Long Trail wrapup report

[10-K]

I wouldn't hike 30 miles a day more than 2-3 days in a row either...maybe when I was younger. I can comfortably hike 22-25 miles a day, every day, as far as I know indefinitely on the AT with the exception of the Whites where 20 would probably be close to my limit - if I can get a zero in every 7 or 8 days.

[Praha4]

if I dont' make it to Manchester Center by Sunday.... do any of the LT shelters in southern VT have these type facilities for viewing the NFL games?

[10-K]

No, but seriously - if it's that important to you it would be easy to hitch into either Bennington or Manchester Center from one of the many road crossings probably.

[Slo-go'en]

you very clearly regularly show that you think any given of section of trail is much harder than most people think it is. at what point do you accept that your experience just isnt quite typical?

I guess I'm just getting to be an old man with way too many hard miles on my knees and have spent too many nights sleeping in the woods

All the NOBOs I met my last couple days on the LT were on track to take at least 5-6 days to do that first 60 miles. I'd call that average. I met some who were going to take even longer.

[tdoczi]

No, but seriously - if it's that important to you it would be easy to hitch into either Bennington or Manchester Center from one of the many road crossings probably.

i dont know, theres a long stretch of no roads between bennington and manchester. if its really going to take you more than 4 days to reach manchester you might be stuck out in the glastenbury wilderness on sunday!

[tdoczi]

I guess I'm just getting to be an old man with way too many hard miles on my knees and have spent too many nights sleeping in the woods

All the NOBOs I met my last couple days on the LT were on track to take at least 5-6 days to do that first 60 miles. I'd call that average. I met some who were going to take even longer.

are these the same people who youre worried may not make it to the end because they sleep until 10am? yeah, sounds about right for someone like that. still, wouldnt call that typical.

[jakedatc]

I was with an AT nobo ( Video) that was 60 years old and had blister problems up the wazoo and still did it in the same time i did. Coach Lou ran into him in Maine

either way, you'll find out!

[coach lou]

I was with an AT nobo ( Video) that was 60 years old and had blister problems up the wazoo and still did it in the same time i did. Coach Lou ran into him in Maine

either way, you'll find out!

Video was 60????? I would have thought he was younger than either me and Hikerboieeeeee

[Slo-go'en]

are these the same people who youre worried may not make it to the end because they sleep until 10am? yeah, sounds about right for someone like that. still, wouldnt call that typical.

No, the ones who sleep until 10 AM are the AT thru hikers. I was refering to the LT NOBOs just starting out cold with 30+ pound packs, in thier 40's and 50's and slightly over weight.

[Driver8]

It's not that easy if your just starting out. This section of trail is still pretty bumpy with some significant (and seemingly endless) climbs. It took me 3 1/2 days to finish from Manchester, but it would have taken me twice as long to go the other way if I was just starting out. The Long Trail has "NO MERCY" no matter what section you hike. As soon as you start to think "this isn't bad" and are moving right along, they put some obstical in your way.

On 5/19, for what it's worth, I found 12 miles of Stratton loop to be cakeish, a week after doing Ammonoosuc Ravine trail, there-and-back, and two weeks after an eastern Moosilauke loop with a shorter hike the next day. I ran out of daylight, and was only doing a planned loop anyway, but on that terrain, I felt I could easily have done 20 miles. IOW, had I been with a friend doing a two-car from Stratton-Arlington to Rt. 11/30, I don't think it would've been a problem for me. A long day, yes, but doable. And I'm still 50 lbs from my target weight. 50 down from two years ago when I started hiking, so my legs are well conditioned to cart a load bigger than what they now do, but Jenn Pharr Davis I ain't.

For the record, 10-K, amigo, while not ready to compete with world-class long distance trail hikers, you are, yes, quite a fast hiker. Your ability to do long hours at a 2.5 mph clip or so qualifies you, methinks. Your ability to go with few breaks also helps. I need a good 5 min break or so per hour, or two shorter ones, in average terrain, plus one good longer lunch break in a 5-10 hour day. Need more breaks in the very steepest stuff I've seen in the Whites, but a lot less now than I needed in much easier CT and Mass terrain a couple years ago. Onward and upward. Am hoping to get out to Colo and summit Longs Peak as soon as a year from now.

[tdoczi]

No, the ones who sleep until 10 AM are the AT thru hikers. I was refering to the LT NOBOs just starting out cold with 30+ pound packs, in thier 40's and 50's and slightly over weight.

well in that case i guess it depends on experience and readiness. i dont believe in the notion of "trail legs." i'm a hiker, even in winter a month doesnt pass where i dont go hike at least 10 or 12 miles, i'm always physically ready to go knock out 20. i suppose back when i had never hiked before in my adult life i couldnt have just gotten off the couch and backpacked 15 miles a day, but i also would not have been silly enough to try. and yes ive ran across these kinds of "hikers" but i still wouldnt call them the norm and i guess i give anyone who plans something major the benefit of the assumption that theyre a hiker and not a middle aged couch potato.