I am so glad you are able to do this after such an illness. I will follow your adventure and watch you walking closer to my part of the world ! Oh Canada! Lol
Fab video Ash. I love your authenticity. You have loads of hiking experience so the mental muscle is already built. You are also already super fit. I have no idea how you are carrying that sort of weight on your back for training, your pack will feel like a day pack after that! I’m lucky that my day job is walking so it’s easier to get the mileage in,but for those working full time it must be very challenging. You got this! My question: are you taking a neck knife? Ju X
Thanks so much :) and you must have read my mind haha neck knives is exactly what I’ve been looking into this week!! It’s a great question as well so I’ll do some waffling about that in the q&a :)
For mental prep, you probably have heard the phrase "embrace the suck" - expect hard days on the trail but there will be MORE good days, and always look to the good days, they WILL make the effort worth it. Training is important and the training level should depend upon your expectations for the first days on trail. If you expect to "fly" down the trail right away, then you probably need to step up your training difficulty. However, it seems more likely that you are looking to start on the slow side and grow your trail legs. Your current training plan seems reasonable. Most important is that you are able to watch your level of exertion as you start on the trail. Many sequential long & difficult days can lead to severe health issues. More difficult training will minimize these chances. It also seems like you are highly experienced -- but be sure to monitor how you are feeling as you train. Over exertion can lead to injury which can totally derail plans. If pain gets worse with exercise, then it may be time for a rest or at least reduced training difficulty. Logistics will be taxing - particularly taxing as you get ready to start in a foreign country. If you have done your research, you know that there are MANY resources that should make it pretty straight forward to hit the trail. Good luck and have a GREAT hike !
Hey :) Thanks for the comment! Im all too familiar with "embrace the suck" haha so ill be ready to expect that :) Honestly I neither expect to fly down the trail, or want to, Id rather ease in and take my time as I know injuries are common from racing through at the start, but yea defo I could do with stepping up my training, but realistically, Im not sure If I will due to time constrains etc, but ill do what I can do and like you say ill keep an eye on my exertion as I start :) Thanks for the tips! Ash
great question! Ill put together a instagram poll for this if they are well known or not as Im not sure to be honest! And ive been pondering over my ideal trail magic all day haha :) Will share that in the vid !
As someone else from the UK I’m really interested (as it’s one of my barriers to doing the PCT) how have you planned for “shipping stuff in and out of the trail”, eg swapping desert clothes for cold/wet & bear cans? And a p.s. did your return flight have a fixed date or flexi? Cheers Ash😊
@@ashobrienoutdoors for me that also includes the “bounce ahead”, how does that work for an non-US person? 🤔 Thank you Ash. I’m in awe of you taking this on.
I am so glad you are able to do this after such an illness. I will follow your adventure and watch you walking closer to my part of the world ! Oh Canada! Lol
Thanks :) Im. super grateful to be doing this! And thankyou for watching :)
Fab video Ash. I love your authenticity. You have loads of hiking experience so the mental muscle is already built. You are also already super fit. I have no idea how you are carrying that sort of weight on your back for training, your pack will feel like a day pack after that! I’m lucky that my day job is walking so it’s easier to get the mileage in,but for those working full time it must be very challenging. You got this!
My question: are you taking a neck knife?
Ju
X
Thanks so much :) and you must have read my mind haha neck knives is exactly what I’ve been looking into this week!! It’s a great question as well so I’ll do some waffling about that in the q&a :)
yeah you're WAY ahead of most people, training-wise
and remember that comparison is the thief of joy
Sierras will be epic this year. Prepare for a ton of fearmongering
Great hat!
hehe thankyou! I love a good wooly hat :)
For mental prep, you probably have heard the phrase "embrace the suck" - expect hard days on the trail but there will be MORE good days, and always look to the good days, they WILL make the effort worth it.
Training is important and the training level should depend upon your expectations for the first days on trail. If you expect to "fly" down the trail right away, then you probably need to step up your training difficulty. However, it seems more likely that you are looking to start on the slow side and grow your trail legs. Your current training plan seems reasonable. Most important is that you are able to watch your level of exertion as you start on the trail. Many sequential long & difficult days can lead to severe health issues. More difficult training will minimize these chances.
It also seems like you are highly experienced -- but be sure to monitor how you are feeling as you train. Over exertion can lead to injury which can totally derail plans. If pain gets worse with exercise, then it may be time for a rest or at least reduced training difficulty.
Logistics will be taxing - particularly taxing as you get ready to start in a foreign country. If you have done your research, you know that there are MANY resources that should make it pretty straight forward to hit the trail. Good luck and have a GREAT hike !
Hey :) Thanks for the comment! Im all too familiar with "embrace the suck" haha so ill be ready to expect that :) Honestly I neither expect to fly down the trail, or want to, Id rather ease in and take my time as I know injuries are common from racing through at the start, but yea defo I could do with stepping up my training, but realistically, Im not sure If I will due to time constrains etc, but ill do what I can do and like you say ill keep an eye on my exertion as I start :) Thanks for the tips! Ash
Two questions: 1: Are through-hikes like the PCT and AT well-known in Europe or a bit more obscure? 2: What's your ideal 'trail magic'?
great question! Ill put together a instagram poll for this if they are well known or not as Im not sure to be honest! And ive been pondering over my ideal trail magic all day haha :) Will share that in the vid !
As someone else from the UK I’m really interested (as it’s one of my barriers to doing the PCT) how have you planned for “shipping stuff in and out of the trail”, eg swapping desert clothes for cold/wet & bear cans? And a p.s. did your return flight have a fixed date or flexi? Cheers Ash😊
Great questions! Ill add those to the list, thanks :)
@@ashobrienoutdoors for me that also includes the “bounce ahead”, how does that work for an non-US person? 🤔 Thank you Ash. I’m in awe of you taking this on.
I busted my right foot and toes and I have to start the pct in less then 3 weeks
Oh nooo ! Sorry to hear! Hope it heals soon!
Nutrition - what is your typical eating plan?
Great question! Ill chat about that in the next vid :)