Short thru hikes are the new long thru hikes 😁 I thru hiked the AT, but now shorter thru hikes appeal to me because, as you talked about, I can experience numerous places and trails a year instead of a single trail. That's not to say I'll never do another long thru hike again 😉
Your thoughts and situation perfectly align with mine. I had been toying with the idea of thru hiking the Colorado Trail but even 4 weeks for that is hard to manage around family and job obligations. My plan right now is to do half of the CT in July and then the other half in September, that way I'm only on the trail for two weeks at a time. Probably won't be able to do it this year but maybe in 2021.
Much like yours. Timberline trail. Colorado trail. Grand Canyon. The Smokies. The whites. Parts of the North Country trail. Shenandoahs. I certainly don't want it to become a job I must complete.
I am single and retired. I am planning to thru hike the AT next year. BTW of all the hikes I’ve been on Isle Royale is probably one of the best for families. The shelter system has a lot to offer. And the ferry system can drop you off at several locations. And each location offers different opportunities.
I want to start training doing section hikes and other things. I will be done with paying child support by the time I am 45 years old. (Only 5 more years) Once that's over I want to do the AT.
Would love to do a thru-hile. But, I will have to wait until after retirement for the same reasons you started with. Until then, I will just keep to shorter backpacking trips to places in the Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin area. Just hoping my knees can handle it when I do retire.
Do it when you retire. Plenty of time to plan. That’s what I’m doing. Believe me life is longer than what you see in the short term.... My oldest is 30 and youngest is 18, your children will grow up before you know it, and you will wonder where the time went.
It is nice to see a hiker acknowledge that thru hiking just isn’t practical for some folks. Possible? Sure. But practical? I travel a bit and I meet folk all over the world who have sold everything, cashed out their retirement, and are spending a year traveling the world. Sounds amazing, but I’m always thinking, “what...what’s your plan? You’re gonna turn 38 and have nothing? Ramen and lawn chair furniture is fine when your 22 but...
I met a guy when I was much younger who was a "live every day like it's your last" kind of person and perpetually traveled the world. At the time, I thought he was so cool, but now that I'm more "responsible" I have the exact same impression as everything you mentioned. It's totally possible to balance fun with everyday life.
I agree. I spent 35 yrs doing shorter trails and loved them (best weather windows, family and friends can come along, etc).
Short thru hikes are the new long thru hikes 😁
I thru hiked the AT, but now shorter thru hikes appeal to me because, as you talked about, I can experience numerous places and trails a year instead of a single trail. That's not to say I'll never do another long thru hike again 😉
3-4 day thru hikes are the best!
Your thoughts and situation perfectly align with mine. I had been toying with the idea of thru hiking the Colorado Trail but even 4 weeks for that is hard to manage around family and job obligations. My plan right now is to do half of the CT in July and then the other half in September, that way I'm only on the trail for two weeks at a time. Probably won't be able to do it this year but maybe in 2021.
Sounds like a good plan! Two weeks seems like a great sweet spot to juggle work/family obligations while still having an amazing trip
Much like yours. Timberline trail. Colorado trail. Grand Canyon. The Smokies. The whites. Parts of the North Country trail. Shenandoahs. I certainly don't want it to become a job I must complete.
I am single and retired. I am planning to thru hike the AT next year. BTW of all the hikes I’ve been on Isle Royale is probably one of the best for families. The shelter system has a lot to offer. And the ferry system can drop you off at several locations. And each location offers different opportunities.
Isle Royale is pretty close to the top of my list. Thanks for the info!
I want to start training doing section hikes and other things. I will be done with paying child support by the time I am 45 years old. (Only 5 more years) Once that's over I want to do the AT.
Would love to do a thru-hile. But, I will have to wait until after retirement for the same reasons you started with. Until then, I will just keep to shorter backpacking trips to places in the Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin area. Just hoping my knees can handle it when I do retire.
Do it when you retire. Plenty of time to plan. That’s what I’m doing. Believe me life is longer than what you see in the short term.... My oldest is 30 and youngest is 18, your children will grow up before you know it, and you will wonder where the time went.
I seriously thought the f-word was finances. Oh yeah. Family. Those exist, too.
Ha! Finances too for sure! 💰
It is nice to see a hiker acknowledge that thru hiking just isn’t practical for some folks. Possible? Sure. But practical? I travel a bit and I meet folk all over the world who have sold everything, cashed out their retirement, and are spending a year traveling the world. Sounds amazing, but I’m always thinking, “what...what’s your plan? You’re gonna turn 38 and have nothing? Ramen and lawn chair furniture is fine when your 22 but...
I met a guy when I was much younger who was a "live every day like it's your last" kind of person and perpetually traveled the world. At the time, I thought he was so cool, but now that I'm more "responsible" I have the exact same impression as everything you mentioned. It's totally possible to balance fun with everyday life.