The Long Trail...with a catch

“Good news is a friend and I have committed to an end to end of the Long Trail this September. Bad news is we have a week (8 trail days) to do it. We're both former endurance junkies and pretty well on our way to being settled down and stuck in the grind, so even though it isn't how I envisioned an ideal end to end, it may be just what the doc ordered. I've done 30+ mile days in the Whites, but never 8 of them in a row. So peak baggers and mileage nuts, let the advise fly.

Way I figure it, best case scenario is we get a few days in we're on pace and we're having a great time - worst case is we get a few days in we're way off pace and we're having a great time...so win win except the worst case involves a shameful hitchhike to the finish.”

“I'd suggest going North to South. That way you'd be hitting the harder sections before you start running out of steam.

Be sure to get in as many long multi day hikes in as possible leading up to the trip. A single day that is 30+ miles is much different than stinging several 30+ mile days back to back.”

“hey can you bump this up to August... I'm in...

Spindle you would be ready to go by then right?

'32oz
last edited: 6/12/09 10:08:41 AM”

“32oz, Don't you have enough to do in August?

Also, are you on crack? I'll need until Nov.

meathead, that's very ambitious. I'm looking forward to the TR already. ;)”

“Are you nuts enough to hike 30+ miles for eight days on end, Spindle?”

“Not sober.”

“I believe The Long Trail is 280 miles long.

Good luck......”

“Southbound is the plan - a) to get the hard stuff under us first and b) to shorten the drive home.

32oz - Bumping it up might be tricky - my buddy wants to work labor day in there so he only misses 4 days of work. Hopefully hike in on the 5th. Your schedule changeable?
last edited: 6/12/09 11:02:12 AM”

“why not just do some laps at the mall?”

“meathead.. i was sort of joking.. I think...

Like spindle said, mu aug is kinda tight.. I do appreciate the thought though.. You all have a great hike!!!!

'32oz”

“8 days, heck I did in more than twice the time!

The record is under five days. As far as I know cavedog still holds the record. He crashed and burned on the first try, but made it the second time. He did have support both times. He went, as Zac suggests, North to South

http://www.thedogteam.com/Long_Trail-Web_Pages/The_Long_Trail/Long_Trail-index-frame.html”

“I should note, Cave Dogs time was for the 273 miles of the Long Trail proper. There's about 5 extra miles of hiking getting to and from the trail.”

“8 days, heck I did in more than twice the time!
pedxing
2:17:15 PM

Same here. It took me 9 days to hike the 122 miles from Lincoln Gap to the northern terminus.”

“32oz don't play with me like that man. :)

Thanks for the link pedxing I have looked this guy up before and somehow never got directed to his home site.
last edited: 6/13/09 5:02:39 AM”

“May as well get the announcement out of the way – an unfortunate pair of injuries (my buddy’s knee followed closely by my ankle) kept us from getting in good enough shape to knock this thing out. A pair of miserable 20 mile runs last week and a final valiant but ugly effort over 25 miles this morning confirmed that we aren’t fit enough. Trip plan has accordingly been changed to the 100 + Katahdin. Endurance = out, 4 piece fly rod and 8 hrs of sleep a night = in. Flame away.”

“Two thoughts:

1) The real failure is in not trying or not making the effort. You did both.
2) Sounds like you knew when to fold 'em. There is wisdom in that.

100 + K is still a challenge.”