Good things about section hiking.

[Lemni Skate]

I really started section hiking the AT about 2 and a half years ago and for most of that time I have been depressed 'cause I can't thru-hike, but I wanted to count my blessings and list some good things about section hiking. Please join in with any additions:

1. If I had thru-hiked it'd be done and I still wouldn't be excited about getting to see the Whites, and Grayson Highlands and... well all the stuff I haven't seen.
2. I keep getting to adjust what's in my pack. The weight just keeps coming down.
3. My kids will hike with me for 5 days at a time, not 180.
4. My wife will hike with me for 2 days at a time, not 180.
5. I can choose to do sections downhill or uphill, which ever my stamina and knees seem to think will be easier that weekend.
6. I get to meet more thru hikers this way.
7. I can pick a new trail name every year.

[Bags4266]

8. I can keep my job and maintain my life.

[Cookerhiker]

9. You can pick the best time of year for each section and avoid the worst. For example, you can hike NJ & NY in April or May or October as opposed to the heat of mid-summer when the thrus hit those states.

[Tin Man]

10. after accumulating some hundreds of miles, you eventually realize that section-hiking a little each year and seeing some of the blue blazes is a lot more fun than spending 180 grinding out white blaze miles day after day after day.

[Trailweaver]

11. You don't have to put your car in storage.
12. Your dog won't forget who you are.

[1azarus]

13. You stay in shape year round because the next hike is just a few weeks away.
14. You keep dreaming you're sleeping outside somewhere.

[bigcranky]

15. You can section hike over many years, and still thru-hike once you retire.

[WalkingStick75]

16. I have met more people over the years of section hiking than one year of a thru.

[Hikes in Rain]

You can hop, skip and jump around the trail, hiking random sections as the mood and opportunity hit you, rather than a linear approach.

[Alligator]

18. You get to pick the seasons.

[Blue Jay]

Sorry, but you can do all those things and thru at the same time. It costs more but completely possible.

[Blue Jay]

10. after accumulating some hundreds of miles, you eventually realize that section-hiking a little each year and seeing some of the blue blazes is a lot more fun than spending 180 grinding out white blaze miles day after day after day.

Except this one, no one should "grind".

[elray]

You can walk into towns from different directions, I like that.

[Cookerhiker]

18. You get to pick the seasons.

Redundant

9. You can pick the best time of year for each section and avoid the worst. For example, you can hike NJ & NY in April or May or October as opposed to the heat of mid-summer when the thrus hit those states.

[Cookerhiker]

You can hop, skip and jump around the trail, hiking random sections as the mood and opportunity hit you, rather than a linear approach.

Exactly! That's what I did.

[Jonnycat]

20. More time to be still and observe/encounter/experience wildlife.

[wystiria]

21. you can more easily carry fresh food and cook elaborate meals since resupplying happens at home and not in a trail town or via the PO

[Short Term]

15. You can section hike over many years, and still thru-hike once you retire.

I completely agree......

22. Also, less injuries.

[emerald]

It's an adventure that lasts a lifetime rather than an adventure of a lifetime which has been said before in other ways. I joined the list of 2000 milers in 1980 when I was 19.

[Manwich]

I stop enjoying the hike after day 4 or 5, depending on how terrible the weather has treated me (I guess I've just never had a week of sunshine) so I figure if I keep it down to week long trips at best, I'll never really stop enjoying it.