Hi! Thanks for the video. I agree with you on all those 5 things. No one knows what goes into hiking so far so long except you. I think my knees would just say no. Hiking your own hike is THE only way to go!
Here’s some advice from THE TREK One of the AT’s most common phrases, which means anything from “to each his/her own” to “stay out of my business.” At heart, don’t allow others prevent you from experiencing and enjoying your own unique journey. You do you sister!👍🏼🙏🏼
As a former athlete, I was tempted to hike like I played basketball, which involves a lot of explosive type movements. That doesn’t work well at all on a full-day and multi-day workout (especially since it has been 30 years since I was any good at bball!) I learned that these burst type moves are incompatible with hiking, which needs to be a low and slow cardio experience. So now I shoot for 50-60% effort as a max and skip the “bursts” of effort as much as possible
I’ve hiked the JMT probably 4 of the last 5 years each summer. I’m older and I know I’m not in peak shape and have arthritis and foot pain issues. I hike fairly slow, but I hike long. I get up before dark. I try to get on trail when light enables me I hike till around noon or a little later generally try to get some kind of bath or shower in a creek or lake take a little break or cat nap for an hour or so, and then I get back out and I keep hiking until after sunset, or my body just can’t go no more. No it’s not ideal, I’d like to hike with others and even would want to be more social on the trail but find myself not wanting to get to cozy with anyone as I know I hike a slower pace, i start much earlier and end much much later than the other folks out there. It is not ideal, but I do enjoy it. My goal is to try to become more social out there and meet with people. I tend to shut myself off to others out there.
I would agree that hiking is not a competition, although "thru hiking" is. It is a competition against many things such as time, the elements, your brain, and your body. That is why most of us will never be a "thru hiker.
To place ourselves into the natural environment, or, to remove ourselves from the comforts of our daily routines. . . . Once we are out-and-about, this is where the lessons begin, to the specific areas we are impacted by. Within the "hike my own hike" frame, we can ebb & flow our wishes and our needs. Unless we are exploring within an environment were we are dependent in others, where everyone understands the pace is always set by that moments slowest or most limited member. Thanks for sharing perspectives gained from Going Somewhere. 😉
I mostly do state park hikes and for some funny reason put the ATC And PCT trails at their highest regards .( never did either ) Not sure about walking in the woods but, a trail is a trail. Anyone attempting any hike or trail Is personal journey . Just do you and get out there . Happy hiking ! Glad to hear from you peaks!
Unfortunately, like all well-intentioned ideas, people have taken this mantra to extremes. Giving them license to do what they want, like blasting music for the world to hear on trail or playing guitars well into the night at shelters. Your points are how it was intended.
I support hike your own hike but doesn’t it depend on context. I choose to hike the AT, how I do it is my choice. But stating your intent to hike the AT in one attempt is a goal. When you fall short, what shame is there in that? I believe you are moving the goal post which is totally cool, but honestly I don’t think that is hiking your own “hike”. Otherwise its just walking in the woods… just sharing my thoughts on your POV
I see your point and would agree in the context that if she still had this video series titled, “My through hike of the AT,” or something to that effect, and was still promoting it as a thru hike on a long trail, then yeah, I would be kind of turned off by that too. But the facts are she’s been very transparent on her trip-updates, she had posted updates immediately and as they happen and has been very forthright about what’s going on. You can’t ask much more than that.
@@JRoss707watch the first video…The original intent was to hike the AT. I hiked the LT last summer and bailed at 150 miles due to the rain… It was a failed attempt… Im a section hiker on AT, and proud of it!! I agree with her concepts, but hiking your own hike means hiking
The proper context for HYOH is in thru-hiking, not section hiking or hiking in general (I agree, that's just walking in the woods), and it certainly isn't a way to turn a failed thru-hike attempt into a success (or like you said, to move the goal posts). I feel like she was enamored with the romanticized version of thru-hiking the AT, not the reality of it. She built herself up as a thru-hiker, and I think this take on HYOH is a way to remain connected to that dream.
🥾🥾🥾Pace is personal. That is why I embrace solo hiking. I don’t have to slow down or speed up to accommodate others and likewise for them. I like to be in my zone and fully immersed in my experience. Temporary Trail families are expected on the thru hike but that’s different. Nice opening graphics and editing on your video. Very professional.
Number 6) don’t set yourself up as an expert on RU-vid and give advice to people on things when you averaged two miles a day for a week, got driven around all the hard parts and then totally gave up. Also don’t get addicted to attention on RU-vid and keep making pointless preachy videos.
