I recently read the story of the first person to thru-hike the AT in less than 60 days. (http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/outd...ported-record/) That already seems insane to me, but it got me wondering - if the AT can be hiked in 2 months, would it be feasible for someone to hike the entire Triple Crown (AT, PCT, CDT) all in the same year?
At first glance, it didn't seem too far-fetched - total hiking distance would be nearly 8,000 miles which would equate to roughly 22 miles/day, assuming one were able to hike every day of the year. Hiking the AT in 60 days required a pace of roughly 36 miles/day. But, that was during the summer when trail conditions are optimal. If trying to hike all 3 trails in the same year, one would inescapably be faced with some really tough hiking conditions which would slow them down. Then you also have to account for travel time between trails, and one might even have to split up the trails in order to avoid extreme conditions (e.g. Sierras, Northern Rockies, or New England in winter). Not to mention that going at that breakneck pace for an entire year would wear down even the strongest hikers.
So what do you all think - could it be done?