Jack Tarlin
09-17-2009, 16:59
Just wanted to share something with you guys. It takes most folks 33-40 days to get from Hanover NH (where I live) to Katahdin. Typically, it's 36-39.
What this means, since it's 17 September as I write this, hikers that are in town now will, in all likelihood, NOT make it to Baxter State Park by October 15th.
And in truth, this is fine. Contrary to what some folks think, you don't HAVE to finish by 15 October; the Park does not close on that date, it merely closes to overnight camping. I know of many hikers who have finished their hikes after that date. The risk of poor weather certainly increases the later one goes into the fall, but they can certainly still finish.
The reason I brought this up: I've met several Northbound hikers the past few days and we talked quite a bit about finish dates, and their attitude was very refreshing: They know they won't make it by the 15th and they don't particularly care. As one put it, "Katahdin isn't going anywhere". They said they plan to enjoy the rest of their hike, maintain a pace that is both prudent and enjoyable, and not worry about the calendar. They looked forward to spending some extra time here in Hanover and when I pointed out that maybe they couldn't afford too much time off at this point, one of them quite rightly corrected me by saying he wasn't on a schedule, he didn't care if he got to Katahdin on Halloween, and that he liked Hanover and would take time off whenever he felt like it.
And of course he's right. Thru-hikers like to think they don't have a real schedule, but the reality is that of course they do, and the "October 15th!!" finish date reaches mythical proportions.
Don't get me wrong......there comes a point where one better start looking at the calendar, and I personally wouldn't wanna go thru the Whites later than early October, but I think it's great that this late in the season, there are still hikers whose attitude is "I'll finish when I finish, I'll hike when I want,
I'm not gonna kill myself with extra miles, and I'll take some down time whenever I want".
I think this a great attitude for the first days of one's hike, and I think it's an even better attitude 140 days later.
I hope these guys have a very happy Halloween!!
What this means, since it's 17 September as I write this, hikers that are in town now will, in all likelihood, NOT make it to Baxter State Park by October 15th.
And in truth, this is fine. Contrary to what some folks think, you don't HAVE to finish by 15 October; the Park does not close on that date, it merely closes to overnight camping. I know of many hikers who have finished their hikes after that date. The risk of poor weather certainly increases the later one goes into the fall, but they can certainly still finish.
The reason I brought this up: I've met several Northbound hikers the past few days and we talked quite a bit about finish dates, and their attitude was very refreshing: They know they won't make it by the 15th and they don't particularly care. As one put it, "Katahdin isn't going anywhere". They said they plan to enjoy the rest of their hike, maintain a pace that is both prudent and enjoyable, and not worry about the calendar. They looked forward to spending some extra time here in Hanover and when I pointed out that maybe they couldn't afford too much time off at this point, one of them quite rightly corrected me by saying he wasn't on a schedule, he didn't care if he got to Katahdin on Halloween, and that he liked Hanover and would take time off whenever he felt like it.
And of course he's right. Thru-hikers like to think they don't have a real schedule, but the reality is that of course they do, and the "October 15th!!" finish date reaches mythical proportions.
Don't get me wrong......there comes a point where one better start looking at the calendar, and I personally wouldn't wanna go thru the Whites later than early October, but I think it's great that this late in the season, there are still hikers whose attitude is "I'll finish when I finish, I'll hike when I want,
I'm not gonna kill myself with extra miles, and I'll take some down time whenever I want".
I think this a great attitude for the first days of one's hike, and I think it's an even better attitude 140 days later.
I hope these guys have a very happy Halloween!!