Unsuccessful thru-hikers

imported
#1

For all the unsuccessful thru-hikes……
Quick question!
What made you stop?..

This is for a research project so please help me out…. Thanks all

bryan

#2

The only unsuccessful hikers are those who never even tried or stepped foot on the trail. It’s not an easy thing for most folks, and atlest giving it a try is honorable and respectable in my book.

A-Train

#3

Bryan, look at the journals on this web site. The ones who do not complete a thru-hike often give their reasons for quitting in their last entries.

Of course, this means that you actually have to do some research instead of having your answers handed to you. Too bad.

Bob J

#4

Well, since neither of our thruhike attempts resulted in completion in a single season, our thruhikes both ended up as section hikes. For your research:

AT - after >1700 miles, Jeff sustained a stress fracture. We waited the rec, 6 weeks for healing, went back to the trail and he refractured, so we were done for the year. We finished the miles the following year and saved one stretch as training for the PCT last spring.

PCT - had to jump a big section due to a death in the family that also happened to be overseas. We were off trail almost a full month. We tried to complete the entire missed stretch after reaching Manning, but snow storms nixed that plan. We’ll go back this year for a lovely 275 mile vacation hike. We can’t wait.

As for unsuccessful… Nope.

They joy is in the journey, not the termini.

Chipper & Jeff

#5

Your use of the word “unsuccessful” has a certain judgemental quality to it, that I’m hoping is unintentional. See A-Train’s post, above.

“Success” can be measured in many ways, not simply whether someone actually completed his or her long distance hike during the time span originally envisioned. There are so many different reasons why a person would make such a huge commitment, and just as many to describe why a person might not be able to finish. If you’re looking for a trend to explain the latter, you might be disappointed as there probably isn’t a single reason more prevalent than any other.

Many thru-hikers become section hikers and do in fact finish the Trail, just not within the year they started. In my book, they are very successful.

Likewise, many long distance hikers grow as people, learn more about themselves and the world around them, indeed have a life-changing experience “out there.” All successful, even if they don’t make it to Point B.

Skyline

#6

Come on guys…think about the term thru-hike, then the term unsuccessful…there are such things as unsuccessful thru hikes aren’t there? Just a wee bit sensitive, huh? WOW! What he was looking for, and just a little bit of common sense would understand this, was thru hikes that were not completed for some reason…why? SHEESH! :rolleyes

DaddyBo

#7

I wrote this essay for AT-L back in late 1998 (not long after finishin my thru-hike). My emotions were running high. Wrote this for people about to do the trail. Was published in ATN a month or so after my initial post.

In any case, maybe someone can gain some nuggests of wisdom from it. Maybe not.

“The wildest dream is the beginning of reality”
–Norman Cousins

Anyone who is a “Class of ‘99” thru-hiker has a dream, a dream to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. By daring to have this dream, you will be creating a reality that involves happiness, frustration, sadness, excitement, anger and joy. It is an experience you will not forget, and one that will have an effect on you long after Springer or Katahdin is reached.

The key to a successful thru-hike is not what boots you wear, how many ounces you shave off your pack, what stove you use, or what brand of socks worn. No, they key to a successful thru-hike the making use of the most important piece of equipment: the gray matter, the ole noggin’, the brain.

A thru-hike is more of a mental challenge than a physical one. After 13 days of rain, do you still have the urge to hike? Can you stomach the umpteenth dinner of Ramen noodles? Are you ready to have your body go through something that will leave it aching for rest, wanting to stop? If you can say yes to that, then you can also see a moose wading in a pond around sunset, hear the shriek of an owl at night, smell pine needles on a sunny day. Enjoy the trip, revel in everything that happens. All these experiences that make an Appalachian Trail thru-hike memorable. If you are feeling low, ask yourself “What is the alternative?” You could be working in the office again, filing out yet another memo. Instead, you are on the Trail, experiencing nature, in all its raw beauty. Again, it’s an experience that will have an effect on you long after the journey is completed.

If you feel that your journey is complete, and Katahdin or Springer have not been reached, don’t feel that you have failed. There are no real failures on the trail. Daring to dream is a rarity in itself. Daring to live out your dream is something that many people are afraid to do. If you do not reach Katahdin or Springer, you will still have an experience that most people would not even bother to dream about. It does not take a thru-hike to learn the lessons of the trail. The lessons come from trying, and your Katahdin might come at Harpers Ferry, Damascus, or earlier. If you know in your heart that you have pushed yourself to your physical, mental and emotional limit, then you have done more than most people have even attempted.

The Appalachian Trail is a special experience. Hard to describe unless you have attempted it. No matter how little or how much time you take to hike the trail, it will be over before you know it. It will never be far from your thoughts. In between Springer and Katahdin are some wonderful memories; savor every one of them.

Mags

#8

Come on guys…think about the term thru-hike, then the >>term unsuccessful…there are such things as unsuccessful >>thru hikes aren’t there? Just a wee bit sensitive, huh?

Not really. A thru-hike ain’t the Boston Marathon where you get a DNF if you drop out of the race.

There are people who don’t make it to Springer or Katahdin…that means they did not complete the thru-hike that year. But, is it unsuccesful?

Hardly. A subtle…but very important difference.

It isn’t just “sour grapes” on my part. Having done two long thru-hikes (AT and PCT), as well at two shorter trails (Colorado Trail and the LT twice), I honestly believe what I said.

As always, YMMV.

Mags

#9

Quote by Mags…
There are people who don’t make it to Springer or Katahdin…that means they did not complete the thru-hike that year. But, is it unsuccesful?
I believe for purposes of answering the original poster’s question, the answer is yes! Here’s some examples of what he may have been looking for…
“I broke my leg”, “I ran out of money”, “I missed my family”, “family emergency”, “I got tired of the drudgery, pain, etc.”…and for those who feel that every question has to be answered with that “HYOH” mentality…“I came to the conclusion that what I had originally set out to do had been accomplished, even though I did not complete my thru hike…it was still a successful experience”. :wink:

I am one of those that has not done any significant hiking, but has the desire to do so one day…that desire is not being “encouraged” (not that it is the responsibility of any of the hiker community to do that) when someone ask a “seemingly innocent” question and gets somewhat blasted rather than obtain straight answers. Not upset, just confused as to why it has to be that way! :oh

DaddyBo

#10

“I am one of those that has not done any significant hiking, but has the desire to do so one day…”

Once you have done more long disance hiking, you will see there seldom is a straight answer when it comes these long hikes.

Again…they did not complete the hike. Does not mean it was unsuccesful. It ain’t the Boston Marathon.

Mags

#11

If one sets out with the goal of doing a thru-hike…and quits for whatever the reason may be…then by definition they are unsuccessful. They failed. Sugarcoat it all you want, but that don’t change the facts.

The hard truth

#12

I’m catchin’ on now! I’ve got a week later this this spring…I’ve given lots of thought about hiking the trail. I believe I can make it to Neels Gap. I will have experience the AT, pain, summits, valleys, sweat, blah, blah, blah. Only thing is, I will have a reason to cut my journey short for now (J.O.B.). That doesn’t matter though, because I will have made a successful thru hike, right? Gimme my patch! :smiley:

Oh, the answer Bryan is looking for here is…“I had a job to get back to”…but it’s not as simple as that, right? :rolleyes

DaddyBo

#13

DB:

You get a patch for hiking 2160 miles. Not for completing a thru-hike successfully. If you want to hike for a patch, you must hike 2160 miles (or whatever it is up to) of the AT. Be it section hiking or thru-hiking. If you get off the trail you can always go back later. Hiking 2160 miles to get a patch and a successful thru-hike are two different things. Capish?

THT: “Sugarcoat it all you want, but that don’t change the facts.”

Lessee… They didn’t finish the thru-hike. They failed to finish the hike. That is a fact.

Is it still a successful hike? I’d say yes. How is that not a fact?

Just don’t try to apply for the 2000 miler patch…that’s a different criteria.

Isn’t it funny…those of us who’ve hiked the long trails (be it section hiking or thru-hiking) have a different defintion of success than those who haven’t? :slight_smile:

Finally"
“Oh, the answer Bryan is looking for here is…“I had a job to get back to”…but it’s not as simple as that, right?”

Yep. Now you get it!

Mags

#14

If your goal is to get from Point A to Point B and you don’t make it, sure, call it unsuccessful if you want. But if that’s the only reason you’re thru-hiking, I’d say it’s already unsuccessful.

However, for many hikers the goal is the journey moreso than the destination. Walking to Point B is just a reason to take a journey. So even if you don’t complete the miles, but you still learn from and enjoy your journey, the “journey” can still be a “success” even if you don’t get the patch.

It’s hard to understand if you haven’t been there because our society’s performance reports use “superlatives” like “Goal-oriented” and “results-based leader”. That’s not what hiking is about for many folks…and that disconnect makes a big difference in how his question should be answered.

Some people are so goal-oriented that they hike the entire trail…and hate it the whole way. They can’t quit because they “made a commitment” and were brought up to “not quit” and “achieve goals”. All great traits for succeeding in the “real world”, but if they’re hating life for 5 months, I’d say their thru-hike was “unsuccessful” even though the got the patch.

Like Mags said…a subtle, but very important difference.

I go to the woods to get away from this type of linear thinking because I have to be so goal-oriented at work. So for me ANY time in the woods is successful no matter how many miles I walk. I don’t have to live up to “thru-hiker” standards and I’ll design my own damn patch, thank you! :tongue

I think it brings up a bigger question in life: How do you measure your achievements?

Just Jeff

#15

Lets say someone hiked from Springer to Harpers Ferry.

If their goal was to hike until they “found themselves” and that happened at HF then they successfully met their goal.

If their goal was to hike until they got bored and that happened at HF then they successfully met their goal.

If their goal was to hike until they lost 25 pounds and that happened at HF then they successfully met their goal.

If their goal was to hike as long as it was fun and it stopped being fun at HF then they successfully met their goal.

If their goal was to thru hike to Katahdin they they failed. Facts is facts. They may have “found themselves” along the way, lost 25 pounds, and had fun but they still failed in the quest of their original objective.

The hard truth

#16

“I have lots of money: therefore, I will not catch myself answering questions in a straightforward manner…I must expound on why I am special.” Try replacing “lots of money” with “hiked the AT”…then you hopefully can see the “elitist” attitude that can permeate these types of discussions. This is an attitude that many in the hiking community are trying to get away from, and yet some run smack dab into it! :frowning:

I really do understand what you guys are trying to say (although I am sure I can not fully understand) as I have read many journals and forums over the last several years…that is part of what draws me to this adventure.

For the most part, I am just having a little fun here…but can someone just help Bryan out? He wants to know some reasons why people “did not complete” their thru hikes (there, feel better? ). I feel he did not mean to call anyone failures or “unsuccessful” in their quest; and neither do I.

I believe Chipper and Jeff performed admirably in this regard as they answered Bryan’s question, and then succintly gave their opinion as to the success of the hike.

Come on, anyone give it a shot? Mags, everything’s cool, o.k.? :wink:

DaddyBo

#17

It’s always cool. Disagreement is never a bad thing. :slight_smile:

As for elitist: Sorry if it came across like that. But, it would be like me describing a climb up Everest. I have not done Everest, have not done any mountaineering for that matter. I can read about,I can talk about it…but my opinion is coming from a less than knowing place. Know what I mean?

In any case, I did mention section hikers who may or may not have done the whole AT yet. Room for many people under the tent. Just have to “hike the hike” if you will.

All good. All cool. I’ll buy you a beer if I even see you. Mmm.beer…

THT (who are you anyway? At least come out and use a name we will know you by! :slight_smile: : THanks for the clarification! So their goal was not met of hiking from A to B. Cool!

But, their hike is still successful. Two very differrent things. As DB said “some reasons why people “did not complete” their thru hikes” is a much more accurate description than “their hike was unsuccessful”.

I’m sure you’ll have a comment. I just don’t have any more to add. Please don’t get offended if I don’t reply to you. :slight_smile:

Mags

#18

Just like DB said, I also know what you guys are trying to say. I just think it’s the wrong frame of reference. I try not to measure my leisure time by “success/failure” merits.

FWIW, if you search the archives a while back (if they go back that far), you’ll find me saying something very similar to what THT says in “Clarification”. Now that I’ve hiked more, I understand better. Or I like my new perspective better, anyway.

Just Jeff

#19

Bryan, This can be a real touchy subject among hikers as you can see from the various comments. I was on my 05 Thru hike when I got injured and that is why I stopped. I am recuperating now and will be back out there but there is no way I can finish my thru hike so I plan on hiking certain sections and just having fun while I can. Injuries, heartache, bad planning, home sick, etc There are so many different reasons for a thru hike to end early.

Big Slick

#20

Most of life is not a team sport, so goals are truly a matter of individual, pesonalized thought. If in October or January or March you decide that your goal is an uninterrupted thru hike, then that is your goal - regardless of whatever “buts…” you attach to it. If you establish a goal and fail to meet it, you are unsuccessful in that particular goal - no matter the enrichment, enlightenment and personal growth the “buts” provide.

booger