View Full Version : Yo-Yo-Yo(-Yo)
Sorcerer
05-01-2006, 17:47
I was thinking about something early today and thought I'd ask it here just to see what the truth might be:
Has anybody ever hiked a "yo-yo-yo" or a "yo-yo-yo-yo"? I'm guessing it would be very difficult to do 3 consecutive thru-hikes (or more). I'm not talking about doing a thru-hike in the same direction each year, but continuously staying on the trail (more or less) for 3?
My estimated timeline:
Leave Springer mid-March
Reach Katahdin mid-September
Reach Springer mid-March
Reach Katahdin mid-September
The problems I see would be:
a) weather. SOBO starting in mid-September would probably put you in bad weather for almost the entire SOBO portion
b) Health. I'm quite sure it could be done by some, but 1 1/2-2 years consecutively on the trail would be brutal. Of course, taking 6 months for each hike should give plenty of rest/relaxing days. On that 3rd or 4th hike you could probably make it in 3-4 months, without even really trying to go fast.
c) Money. Giving up "the real world" for 6 months is hard for many. I don't know how people could manage for 2 years. I'm guessing you'd have to be retired?
I'm just trying to find out if anybody has every done such a thing and how it worked out for them. Thanks!
The Solemates
05-01-2006, 17:59
I was thinking about something early today and thought I'd ask it here just to see what the truth might be:
Has anybody ever hiked a "yo-yo-yo" or a "yo-yo-yo-yo"? I'm guessing it would be very difficult to do 3 consecutive thru-hikes (or more). I'm not talking about doing a thru-hike in the same direction each year, but continuously staying on the trail (more or less) for 3?
My estimated timeline:
Leave Springer mid-March
Reach Katahdin mid-September
Reach Springer mid-March
Reach Katahdin mid-September
The problems I see would be:
a) weather. SOBO starting in mid-September would probably put you in bad weather for almost the entire SOBO portion
b) Health. I'm quite sure it could be done by some, but 1 1/2-2 years consecutively on the trail would be brutal. Of course, taking 6 months for each hike should give plenty of rest/relaxing days. On that 3rd or 4th hike you could probably make it in 3-4 months, without even really trying to go fast.
c) Money. Giving up "the real world" for 6 months is hard for many. I don't know how people could manage for 2 years. I'm guessing you'd have to be retired?
I'm just trying to find out if anybody has every done such a thing and how it worked out for them. Thanks!
if you were to attempt something of this magnitude, i think the better thing to do would be to so it in a one-year time frame, starting jan 1 to whenever. but of course either way would be insane.
didn't Ward Leonard do a Yo-Yo-Yo?
didn't Ward Leonard do a Yo-Yo-Yo?
He may have.
I also heard one year he hiked three yos in section. That is, as example, Springer to Hiawasseee and back to Springer. Springer to Fontana and back to Hiawassee....
I believe what Ward did was start in H.F. sobo just to get into shape for the speed hike w/ Maniac and Horton. He set the unsupported record that year that still stands, 60 days I think it was. He yo-yoed back to Springer and then back to H.F. for the 3 in 1.
TJ aka Teej
05-01-2006, 19:09
He set the unsupported record that year that still stands, 60 days I think it was.
Lots of people had something to say about Ward, but nobody could ever say he wasn't a hell of a hiker.
Pacific Tortuga
05-01-2006, 19:25
Yo, Yo, Yo, Yo, Yo , sounds like the start of a rap song. I enjoy that style music as much as I like Disco.
My mother was the first to do it. Her trail name is Yo Yo Yo Ma. (not to be confused with the cellist)
The Solemates
05-02-2006, 11:13
My mother was the first to do it. Her trail name is Yo Yo Yo Ma. (not to be confused with the cellist)
that was good :banana
I was thinking about something early today and thought I'd ask it here just to see what the truth might be:
Has anybody ever hiked a "yo-yo-yo" or a "yo-yo-yo-yo"? I'm guessing it would be very difficult to do 3 consecutive thru-hikes (or more). I'm not talking about doing a thru-hike in the same direction each year, but continuously staying on the trail (more or less) for 3?
My estimated timeline:
Leave Springer mid-March
Reach Katahdin mid-September
Reach Springer mid-March
Reach Katahdin mid-September
The problems I see would be:
a) weather. SOBO starting in mid-September would probably put you in bad weather for almost the entire SOBO portion
b) Health. I'm quite sure it could be done by some, but 1 1/2-2 years consecutively on the trail would be brutal. Of course, taking 6 months for each hike should give plenty of rest/relaxing days. On that 3rd or 4th hike you could probably make it in 3-4 months, without even really trying to go fast.
c) Money. Giving up "the real world" for 6 months is hard for many. I don't know how people could manage for 2 years. I'm guessing you'd have to be retired?
I'm just trying to find out if anybody has every done such a thing and how it worked out for them. Thanks!
Ward Leonard left Georgia in January 1991; walked to Katahdin; walked back to Georgia; and then back to Katahdin.
I met him in the 100-mile-wilderness as he approached Katahdin the second time, and again a few days later as he was heading back to Georgia in mid-August.
When I asked if he expected to make it all the way to Georgia, he replied, "I don't know. I have emotional and financial problems." He didn't make it back, though he completed the effort the next year, I think.
REgardless, it was one of the great walking efforts in history that deserves far more recognition than it has been given. Ward ranks with the best of this or any other age.
He was attempting a long distance record in anticipation of losing his AT speed record to two assisted hikes that year. BTW. Ward's efforts were all totally unassisted. If anything the antagonism (not necessarily undeserved) of his fellow hikers made his efforts more rather than less difficult.
Weary
warren doyle
05-02-2006, 12:43
Nice informative post Weary. I agree with your assessment of Ward's hiking prowess. I always enjoyed meeting him on the trail (at least a half-dozen times) - some interesting conversations.
Ward is the only person to do a yo-yo-yo on the AT. He did not do it in a calendar year.
As for his 60-day unassisted hike being a record, I don't know. I recall meeting 'Wall' when he finished his northbound on Katahdin in the early 90's I believe. He finished in the high 50's (day-wise) but I'm not certain until I can contact him or check my notes that are boxed and in storage.
I still feel the most difficult endurance challenge left on the AT is doing it four times in one calendar year.
Squeaky 2
05-02-2006, 12:56
although 4 thru hikes is a long way Warren, it could be done atleast 5 times. 4 would be cake, the weather window is far too wide on the AT. does it have to be yo yoing or thru hikes. for example 3 nobos followed by 3 sobos.
warren doyle
05-02-2006, 13:04
Matt,
Your 'cake' confidence continues to amuse me. Have your agent call my agent in August. Your confidence might have to undego an adjustment by then.
Squeaky 2
05-02-2006, 13:11
GA-ME by june 1st ME-GA by july 30th GA-ME by september 30th and finaly ME-GA before january 1st. as i said it would be cake. it would only require two of the trails to be hiked moderately fast. the first and the later would be very easy hiking pace.
TJ aka Teej
05-02-2006, 13:14
As for his [Ward Leonard] 60-day unassisted hike being a record, I don't know.
You "don't know"...
Like all hiking record claims, yours included Warren, all we have is the hiker's word. There's absolutely no reason for anyone to think that Ward's claim is any less genuine than yours.
TJ aka Teej
05-02-2006, 13:18
GA-ME by june 1st ME-GA by july 30th GA-ME by september 30th and finaly ME-GA before january 1st. as i said it would be cake. it would only require two of the trails to be hiked moderately fast. the first and the later would be very easy hiking pace.
Sounds very do-able for a fit, fortunate, supported hiker. I'm not sure it would be as remarkable an achievement as a single season triple crown, an unsupported 60, or a supported sub-40, though.
Squeaky 2
05-02-2006, 13:23
i was talking about unsupported for that time frame teej.
TJ aka Teej
05-02-2006, 13:29
OK, then I'll stick with the "fit and fortunate" qualifier, Squeaky :D
warren doyle
05-02-2006, 13:53
Matt,
As we all know, everyone can 'talk the walk' (i.e., sub-40 day supported AT thru-hike; 4-times in one calendar year unsupported traverse of the AT) but the important question is can you 'walk the talk'?
Answer to be determined.
Matt,
As we all know, everyone can 'talk the walk' (i.e., sub-40 day supported AT thru-hike; 4-times in one calendar year unsupported traverse of the AT) but the important question is can you 'walk the talk'?
Answer to be determined.
Jeez, tough critic Warren. I'd say he already "walked the talk" by hiking the triple crown in 8 months, call me crazy. Anyway, I'm gonna go walk the PCT really slowly later today. You guys sound like a bunch of over-paid athletes making a guarantee in a playoff game
warren,i met wall on my 1995 thru,he passed me or rather ran by me in nh right before the whites,that guy was a dam fast hiker.so he might have finished in under 60 unsupported.that also was the year you summited the same day i did,only you guys got to the top of big k by sunrise,i slept in that morning....:D
all this "machismo"is getting on my dam nerves about yo-yo x2,and under 40(supported)under 60(un),and whatever,dam what ever happened to people leaving in march and finishing in sept,i think myron avery might be turning over in his grave, having to listen to people talk about the at like its the indy 500..
bring in trail days and drunken revelry....
Traction
05-02-2006, 15:46
can matt hike the AT in less than 40 days..? i say it's very likely.. could he hike the AT 4, 5, or 6 times in a year? again.. very likely.
Is the AT a race? No.. not at all. Can he hike it fast and be proud about it? Damn right.. just as someone who takes 5-6 months can be proud of they way they hiked it.
A point I think interesting.. Matt is just like any other thruhiker.. he just likes to break the limits of what is thought possible. Because of this.. he's gaining a lot of publicity.. not only for the AT but for all the other trails America has to offer..
This publicity i'm sure.. is and will get more people out on the trail(s).. or at least interested in it. Will these people want to hike fast just like Matt? Maybe.. probably.. but who really cares.. the point is they're out hiking.. and that's awesome. For all those who want to take 5-6 months.. Rock on.
and.. traildays. hell yea.