Introduction
In 2003 I walked from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
I had taken a few other hikes around a hundred miles long, but never one of a thousand miles, or of 2600 miles, the length of the PCT.
And today, I've accumulated over 28,000 miles of hiking.
It's not just me. Each year, thousands of people try to walk the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, either in one long trip (thruhikers), or in a number of smaller connecting trips (section hikers). In the United States, there are dozens of other trails of at least several hundred miles in length. Perhaps a thousand more people per year try to walk the full length of one of these other trails.
But Why? And How?
These are questions I myself have pondered, and many others have asked me by email and in conversation. Most Long Distance Hikers already have pretty good answers, and conversations with them can be deeply philosophical and quite engaging. But many of the conversations I've had on these subjects were with people who had no intention of ever hiking more than a day or overnight trip. They weren't seeking information to use on some future adventure, they simply became fascinated by the unique techniques, culture, philosophy and psychology of the long distance hikers they had met.
And though the whys and hows differ widely among long distance hikers, I've found that some personality traits and techniques seem to be typical. That's what this book is about.
It's not a book for the first time thruhiker, or for the ultralight hiker. There are plenty of books and websites that explain the basic mechanics of long distance hiking, and light weight techniques, to the prospective thru hiker. Trends in technique, availability of specific models of gear, and changing websites and software make any list of current gear or techniques obsolete within a few years. An intended first time through hiker should follow the very latest forums for the most up to date comments. I don't think I have anything unique to offer someone gearing up for their first long hike.
It's also not a journal of a specific hike I took. There are thousands of those available in print and online. My own journals and photos are eslewhere on this website. My journals are my souvenirs of my long hikes. I don't keep physical mementos from my walking, but seeing the right sentence or photograph in my journals brings back great memories of days and moments, and of types of experiences that only the few who put in the time and effort of a long distance hike accumulate. My website also contains maps I've made about the USA wide long distance trail network, and anything else I thought and researched about and decided might be useful to other hikers.
But rather than being about specific moments, like my journals, this book is a look at the deeper and broader issues of long distance hiking, of some thoughts and techniques that most thru hikers seem to hold in common.
And I'm not writing this book just for long distance hikers. I have found that many non-hikers I've met along the way were fascinated enough to question and listen for hours. They did this not to prepare for their own walks, as they seemed not to have any intention of making such a journey. The first few chapters so these non-hikers can ponder and enjoy the culture and techniques of this sport, though they may be equally interesting and informative to other long distance hikers.
Later chapters are targeted at hikers who have finished a thousand miles or more and want to start to develop deeper and broader knowledge and understanding of long distance hiking issues and techniques.
Whereas books for beginners may describe one way of doing things which the author believes to be the best way, this book takes a very different approach. I believe that it is best to describe all the typical methods, along with their major advantages and disadvantages. And I think it's best to describe in detail why and how methods work, so a hiker can change the methods to suit the issues that arise. If I mention technical jargon and Latin species names, hikers can use these to do deeper research more easily. I think this approach will allow experienced hikers who have suffered through various problems to read about different possible solutions and try changes that are likely to increase their hiking enjoymment. This is a book for a thinking, curious, experienced hikers looking for more understanding of hiking issues. For someone planning a first long distance hike, the lists of the problems that can occur doing almost anything may be daunting: Remember that hikers use these methods because they generally work. It's my intention to educate so you too can make things work.
Whether a first time long distance hiker or an old pro, the best time and place to experiment with and learn new techniques is on the trail. I encourage hikers to pick up maps or gear different from their own in hiker boxes and try using them for the next segment. It's a great way to try out new equipment and techniques for free, while still being able to fall back on what you're used to.
So if you're interested in why and how someone decides to spend months at a time hiking thousands of miles, welcome to my world...