What makes a successful thru hike?

**Blissful** · 09-30-2011, 14:08

Take a look at this article and like to hear your thoughts on what makes a successful thru. May do a future blog on this topic.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-..._thruhike.html

**4eyedbuzzard** · 09-30-2011, 14:33

Commitment, determination, and finishing it?

**Grampie** · 09-30-2011, 19:07

Two thing make for a sucessfull thru...Determination and luck.

**Sly** · 09-30-2011, 19:34

Photo looks like Hawkeye, two time triple crowner, in Yellowstone. Here he is in Montana earlier that year (2007)...

263330_2097889920074_1030145351_32390019_8280472_n.jpg 253235_2099704285432_1030145351_32392220_498525_n.jpg

**Mr. BuffaloMan** · 09-30-2011, 19:42

I have to agree with the article. The only thing that matters is the will. I did everything wrong on my thru hike except that I didn't stop. No matter what.

**jersey joe** · 09-30-2011, 20:58

Determination put a slightly different way...stubbornness.

**Monkeywrench** · 09-30-2011, 21:21

Originally Posted by Mr. BuffaloMan

I have to agree with the article. The only thing that matters is the will. I did everything wrong on my thru hike except that I didn't stop. No matter what.

Hey Mr. BuffaloMan, you didn't do everything wrong. You picked a year to hike where the water supply was never in danger of drying up. You had the biggest, most luxurious tent I ever saw in the back-country (Did you really have a pool table in the basement of that thing?). You hung out with some good people. And, as you pointed out, you had the will and determination to keep going!

I was just thinking today that I feel like I am ready to go live in the woods for six months again. Can't even mention such a thing to my wife yet though. Someday...

**johnnyblisters** · 09-30-2011, 21:37

Originally Posted by jersey joe

Determination put a slightly different way...stubbornness.

I strongly agree with stubbornness. As LW said, its just walkin. Quit taking it so seriously...

**XCskiNYC** · 09-30-2011, 23:36

Does an upbeat outlook help?

Shakespeare seemed to think so, or at least the Shakespeare character Autolycus from a Winter's Tale:

Jog on, jog on, the foot-path way,
And merrily hent the stile-a:
A merry heart goes all the day,
Your sad tires in a mile-a.

**4shot** · 10-01-2011, 00:04

Q: what makes a succesful thru-hike? That's easy: Finishing it. Whether you loved every minute of it or cursed most of your steps most of the way, found it to be a vacation or six months of grueling physical hardship, had good weather or bad, tented, sheltered, or hammocked, hit every town and hostel or stayed in the woods - every completed hike is a succesful thru hike imo. and if you've read this board long enough, there are all kinds of opinions and experiences associated with a thru hike.

If your question was "what makes a successful thru-hiker?" (as opposed to thru-hike) then the answer is the hiker has to be of such a positive mental frame of mind that the hike is perceived as "fun" or a "vacation" or they have to possess the determination to keep going when the novelty has worn off as noted above.

Let me be the first to say that a walk from Springer to Monson or Springer to Damascus or Erwin to Damascus or whereever can also be considered a success as well but the question was specific to thru-hikes.

**SassyWindsor** · 10-01-2011, 00:07

Enjoying the accomplishment. duh

**Snoring Sarge** · 10-01-2011, 02:57

Just not being willing to quit.

**Maddog** · 10-01-2011, 03:15

Originally Posted by 4shot

Q: what makes a succesful thru-hike? That's easy: Finishing it. Whether you loved every minute of it or cursed most of your steps most of the way, found it to be a vacation or six months of grueling physical hardship, had good weather or bad, tented, sheltered, or hammocked, hit every town and hostel or stayed in the woods - every completed hike is a succesful thru hike imo. and if you've read this board long enough, there are all kinds of opinions and experiences associated with a thru hike.

If your question was "what makes a successful thru-hiker?" (as opposed to thru-hike) then the answer is the hiker has to be of such a positive mental frame of mind that the hike is perceived as "fun" or a "vacation" or they have to possess the determination to keep going when the novelty has worn off as noted above.

Let me be the first to say that a walk from Springer to Monson or Springer to Damascus or Erwin to Damascus or whereever can also be considered a success as well but the question was specific to thru-hikes.

+1 The novelty definitely wears off VERY quickly!

**Lone Wolf** · 10-01-2011, 06:06

there is no success or fail. it's just recreation

**Doc Mike** · 10-01-2011, 09:42

Originally Posted by Lone Wolf

there is no success or fail. it's just recreation

And everyday rain shine sleet or snow on the trail is still better than being at work!!!

**Wobegon** · 10-01-2011, 18:13

Never quit on a bad day.

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