Has anyone else dealt with this?

[kyhipo]

hey bro dont take no crap!

[Plodderman]

Guy Hit the trails and enjoy yourself.

[MOWGLI]

Also, I meant to pose this question in the PCT forum but I must have mistakenly clicked on the NCT logo. Sorry.

No worries. I moved it for you.

[nca777]

This has been such a struggle to overcome for me as well in the past few days. I am planning a section hike of katahdin to the NH state line and my fam is freaking out, started listing all the things going on in everyone's lives right now and how they didn't need 'this' (my hike) on top of it.

I appreciate the sentiment, but it also reinforces the notion that I am not of the same make as the them.

The frustrating thing is that I think it takes alot of mental fortitude to plan and execute a trip into the relative unknown whether it's 50 or 5,000 miles and others can't appreciate the importance of a positive attitude--All the talk of bear attacks, psychos, and killer storms doesn't set one up for a positive experience.

I'm moving forward with my plans and I think you should too Guy. I'm hoping that, as other alluded to, I'll gain support once plans come to fruition.

[The issue still for me is that I was hoping for a ride from one of my ten or so family members currently residng in the Maine area..]

[unclehud]

It's something they don't understand, and therefore cannot see the value or the benefits of long-trail hiking.

Everyone can see the hazards, real or imagined: bears, mountain lions, psycho killers, snakes, falling off any of a half-million cliffs, drowning in a creek, a number of viral infections, cuts, burns, broken bones, dehydration, getting lost and never found, ... and on and on and on.

My kids thought I was nuts to do a seven-day solo, despite an extensive list of long trips with buddies and solo short trips. Try the "rational explanation" approach a couple of times, then try the "I'll be fine" approach, then the "Y'all come too" approach, and, lastly, try the "none of your business" approach.

Good Luck!

[RITBlake]

Slaves rarely like other slaves escaping, especially when there is clearly a hole in the fence and they realize only their own actions are holding them back. People do like believing outside factors are holding them back, as that way they can complain and then do nothing.

wow, that's some heavy dope right there

[Lemni Skate]

I've noticed that people seem to really overestimate what a thru hiker is dealing with. It's like they watched a show about a team of climbers tackling K2 or Mt. Everest or something and they think that's what we're doing.

People also seem to think that the woods are just crawling with rabid bears and things waiting to get humans.

Also, people tend to think a murderer would rather hang out on the trail instead of in a city where there are 100000 times more victims to choose from.

I also think people tend to think of our scenic trails as much more lightly used and much more remote than they really are.

Bottom line, is that if you're an adult and you're single and you don't have kids then you owe nobody anything. So go...none of the above are issues.

I do think spouses and kids have a right to be more questioning. Are you leaving them with six months of chores and responsibilities they are used to you handling?

I plan to hike 10 weeks next summer, but I feel guilty about all the grass my wife will have to cut and making her handle house work, yard work, real work and the kids. She has a right to tell me no, if she thinks this will overburden her. If she does, then O.K. I'll do a few shorter hikes. Spouses have to be on board or the marriage is in real trouble (or at least the hike is).

[Matteroo]

I would chime full support of doing a hike. You said you have the finances setup and the planning geared up. IF you are leaving behind a family with increased responsibilities in your absence, maybe that should give you pause to listen and see how that increased actual pressure can be mitigated. However, if you are relatively free to leave and it doesn't put a burden your family (other than emotionally--missing you/worrying--ie: nobody has to do double housework/deal with taxes/care for a sick parent/take care of kids alone) then really just gotta hear them out and have a smile and tell them you love them for loving you so much--that you'll be safe and it is a dream of yours and just keep plugging and embrace them and your hike and enjoy yourself - its your life, not theirs.

[sticks&stones]

tell them you changed your mind, and won't be hiking.

[Wolf - 23000]

I've decided that I'm going to hike the PCT starting next Spring. I've begun all the planning that goes into that. I've told everyone that I needed to, and figured out how I'm going to accomplish it without sinking myself financially.

Now, I've got a group of close family/friends trying to convince me not to do this.

My first instinct is to command them to relent, and try and be supportive, and if they can't do that at least shut up, but I'm curious how others have dealt with this kind of thing. I have a feeling that I'm not the only one to have dealt with this.

I had an ex-girlfriend that did that to me all the time. That is why she is my ex.

I've done multiple thru-hikes, on different trails, in all different times of year. I've hiked everything from southern California hot summer desert to the Maine COLD winter. Sure your are always going to have your “friends” that can never understand what you are doing or why but you know they don't have to. This is your hike and no one can take that away from you. If you don't have their support then so be it. Do you really need someone tearing you down while you complete something that most people can only dream about?


Go do it and have fun at the same time. If your friends are not there when you come back then they were never really your friends.


Wolf

[Marta]

Howdy, Guy! Have a great hike!

PS--Age and maturity will not change the desire of family to control you.

[clured]

Buy your family a map of the PCT. Give them thumb tacks, and tell them to track you as you move north. Maps awaken adventure in people. It's impossible to follow someone's hike on a map and not get a bit wanderlusty. Once the spark is kindled in them, they'll get some semblance of understanding and stop badgering you.

[ShelterLeopard]

I've noticed that people seem to really overestimate what a thru hiker is dealing with. It's like they watched a show about a team of climbers tackling K2 or Mt. Everest or something and they think that's what we're doing.

At the same time, a lot of people underestimate it, if they've never been hiking before. "All your doin' is walkin'? Well tarnation, taint' nothin' easier than walkin'!" (word for word)

[ShelterLeopard]

Which may be true, AFTER the first couple weeks. (Actually, probably not until Shenandoah)

[Dogwood]

I don't know where you are at in life. Sometimes people have good reasons for recommending things to you. BUT, I don't think other's unwarranted fears of trail life or the unknown or an unwillingness upon their part to allow you to break out of the norm are fare enough reasons to deter you from acheiving your dreams. And, don't allow anyone, even those who love you, play the guilt trip on you by saying they worry about you. That may seem callous and insensitive saying that but, if they were acting in true love they wouldn't be acting in worry, which is nothing more than fear disguised in a different package. You, at the same time, have to continue acting in kindness and love towards them. Do what you reasonably can to alleviate their fears, but in the end it is up to them to accept what you want to do and to not give in to their fear. No matter what you may have been led to believe it is ultimately up to them whether or not they will worry.

I like what Weasel and Bluy Jay had to say.

[Geo.]

Now, I've got a group of close family/friends trying to convince me not to do this.

Go for it Guy! You may well find it's the most satisfactory thing you'll ever do.
Ignore or use negative comments...
Encouragement from an uncle of mine was, "I'll give you two goddam weeks and you'll give up."
That helped a lot. I got a buzz mailing him from Canada!

[Jonnycat]

Despite having backpacked for 25 years, my family still acts like they're never going to see me again whenever I leave for a trip.

On the upside, everyone is always happy to see me when I come back home, and I get a good meal.