Every Reason I've Ever Quit - How To Thru Hike ep5

Why do people quit thru hikes? Why have I quit thru hikes? After investing so much money, time, dreams, efforts, and resources into what is planned to be a 6 month hiking trip, why do people quit? It's just walking right? I think a great way to learn how to be successful on a thru hike is looking at reasons why others have not made it the entire distance.

So today we look at all the reasons why I have quit thru hikes, and all the times I didn't quit reach the goal I was after. I at times have been angry, depressed, or down about these failures but it's important to get past that. To use these experiences to learn. If everything always went right, I don't think I would have gained half has much in the process. It's ok to be down, but always ask yourself what you could have done better, and how you can come back stronger.

As brief summary, heres a recap of what happened to me, as well as some extras that I've seen happen to other people. This can happen to anybody, so the point is to bring the odds in your favor by learning from this

- Your backapack is too heavy and causes injury
- You run out of money
- You don't pace yourself
- You start out too fast
- You go too slow and weather stops you from finishing
- You didn't do enough research
- You find it's not something you enjoy doing for long periods of time
- You get bored
- You miss your family
- You have a family emergency
- You get Lyme disease
- Your body isn't prepared
- You aren't familiar with your gear
- You don't have the proper maps or guidebooks
- And the list goes on

Whether you're hiking the appalachian trail, pacific crest trail, continental divide trail, arizona trail, john muir trail, wonderland trail, or any long distance hiking trail in between... I hope this has been helpful. Ask yourself if these are reasons or things that may take you off trail and what you can do to prevent them.

On my first appalachian trail attempt I didn't do enough research, and actually outright refused to look into anything. Which of course resulted in me getting injured via carrying far too heavy a backpack with way too much useless stuff in it. I also had no idea how much a thru hike actually cost and so if it weren't for the injury I would have run out of money very shortly thereafter.

On the 5,000 mile eastern continental trail I made one silly seemingly harmless mistake that led to a sprained ankle. Luckily I was able to rehab it in a town and continue onward slowly until I was back to normal. Always keep in mind the money and time you've put into these trips and use that as motivation to be careful and safe.

On the appalachian trail and international trail for my third time I learned just how hard it is to hike with a partner, especially joining a a friend or girlfriend halfway into their hike is. Budgets are different, paces are different, we got on each others nerves, coordinating where and how to meet was very difficult, and so we quit. She finished the AT and we continued on the IAT for a little while before parting ways.

On the Pacific Crest Trail I failed spectacularly, I started out way too fast after not having trained enough so although I had planned everything very well, my gear was exactly how I wanted it, and I was extremely determined I still quit. I broke two bones in my foot 200 miles into the hike, and because I was so determined I continued to hike on those two broken bones for another 800 miles before getting off the trail.

On the Uinta Highline Trail I underestimated since it's just 100 miles and so I didn't do research or plan. I didn't look up the weather and got slammed with thunderstorms every day above 10,000ft, even towards the end of the trip getting slammed with snow. Putting myself in a very wet and cold situation. I also forgot to download the surrounding maps for my gps on this hike, and thus was walking mostly blind.

I think it's important to have a safe space to be able to make these mistakes, to learn from these mistakes. A place you can accelerate your learning near home where you could easily be picked up. For me that is the 63mile Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail. I've hiked it from end to end more than 20 times, and I've also quit an attempt far more times than that. I've hiked that trail in every season of the year, "learning" about heat stroke, dehydration, bugs, gear, bad conditions, injuries... the list goes on.

Get out, make mistakes, and come back stronger.

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