I spent years trying to hit a 20 mile day on the PCT and it was a total waste

The moment I realized it was when I met a guy near Mount Hood who was just sitting by a creek for an hour, not even hiking. He said he'd been out for three weeks and his longest day was maybe 12 miles. I was so focused on my map and my pace, I missed everything around me. My whole goal of pushing big miles meant I skipped side trails, didn't stop at lakes, and was just exhausted every night. That was two months ago, and I've completely changed how I plan trips. Now I aim for 10-12 miles max and actually enjoy the place. Anyone else get stuck in that mileage trap and finally break free?

4 comments

4 Comments

matthew89725d ago

It's easy to get caught up in the numbers and forget why you went out there in the first place. That guy by the creek had it figured out, he was actually getting the experience you were just walking past. My own trips got way better when I stopped treating the map like a scorecard. The goal should be to see cool stuff, not just cover ground.

margaretr7625d ago

That creek guy was probably waiting for a specific hatch to start. Matthew897 is right about the numbers, but sometimes covering ground is how you find the good spots.

andrew96625d ago

Totally agree with that last part. I started actually sitting down and watching the water for a few minutes before I even make a cast. You notice where the bugs are, where the fish are rising, and it changes your whole plan. It turns a random spot into a specific spot you chose for a reason.

abby_fisher10d ago

Watch the water like andrew966 said, it tells you when to move and when to just sit tight.