the water cache ...

A thru-hike attempt

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