Diamond Dave - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2009

Sorry for the incomplete journal posting, "Hiking verses kayaking."
There were just too many people here to allow me to focus and/or just maybe too many beers.

I have hiked for weeks by myself and I've hiked with a small portion of the PCT herd that started around Kick-off, 4-26-09.

Like WW kayaking the PCT can be run in many different ways. You can take the sneak line or the hero line. Fuller Pass is a good example of the the high snow/ice line with exposure or the class V line through "Fist" on the Russel Fork. They both have their "Unknown Risks". Like a class V run, if you miss your line (step) you can end up sliding hundreds of feet into the abis, or kayaking that killer keeper hole! Like Kayaking the chances you are willing to take hiking are also there for the taking. There are places where your exposed, you focus. Most of the time your looking at class 3 teraversing across narrow trails acroos tallis slopes or easy paddling lines around strainers, or as simple as runnning out of water in the dersert. It is easy, just don't screw up, don't stumble, don't flip, don't broach and don't run out of water on the trail! The Rivers or Mountains can be very unforgiving. Be respectfull, know your limits.

The PCT through hike is sorta like the "Gauley Fest." With hundreds of people spread out over hundreds of miles of trail in lieu of hords on people packed into a field and/or 25 miles of river. They both have common grounds, the people! It is the "People" that make paddling and long distance hiking so exciting and rewarding. The willingness to help and teach are critical. The more you learn and experience the more comfortable you become on that "snow shoot" or "water fall." The felling of accomplishment of completing the run or the trail. The "rush" of getting over that death defeying snow/ice shoot or the 1/4 mile of rapids is your reward. You share it with you friends. I'm sure some think of my perspective is over-done and see no risk. Sound familure? Boating or hiking, it's all realative... How far are you willing to go?

I've paddled for over 20 years and I'm newbie to long distance hiking. I'm trying to fit in and learn. The two groups are not very different. They have the simular goals. Hikers love their trails like boaters lover their rivers. They work hard and play hard.