I’m 72 years old and in the last 8 years I’ve hiked almost 1500 miles of the PCT. Section hikers never get their trail legs, but I never get tired of my food.
Hee hee hee, ha ha ha. I'm a slow hiker. idk my total PCT miles and don't care (Mountains Don't care either), but I do use distance for navigation with everyday being a new day (odometer reset). One reason I am slow is bc I pack like Samwise. I like to cook real food when I hike and I don't get tired of my food either. 😋
It's always inspiring to see more senior backpackers . . . At 66 I consider being able to hike 15-16 hrs a day as having my trail legs and I'm hiking all year long (living in Southern CA where we only have three seasons) to try to keep ready for the next section hike.
@@hikerJohn I was San Diego born and raised, but I've been in Oregon / Washington a long time now. Lemme know if you have Washington State PCT on your list. If so, I'll pass on a few very general tips which you might find more useful than the young marathoners would.
Thank you, Dixie! I just finished, at the age of 80, my last section of the Ouachita Trail, 223 miles in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Took almost 2 years but it feels great to have accomplished it. I tried to plan favorable weather windows, but there were still slogs in rain, wind, snow, sleet, stifling heat I learned not to go in July, August or in January February. At my age section hiking is perhaps just as challenging, just as rewarding as a thru-hike for the younger. Nevertheless, I have been greatly inspired by your thru-hikes and gained from your encouragement and shared knowledge.
Great job! I hope to be able to still hike at 80! 😁 Just finished thruhiking the GR5 in Europe. It took us 16 years! We couldn't chose the weather cause we were 7 girls, each having a family, kids, a life, so our sections were short... But still pretty proud we made it in the end! 😁 Keep going!
Being 66 I hope to still be alive at 80 and if I am I will be hiking if I can . . . I've been sidelined with a *plantar fasciitis* for the last two months but it's finally feeling better. Thanks for posting
I'm 57 and plan to live to 100. I also plan to be very active running and hiking well into my 80s there are so many trails to hike all over the world!! Hubby and I thru-hiked the PCT in 2018
This… This is the reason I follow you. You see so many sides of each topic, whether it’s gear reviews,nor section hiking vs through hiking. And you educate us so well. You don’t judge and you clearly aren’t on UA-cam to toot your own horn (that would be humility). Thank you. For who you are and for how you help us!
Her channel is how I learned about hiking and backpacking. I went from never having set foot on a trail in my life, to doing several weekend/multi-day trips... solo. :-)
@@orthodoxhiker9287 That is my experience. I have section hiked all over the USA now due to Dixie's teaching. Was able to complete 106 + miles on NCT in PA this summer between work and family commitments in section hikes. Seriously thanks a million Dixie for allowing me to start an activity thru your training that l can safely and confidently achieve. l have found l absolutely love hiking and getting out in the peace of nature for 3-6 days at a time!!!
Just finished my long distance section hike (Arizona Trail 820 miles). Only took 22 years. Every one of those years allowed me to hike new territory. I witnessed as the AzTrail evolved from a barely marked path to a National Scenic Trail. I had to rely heavily on friends to deliver me and my truck to trailheads. One thing I learned was that the same hiking gear that is needed on a thru-hike is the same as used in section hiking. Plus, I was able to cater hiking schedules to work, school and weather conditions. I stayed in shape for the sections hikes (Usually 20 to 65 miles.) by cycling (commuting) and overnight hikes. Thanks Dixie for showing some love towards section hikers.
"... witnessed as the AzTrail evolved ..." and probably directly or indirectly contributed to that evolution. Two things to be proud of: hiking it and help it.
Thanks for pointing this out Dixie. Everyone who takes a step on a trail deserves recognition for doing that thing they love. We seem to need to label one another so that we distinguish our value. The hiking community is just a great bunch of people who season with experience and appreciate a common love of nature. Thanks again for being a wonderful role model.
Yes I don't hike to compete with anybody. Especially not other hikers. Or with myself. Otherwise hiking would be just one more exercise in narcissism. And it should be the opposite of that: empathy.
As a section hiker I enjoy being able to keep my job, my house, and come home sooner to my Awesome Wife. I also enjoy being able to pick the seasons for my hike. I HATE Summer so I can enjoy my trips in the Spring, Fall, and Winter way more. I love the convenience of being able to go out there fresh with whatever gear I want for that particular trip. I can skip a part, redo a part, NOBO or SOBO, Walk with the bubble or totally avoid it. Go Solo, or hike with a friend. Go for 3 days, a week, or whatever I can. I don't have to wreck my body and look like a zombie after 5 or 6 months. No Post Trail Depression either. I don't have to focus on just at one trail, After a section I can go do any other Park, Trail, route, Activity I want. Just because I'm not on a Thru-hike don't mean I loose my trail legs as long as I still walk and hike on a fairly regular basis. I may not ever be a Thru-hiker but it doesn't mean I enjoyed the trail any less.
I used to be in the " I'm just a section hiker. But after I did 47 miles,, hood to locks PCT,, with my 59 yo couch potato body. I still felt like I accomplished something.
Just completed my end to end AT hike on July 29, 2021 after over 40 section hikes spanning 20 years, 9 months, and 24 days. I agree, there are pros and cons to each. Enjoyed the balanced presentation in the video.
I am on my journey similar to yours. Started 2023, I’m going to pick at that trail over the next decade or so when work lets me have the time off. Planning my next two sections now and I’m so happy to get back out there.
Whatever you do, be that a full thru hike, "only" section of one or even a 5 mile hike every 2-3 month, is fine. Main point is to get out, enjoy nature and the experience that YOUR hike brings within the capacity that you're able. Just please remember the Leave No Trace-guidelines when you get out on the trails, thank you.
I was informed, somewhere in the middle of my 274 mile section hike on the southernmost section of the AT that I was a LASH. Of course, I had to ask what that was. The answer: Long Ass Section Hiker. I felt kinda special, and was flattered that people always guessed my age on the younger side (I was 67). I would usually start out slowly, and pick up speed, only to burn out before lunch. Often, I would feel invigorated after lunch and try to catch the younger crew that I usually camped with later in the day. I was surprised when they told me that they hadn't been there very long. They wanted to rename me "Turbo". I was flattered, but I've been Tinker since the 1980s. So I got to double the mileage of my longest previous section hike, and get the feel of what a thruhike might be like. Nonetheless, I was glad to retrieve my car at the end of the GSMNP, resupply on my own terms, drive to Erwin, shuttle back, and hike (almost) back to my car, deciding to pack it in at Hot Springs. My feet were done, and I was needed back home. I got my trail legs. Unfortunately, I lost my trail feet! 😁.
Last month while section hiking the Smokies, we crossed paths with multiple hikers who attributed their inspiration to “Dixie’s UA-cam videos”. Conversations often arise at shelters where hikers will ask one another what motivated them to be on the trail, and 9 times out of 10 they would say, “I watched all of Dixie’s videos, felt empowered, bought the gear, and here I am living the dream”!!! The same is true for my sister and I. ❤️ We decided to hike the AT to honor our mama who always wanted to hike the trail one day but died of Early Onset Alzheimer’s before she could. Dixie, your videos played a huge role in giving us the courage to try. Thank you so much!! I’ll be forever grateful for the information you’ve shared. We’ve now completed just over 1/10 of the trail in a year’s time. And even though we are both grandmas (Yaya and Mimi on the AT), we are determined to finish the Appalachian Trail one section at a time, no matter how messy it gets or how long it takes. You’ve been our inspiration!
One more BAD thing about section hiking is that when you do have to get off the trail you kinda miss the people you were leap frogging with on trail. After a week or two or three you start making friends and then you leave them and start over in a new section.
Hike with your soul, not your ego. I always laugh at the "numbers hikers". Altitude, miles, temperature etc.... When the "numbers" ask me how many miles I've hiked, I say, "50"...lol, you should see their face!! I'm a 10 mile max per day in the Sierra hiker. But I love telling people I hiked a 100 miles and killed some bears and and wrestled a mountain lion! The hardest part about hiking is worrying about my dogs and my daughter at home.
As usual spot on! As a section hiker I would say that I backpack because I love the camping experience, both setting up and sleeping in beautiful places and having quality cooking and eating opportunities. The most recent section was 100 miles and I didn't have the time to spend in some of the beauty I saw as I raced through. The SOBO'S I passed in their last 600 miles of the CDT were driven. It's just different priorities. Your videos have contributed so much to our section hiking experience. Thanks to you our gear is better, our understanding is better and so we can hike further and longer. We are in our Mid 60's and you have extended our ability to backpack by years. Thanks!
Thank you Dixie! Sometimes I think there's some "us vs them" in the hiking community, whether it's thru hikers vs section hikers or both vs weekend warriors. We're all out there doing the same dang thing, just at a different pace. I appreciate you for pointing that out so eloquently ❤☺ Maybe when I'm 67 I'll be able to do the AT like Grandma Gatewood. After I'm done with the Trans Canada Trail 😉
As a section hiker, I appreciate this. Many years ago I was up in Maine and there was a younger hiker, NOBO on the AT, who insistent with all seriousness, that no one should be out on the trail unless they were through-hiking NOBO. I even suggested that maybe some through-hikers went SOBO because maybe a job schedule and his response was "They should quit their job; there's no reason to do it the wrong way." And he was serious. This was the exception however. This year, after many years of one week hikes with a maximum in a year being 210 miles, I did about a quarter of the AT on a single trip and did a total of 730 miles this year. I found the through-hikers were very supportive. Even after that 566 miles (Water Gap to Roanoke), the 80 I did in Maine a few weeks later was still tough. But on that 566 mile hike, I did twist both ankles around mile 500, and that would have ended hikes on prior years; this year it was a day off at a hostel, then continue on the last 65 miles.
I've encountered many, many youngsters like that. Not hiking though; in another context. In the context I'm referring to, a Sergeant usually says "Soldier, come over here."
Great job! I just finished the GR5 in Europe, in sections. 1348miles in total and we did it in 16 years. Now the kids are bigger I dream of a real thruhike. But we'll see. Maybe start with longer sections first and get the hang of it, like you did! 😁 I could have quited my job, but not my kids! 😁 All the best, Kaat
Thank you very much for this video. I section hiked the entire AT after I retired, from 1993 - 2007, (age 57 - 71) doing a section every year except one, when my family tried to convince me that I had done enough. I was originally going to do a thru-hike, but when I asked my wife about it, she replied, "I may not be here when you return." Thus, I became a section hiker. Some of the differences I encountered were as follow: 1. I lived in Houston and New Orleans during this period and flew to the trail most years and took a bus a couple of years so my expenses for travel were more than a thru hiker would experience. 2. Toward the end of my section hike, I found I couldn't stand the trail and cursed it out a lot, but after being home for a week, I couldn't wait to get back. This occurred every trip. 3. I ate the same amount of food and lost about 6 pounds during the hike, which I gained back when I returned home. 4. I never took a zero day. 5. I hiked from 4 - 17 days on each trip. I was eaten up by bugs on a trip I had planned for 17 days, but left after 4. Once I left early because I got a small seed or pebble in my boot and I kept hiking without removing it. It caused a large blister to form and after a few days, I could hardly walk on it. Another time I left early because I was just sick and tired of hiking. 6. Section hiking allowed me to make changes in my equipment and food during the 14 year period. I started off with a 35 pound pack and ended up with an 18 pound pack, including food. I went from hot food to cold food. I never carried a tent, but slept in shelters, most of which were empty when I arrived. Woke up one morning to find a cat sleeping on my chest. I used my backpacker poncho and ropes for sleeping if I couldn't get to a shelter. 7. I always hiked in July and August. No snow and the rain was refreshing. I hate the cold but love the heat Hood Ornament
At age 78 I set out to do most of the JMT. early on I hurt my back which made for slow starts in the morning and a slower day than planned for. I totally enjoyed that slower pace with many stops to smell the flowers, take many photos. I enjoy the camp as much as I enjoy the hiking so I ended the day a little early so I could do all my chores in daylight then have time in my tent to journal, do some artwork, charge my electronics, enjoy a campfire where allowed. By the end of the 2nd week I realized that I was likely good for a month on the trail and no longer. There was a death two passes ahead of me. The trail was tougher further along and I had already taken some hard falls. What was forecast as an afternoon shower was 4 days of soaking rains and cold during which I spent 20 hrs nursing a fellow hiker who nearly died of hypothermia and I subsequently bonked. Thus I chose to end my hike at 70 miles and 23 days followed by road trekking and camping and hiking with my van. I had started the hike with the idea that if it stopped being fun for more than 3 days I could quit. I've never regretted the decision of turning the thru hike into a section hike. Despite my vintage age I may indeed return and do another 70 to 100 miles. In the meantime I will section hike the Arizona Trail except the portions where water sources are too long a hike at my age. I did have my moment of fame as the oldesr solo woman between Mexico and Canada :) I had traveled what I have been told was the prettiest section of the JMT going NOBO. I have great memories of such stupendous beauty, a wonderful accomplishment, tons of sources for my paintings and so many memories of the people met and spent time with. The people are the best part and I had time I could spend in good conversation.
Even as "short" a trail as the Long Trail I section hiked as I couldn't even get the month It would take off. I can't tell you how I felt when I reached the Canadian Border. 18 years later, at 72, I am still hiking but shorter distances. I still wear that end-to-end patch on my pack proudly!
Me, too: 1990s. I had section hiked the Vermont Appalachian Trail, and decided to go back and finish the LT. I tried to thruhike it last fall, but tore the muscles in both of my calves and had to pack it in at 70 miles. This past spring I managed to hike the southernmost 274 miles of the AT in one trip without breaking. 270 more AT miles and I will be done. I'm 68.
The thing is you need to have a lot of socio-economic privilege to drop everything for 6 months while people who choose to section hike are often doing the best they can with what their given and deciding to not be defined by their circumstances. That person deserves alot of respect.
I do feel so privileged to have been able to hike while getting paid long service leave from my Midwifery job in Australia it enabled us to thruhike the PCT
A thru hike is too overwhelming for me as a beginner. I wanna learn to crawl before I even try to attempt walking! Thru hiking seemed to overflow & discourage me from even experiencing section hiking! I can't allow that to happen. I'm just glad I realized it! I love hiking period! I hike a lot actually. I've never backpacked though. I've camped in a campground & hiked but not carry the pack & find a spot hike. Subconsciously, all the thru hike info might of held me back a bit. Now that I think about it. We are all one. We all have a passion & love for mother nature. 🧘♀️🧡 Thanks Dixie!
Every seasoned hiker was once a beginner and tbh that's one of the most special places to be. Savor it when the time comes, don't rush it, at least not out the starting gate, and what you are likely to get is something that many others can never have because they rushed along and missed it. However you do it will be yours if you just stick to what you can do without putting yourself at risk. Don't ever let anyone else disrespect that. Stay Calm and Semper Gumby
I usually do 150-200 mile sections and I'm guilty of saying " I'm just section hiking ". And logistics can be such a challenge sometimes. Great video once again Dixie!!!
Part of my song "My Hike" based on Billy Joel's song My Life: 🎶 It was a pleasure when I got to meet Second Chance And yes once I was a victim of fire ants I'm still hiker trash But you can kiss my ass If you think drugs and miles Can beat old school style 🎶 First they tell you you can't hike it thru at your own pace Then they tell you you're slower than everyone else Oh but finally you learn that it isn't just a big race The best way everyday is rely on yourself 🤠 Only two kinds of people really when I'm out hiking. There's hikers and There's folks at home sitting on the couch. That's it. Stay Calm and Semper Gumby
We met a some through hikers on the CDT this summer while we were doing a section. One of them said, "The trail is the trail, it's up to you how you deal with it.
Man. On the last video I was all commenting, "Don't feel bad if you what you REALLY WANNA DO is section hiking or whatever" and then BOOM! Dixie follows up on it! For some of us we just wanna get out there (and often are out there just as long as the thru hikers if you count days on the trail.) Thru hiking is cool and all but it does often overshadow everything else. Thanks for point out that it isn't any more "valid" than anything else!
So right! And while I love to backpack I love my children and grandchildren more. Won't forgo time with them to do a thru hike but I'll drag them along on section hikes.
This topic to me, is similar to the one about which long trail is harder....the AT or the PCT. There is no right answer because they are so different in many ways. The section hiker and the thru hiker debate also has no right answer because of all the reasons you have explained so well. Open-mindness and generousity for others opinions and struggles is ALWAYS the right answer! 😊
My wife and I have been following you for years. We initially were going to do our thru-hike in 2019, went to Springer Mountain, but never really got started. We thought we would delay a year, but my wife had ankle surgery and I had knee surgery, and, of course, Covid. I always wanted to thru-hike from start to finish, but agreed it was best for us to do a section hike thru-hike. We start New Jersey in four days, on Sunday, on our hometown trail, which we are intimately familiar with from day hiking and backpacking it over the years. We plan to continue throughout the winter months, as my wife doesn't do well in the hot summer months. Your exploits and videos have been a source of inspiration to us.
I walked around the whole coast of the UK (5000 miles) using the "section Walking" method, I started in Nov 2009 and eventually finished Sept 2016. I found using my holiday time off from work really energised me and I would look forward to the 10 days walking. I never had any injuries either.😄 Also, I really hate camping! so I used Bed and Breakfasts which thankfully there are many around the coast in the UK.
Although I just geared up for section hiking, I consider myself a base-camp hiker. Campsite camping for a week and one 7-8 hour hike to a 4000+ footer a day. Come back to a home-made meal. It takes a whole summer of weekend hiking to build up to it, but I do it to enjoy the views.
I grew up hiking the White Mountain National Forest. I’ve hiked it in all seasons and covered nearly every major trail. I’ve hiked far, experienced natures moods and seen it’s beauty and never left NH, what a trip it was.
Thank you for this Dixie! I am unable to do a through hike for many reasons, but hike and section hike local trails weekly. We do backpacking for a few days in the summer. Some through hikers make me feel like that's not important, but it is so important to mental and physical health! Keep on hiking!
Mary Dawson section hiked and did Triple Crown that way. I believe she finished at age 76. Inspired by Grandma Gatewood story and plan to do Grandma Gatewood trail January 15th.
For me, I'm finding myself with a gap in a job coming up in about 2.5 years. I've been seriously considering doing an entire thru-hike of the PCT, but ultimately I'm thinking of doing a long distance section. Start at Lake Tahoe around late April/ Early May and start heading north. I'm leaving my home in the PNW and I kind of want a last goodbye to the Cascade volcanoes. As it is I usually do a 100-ish mile section in the summer in Washington. So far done everything from Snoqualmie Pass down to the south of Indian Heaven, but covering everything from Lassen Peak to Mt Baker in one go would mean a lot. If for some reason the PCT idea doesn't work... might do the Pacific Northwest Trail instead. We'll see as it gets closer. I also have another consideration on my end with some asthma. I'm just super sensitive to smoke. I got lucky on my last section hike: the one day it got super bad I had a zero in Trout Lake. I even packed some N95 masks to deal with it in case I needed them. I need to stay ahead of it, and that means doing a lot of the sections slightly early than one normally would. Yeah I'll have to do more stuff with snow, and that might mean an extra day or two between resupplies, but still. Though all that said... I am definitely guilty of doing the "I'm just a section hiker" line.
Thank you so much for explai8ning this. I found it so confusing before. And i think I need a t-shirt that says "step away from the Matrix" - Dixie, on it. Lol
I am section hiker on Camino trail through Europa. Every year 2 weeks - 400-450 km. The worst for me with this is that, after 2 weeks of walking my legs and arms become totaly ok with eford and I feel like I could walk forever, but I have to go back home. And the next year all the storry with legs starts from begining. But I feel blased that I am in situation I can disapear from duties and every-day routine for those two weeks at least 😀
Thanks so much for this. I got off the CDT this year at about the halfway mark because I felt that I was blowing past so many areas where I just wanted to stop and soak in the beauty. I never felt that I could afford the time. So, I decided to turn my thru hike into a section hike so I can take more time to enjoy certain areas. However, I’ve been beating myself up ever since because I’ve been concerned that when I actually finish it, I won’t get the same feeling of accomplishment. Maybe I will.
@@richardshields3484 This is really helpful for me, I am moving to Albuquerque this winter, and was planning on thru hiking the CDT once spring came around. But I love swimming, stargazing, paddling, reading, cooking awesome meals, and a million other things I might not prioritize if I was just focused on reaching Canada. I think I will just take my time, explore everything I can, and not worry where I end up when its time to get off the trail.
@@defeater5497 Just keep in mind there are stretches where one is forced to hike at a good pace just to get through the stretch due to lack of water sources. This is especially true in New Mexico.
I started section hiking the AT 25 years ago I've done the bottom quarter of the trail . in The Last 5 Years I started redoing that same part with my son I've always wanted to do a thru-hike
I was going to through hike the AT but found it impossible to take 6 months away from home and other responsibilities, and in the end nobody cares except for a few hiking snobs
We are day hikers, and feel that it is very fulfilling and enjoyable. We go to different places every week, hike different trails. Great video as always!
Section hiker here. For me I'm only able to get time off really late in the season well into fall and I can't really schedule around good weather. So when it comes to weather it always seems to be pretty bad on my trips. But being late in the season also mean fewer people so that's nice and mosquitos aren't a thing either so that's neat. I agree when it comes to side trips and taking your time. I really enjoy climbing/peak bagging, section hiking allows me to take a day or two to climb a nearby peak when I want, that's a luxury a through hiker doesn't have.
My goal is to one day thru hike but my short term goal is to section hike the AT. I have two more sections planned this month. It's really encouraging to hear you speak of section hikers this way. Thank you 💖☺️
SASH or LASH (short ass section hike or long ass section hike) is also a great way to do a gear & physical condition shake down. It can also help some get used to being alone on trail. My SASH this past spring showed me my gear was in better shape than my body. After healing up I started a strength/conditioning routine. My next SASH a few months later was so much better and enjoyable.
Hey Dixie, great video! You did a great job highlighting the differences and the similarities, and you can't really say one is better than the other. It really hit me at the end of the video when you were talking about the conclusion of the trail...this whole video totally embodies "hike your own hike".
iam a proud section hiker did the first 50 miles of the Appalachian trail with my dad back in 2019 and did a section hike of the Colorado trail. absolutely love every moment of it. and being able to share my adventures on my UA-cam channel.
I am 64 and have been section hiking the AT since I was 30. I’ve hiked one week at a time, when I could between family and work. I hope to hike more frequently now that I am retired.. You are correct that just about the time you get your trail legs it is time to end. The logistics are much more complicated especially if you hike alone. I use much of the same gear as thru hikers, because weight savings is still very important. Resupply is easier as I take what I need for each section. I love meeting thru hikers and learning from their experiences. Dixie, your videos have been very helpful and enjoyable. Keep up the good work!
Nothing wrong with section hiking everybody has their on lives and responsibilities like the quote from Theodore Roosevelt “do what you can can with what you you have and where you are!
Great video. One aspect I see you kinda covered with expenses is gear costs and weights. Those on a thru hike tend to carry/need less weight options which in most cases costs more. I know if Im carrying a tent for a week and 25 miles if its a tad heavy thats okay. But if i'm carrying it for 25 miles a day for months then its going to be light.
Well done on an important question. There has been a social media and Internet people fueled frenzy in the last few years that thru-hiking is somehow more "pure' than section hiking a major trail, let alone just backpacking. I am among the dazzled by Triple Crown athletes, and yes in my mind they are true athletes, that get up day after day and pound out another marathon. I am bad. I can watch a YT video on the CDT or PCT and tell pretty much where the vblogger is. The upside is I have specific areas of the PCT and CDT I want to section hike for 10-14 days. Gila Wilderness and the last 150 miles in Northern Washington. Cherry picking is another section hiking attribute.
I tell all my friends who are interested in hiking to look at your channel and gear lists. I'm a section hiker BTW because I have health issues such as allergies. Thanks again Dixie
I think the seasons argument is really strong for section hiking. If you are thru-hiking you may be forced to pass through certain areas under sub-optimal circumstances just to be able to make it to the end before the season is over. It may be too cold, icy, buggy, wet or crowded for comfort during long periods of a thru-hike whereas if you section hike you can cherry pick the time of year and arguably get the best of what the trail has to offer!
I’m a section hiker. Sort of. Lol. I would really like to be able to get out and hike a section without having to spend my whole vacation time hiking in rain. Lol. It’s so frustrating to plan a hike when you can’t really predict what the weather is going to be . I have to request my vacation in advance and I can’t just leave on a spur of the moment when the weather is great. I definitely learned how to deal with hiking in the rain.
Do you hammock? It's not my preferred way to camp but it has advantages especially when it's really wet. I recently got a super light hammock from Walmart $40 (I paid a lower sale price). There may be a bit of a learning curve with how to put up your ridge line and knots, etc. It's not like most tents where there is only one prescribed way to set up, but that's part of the whole experience.
@@treebeardtheent2200 no, I have a hammock but I haven’t used it yet backpacking because of weight and extra gear needed. I used a tarp and I slept in a shelter on the trail during a really bad storm.
@@kerrir1955 Well I'm confident that was better than the big slab of rock I crawled under at this time last year in central WA. Storm hit and heavy rain turned to snow. 7 continuos days below freezing 24/7 after that. Moderately high elevation.
Nothing wrong with section hiking. I've hiked various sections of the PCT but not much overall. :) I wish I could take 4-6 months off at a time to do it though.
Thank you for admitting that it's still hard, even after you get your trail legs. I assumed that younger more seasoned hikers just took it all in stride. Gives me hope and encouragement to know.
Flexibility just rose to the top of many priority lists. "I'm going to arrange my entire life around my once in a lifetime through hike in summer of...2020."
I’m about to finish my second section hike of the Sheltowee. I can’t take off 3-4 weeks all at once. But, I can hit the trail for 2-3 days every month. The best part of section hiking is that if the weather is absolutely awful, I can put off that section. It has also made it easier for my kids to hike with me.
Fantastic video! I've been considering starting a section hike of one of the big 3 and then chipping away at it over the next decade. My current situation just wouldn't allow for me to take the 4-5 months off to complete it in one go (although I would LOVE to!) The section hike would be an awesome thing to accomplish! But I also wouldn't want to feel like I 'have' to go backpack the next section in case there is somewhere else I'd rather explore. Thanks for sharing!
I don't have going back to the job in the back of my mind on a thru hike till near the end. Although a well planned section hike can be done at any pace you choose and you can carry luxury items.
The Colorado Trail Foundation awards certificates not for thru hikers but for “Completers” - so section hikers of the CT get the same official recognition.
I just this season finished up my 3 year long journey from Wisconsin to Canada on the Superior Hiking Trail! 3 years of commitment on every weekend! Best 3 years of my life! 🥾🤘🏼
WoW Dixie! (As in Words of Wisdom.) Thanks for helping validate us section hikers. For the last nearly 20 years I have introduced myself to that noble band of thru-hikers (for whom I have the GREATEST admiration!) as "just a section hiker". But, like you, many if not most have responded positively to my choice and did not make me feel inferior. It is HYOH (Hike your own hike) in action. Just getting out there marks us all apart from others. Now I can tell people, "Well, I may just be a section hiker, but Dixie thinks that's OK!" And that will be telling them . . . What I like most about section hiking is what you mentioned towards the end. To us, it is our vacation! We can take it easy. Clear our minds. Travel down all the blue blazes. Have an hour lunch (or two if the meadow is nice and sunny and we may, well, take a little nap). Or stop and chat with other hikers without feeling a time crunch. We end up really enjoying the trail, and not seeing it as a "chore" day after day. (Doesn't mean it's easy, since your comment on lack of trail legs is absolutely spot on!) Hiking on after 1091 miles on the AT (only 1100 to go! Woo hoo). Thanks, and cheers, Tortoise
It seems like which style of hike you choose depends on what your priorities are. For people with children or a job they enjoy or things like that, a section hike would allow you to experience that hiking life while still having a home life with your family etc. If you want to be immersed in the hiking life and those ties at home are more flexible, a thru hike makes sense.
I’m really glad that you made this video. I’ve been considering doing section-hiking but my brain is telling me that it feels like cheating because I can’t get to do the whole trail because I can’t just quit my job.
Thank you for this. I am a section hiker with a little over of a quarter of the AT done. I also maintain a career as a social worker which IMO edges out Thru hiker just a little. I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis so again section hiking just works better for me. The catch is that it’s actually more meaningful depending on how I am feeling. Section hiking is IMO tougher than a Thru and I would not change it in any way. ❤️
As they say, we all have to hike or own hike, I think Dixie said that in her last video for sure! 😁 Nothing wrong with section hiking! It took us 16 years to finish the GR5, a long distance trail in Europe! 😁 All the best!
It took me two years to finish section hiking the southern quarter of the AT. Which I did on overnights and vacations, even on dayhikes where I had to hike back the way I came but I still felt accomplished after the completion of the journey since that was my goal as I live in Asheville,NC so I wasn't too far away from any trailhead to knockout the 511 mile section from Springer to Grayson Highlands. And another good thing about section hiking is going out when the weather is favorable, although I did go out in winter when I had several inches of snow and temps down in the teens at night.
Leaves me wondering... if I don't ever finish a given long distance trail, am I still section hiking it, if I pick away at sections - or am I just hiking sections of that trail? I also have to wonder about things like using the Tuscarora bypass, in a single push of the AT, and therefore not being credited as hiking the AT *which is how I would do the AT, even if I don't get credited by the ATC as a finisher. I live just off the "roller coaster" section and have almost always solo hiked sections of the AT as out and back hikes, so if I ever finish the trail I'll have hiked the a major amount of it twice.
A great comparison of the two most common styles of hiking! It really is what works for you (and in our case ..what works as a Backcountry Couple) Thanks for sharing ! Colleen and Jonny
Very well done, thank you for the perspectives. Made me rethink my jmt plans. I'm old and retired which means I'm lazier than I used to be. Also I have the time but have to be aware my mind tends to write checks my body can't cash. Thank you again for all your efforts.
Some of the qualities involved in thru hiking are dedication perseverance and staying power. I met a gentleman who was finishing up doing the PCT after 20 years hiking 100 miles at a time and a bunch of long weekends. I'd say as far as these qualities go he's left thru hikers in the dust. :) I really think it would be wonderful for him to write an article for outside magazine or something with old photos. It's a great story. I was really impressed!
I do a lot of section hiking throughout the world, and one of the big problems is you always feel rushed to get as many miles as you can in that one, two, or three week time frame that you have. So you end up exhausting yourself and not taking as many zero days as you sometimes need. Unfortunately, this is what you’re sometimes forced to do when you have limited vacation and don’t want to quit your job. 😉
I'm a long distance section hiker but I've never come home sore. (except once I got a bad shin splint) I don't get sore much at all any more but I was sore ALL YEAR my first year of backpacking. I did 1200 miles my first year in 2019 but it took 6 months to do it. It was my Achilles tendons that hurt but it was not too bad. In 2020 and 2021 they never hurt at all. My trail legs kick in about when I have lost 10-12 pounds which takes about 10 days. I've done 100 mile sections all the way up to 550 mile sections of the PCT and Ive done most of California twice because I live in CA. And since I'm hiking all year (not always backpacking) I'm staying in pretty good shape but doing the Sierras I do need a few days to acclimate to elevation. The first high pass is the hardest not counting Benson Pass which is as hard as the first because it's steep and rocky. I did the entire Sierra section in 2020 and again in 2021 and I was 9% faster in 2021. I would be a thru hiker if I could be on trail more than 2 months in a row but I cant and I cannot sell everything and start over like so many young people can do. I'm also hiking without a pack about 20-40 miles a week at sea level but with a LOTS of steep hills and I hike local mountains like Mt San Gorgonio . . . I'm 66 years old. I never carry a stove and I do not eat sugar or junk food so I eat a lot of dried meats and protein powder and peanut butter and then fresh cooked food in towns. I really don't care if I like what I eat or not but I'm so hungry I pretty much like everything . . . I also do not have Facebook on my phone and rarely ever listen to music. I pretty much try to put in as many miles as I can but I usually don't hike more than 12-14 hrs a day (5am to 6-7pm with a few short breaks). The BEST part about section hiking is . . . all of it. LOL . . . because I can and I cannot get the time all in a row for a thru hike. If you like this channel you must like hiking so get out there and do it.
Most if the soreness/injuries seem to come from excessive miles day in day out it seems evident to me. Yes there may be a few rare hikers who carry too much weight + too many miles and suffer some strain, but mostly excess weight just slows a hiker down and over time most will make any necessary adjustments. I carry a somewhat heavy kit and it actually reduces my liklihood of injury because I go slower than I would with a light pack.
@@treebeardtheent2200 Nice name :o) My base weight is around 14 lb and I never carry more than 29 pounds except on rare high water carry days when I also have a full food load. When I started I pretty much just copied what Dixie was doing but with less food and no camera gear. Arc Haul and Duplex tent. The one time I got a shin splint was from hiking too fast just one day with a full pack . . . I payed a steep price for that.
@@hikerJohn Going too fast downhill got me once too. I got excited and violated my own rule not to rush. My kit weight is rarely less than 60 lbs. Total weight is all I ever bother to measure. Primary footwear not usually included. Coming off trail the weight might be 50 pounds or less sometimes but I've never checked.
Good points...Section Hiker I am... It once took me a whole week to go 40 Miles.... My pack is usually 35 pounds and I carry a chair... I have had thu hikers go by that I could feel the breeze they made....I would too to make it to Maine Before October. Both Worlds seek the same thing... Lose our minds find our soul.
I've sectioned long and short sections. Longest was 1800 miles. I've loved them all. I've found that if I only can do a 12-15 day hike with my vacation time, building a crazy route of my own produces the greatest total combination of satisfaction, adventure, pride, lingering feelings of triumph and daily on-trail happiness. As for long trails, I find that about 800-1000 miles is about perfect. After that I start really wanting to go home.
I’m 72 years old and in the last 8 years I’ve hiked almost 1500 miles of the PCT. Section hikers never get their trail legs, but I never get tired of my food.
Hee hee hee, ha ha ha. I'm a slow hiker. idk my total PCT miles and don't care (Mountains Don't care either), but I do use distance for navigation with everyday being a new day (odometer reset).
One reason I am slow is bc I pack like Samwise. I like to cook real food when I hike and I don't get tired of my food either. 😋
It's always inspiring to see more senior backpackers . . . At 66 I consider being able to hike 15-16 hrs a day as having my trail legs and I'm hiking all year long (living in Southern CA where we only have three seasons) to try to keep ready for the next section hike.
That’s amazing!
@@hikerJohn I was San Diego born and raised, but I've been in Oregon / Washington a long time now.
Lemme know if you have Washington State PCT on your list. If so, I'll pass on a few very general tips which you might find more useful than the young marathoners would.
Awesome.
Thank you, Dixie! I just finished, at the age of 80, my last section of the Ouachita Trail, 223 miles in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Took almost 2 years but it feels great to have accomplished it. I tried to plan favorable weather windows, but there were still slogs in rain, wind, snow, sleet, stifling heat I learned not to go in July, August or in January February. At my age section hiking is perhaps just as challenging, just as rewarding as a thru-hike for the younger. Nevertheless, I have been greatly inspired by your thru-hikes
and gained from your encouragement and shared knowledge.
Great job! I hope to be able to still hike at 80! 😁 Just finished thruhiking the GR5 in Europe. It took us 16 years! We couldn't chose the weather cause we were 7 girls, each having a family, kids, a life, so our sections were short... But still pretty proud we made it in the end! 😁 Keep going!
I was at the Ouachita Wilderness this weekend; good hiking in AR!
Being 66 I hope to still be alive at 80 and if I am I will be hiking if I can . . . I've been sidelined with a *plantar fasciitis* for the last two months but it's finally feeling better. Thanks for posting
I visited Arkansas in July on a family vacation when I was a kid. The heat was absolutely brutal...I'm sure you only did that once. :)
I'm 57 and plan to live to 100. I also plan to be very active running and hiking well into my 80s there are so many trails to hike all over the world!! Hubby and I thru-hiked the PCT in 2018
This…
This is the reason I follow you. You see so many sides of each topic, whether it’s gear reviews,nor section hiking vs through hiking. And you educate us so well. You don’t judge and you clearly aren’t on UA-cam to toot your own horn (that would be humility). Thank you. For who you are and for how you help us!
Her channel is how I learned about hiking and backpacking. I went from never having set foot on a trail in my life, to doing several weekend/multi-day trips... solo. :-)
@@orthodoxhiker9287 That is my experience. I have section hiked all over the USA now due to Dixie's teaching. Was able to complete 106 + miles on NCT in PA this summer between work and family commitments in section hikes. Seriously thanks a million Dixie for allowing me to start an activity thru your training that l can safely and confidently achieve. l have found l absolutely love hiking and getting out in the peace of nature for 3-6 days at a time!!!
Just finished my long distance section hike (Arizona Trail 820 miles). Only took 22 years. Every one of those years allowed me to hike new territory. I witnessed as the AzTrail evolved from a barely marked path to a National Scenic Trail. I had to rely heavily on friends to deliver me and my truck to trailheads. One thing I learned was that the same hiking gear that is needed on a thru-hike is the same as used in section hiking. Plus, I was able to cater hiking schedules to work, school and weather conditions. I stayed in shape for the sections hikes (Usually 20 to 65 miles.) by cycling (commuting) and overnight hikes.
Thanks Dixie for showing some love towards section hikers.
Congratulations!!!!!! 🎉 doesn’t matter how you hike anything! Commit and connect your steps, and enjoy the ride!
"... witnessed as the AzTrail evolved ..." and probably directly or indirectly contributed to that evolution. Two things to be proud of: hiking it and help it.
That is incredible and encouraging! Thanks so much for sharing!
Very cool! CONGRATS 🎉🎉🎉
@@jeniefurr Thanks Jenn! I'll keep hiking for as long as I'm physically able to. When I can't hike anymore, I'll start rafting.
Thanks for pointing this out Dixie. Everyone who takes a step on a trail deserves recognition for doing that thing they love. We seem to need to label one another so that we distinguish our value. The hiking community is just a great bunch of people who season with experience and appreciate a common love of nature. Thanks again for being a wonderful role model.
Even day hikers deserve respect! At least they aren't those awful city folk...
/s
@@tamie341 yes, day hikers deserve respect! Thanks!
Yes I don't hike to compete with anybody. Especially not other hikers. Or with myself.
Otherwise hiking would be just one more exercise in narcissism. And it should be the opposite of that: empathy.
100%! No reason to add judgement to the outdoors- the accomplishment is incredible either way
As a section hiker I enjoy being able to keep my job, my house, and come home sooner to my Awesome Wife. I also enjoy being able to pick the seasons for my hike. I HATE Summer so I can enjoy my trips in the Spring, Fall, and Winter way more. I love the convenience of being able to go out there fresh with whatever gear I want for that particular trip. I can skip a part, redo a part, NOBO or SOBO, Walk with the bubble or totally avoid it. Go Solo, or hike with a friend. Go for 3 days, a week, or whatever I can. I don't have to wreck my body and look like a zombie after 5 or 6 months. No Post Trail Depression either. I don't have to focus on just at one trail, After a section I can go do any other Park, Trail, route, Activity I want. Just because I'm not on a Thru-hike don't mean I loose my trail legs as long as I still walk and hike on a fairly regular basis.
I may not ever be a Thru-hiker but it doesn't mean I enjoyed the trail any less.
YES post trail depression is a thing! I so did not expect it but had it bad for a few months
I used to be in the " I'm just a section hiker. But after I did 47 miles,, hood to locks PCT,, with my 59 yo couch potato body. I still felt like I accomplished something.
Heck yeah you did!
So awesome- glad you shared!!
Just completed my end to end AT hike on July 29, 2021 after over 40 section hikes spanning 20 years, 9 months, and 24 days. I agree, there are pros and cons to each. Enjoyed the balanced presentation in the video.
I am on my journey similar to yours. Started 2023, I’m going to pick at that trail over the next decade or so when work lets me have the time off. Planning my next two sections now and I’m so happy to get back out there.
Whatever you do, be that a full thru hike, "only" section of one or even a 5 mile hike every 2-3 month, is fine. Main point is to get out, enjoy nature and the experience that YOUR hike brings within the capacity that you're able. Just please remember the Leave No Trace-guidelines when you get out on the trails, thank you.
I was informed, somewhere in the middle of my 274 mile section hike on the southernmost section of the AT that I was a LASH. Of course, I had to ask what that was. The answer: Long Ass Section Hiker. I felt kinda special, and was flattered that people always guessed my age on the younger side (I was 67). I would usually start out slowly, and pick up speed, only to burn out before lunch. Often, I would feel invigorated after lunch and try to catch the younger crew that I usually camped with later in the day. I was surprised when they told me that they hadn't been there very long. They wanted to rename me "Turbo". I was flattered, but I've been Tinker since the 1980s.
So I got to double the mileage of my longest previous section hike, and get the feel of what a thruhike might be like. Nonetheless, I was glad to retrieve my car at the end of the GSMNP, resupply on my own terms, drive to Erwin, shuttle back, and hike (almost) back to my car, deciding to pack it in at Hot Springs. My feet were done, and I was needed back home.
I got my trail legs. Unfortunately, I lost my trail feet! 😁.
Last month while section hiking the Smokies, we crossed paths with multiple hikers who attributed their inspiration to “Dixie’s UA-cam videos”. Conversations often arise at shelters where hikers will ask one another what motivated them to be on the trail, and 9 times out of 10 they would say, “I watched all of Dixie’s videos, felt empowered, bought the gear, and here I am living the dream”!!! The same is true for my sister and I. ❤️ We decided to hike the AT to honor our mama who always wanted to hike the trail one day but died of Early Onset Alzheimer’s before she could. Dixie, your videos played a huge role in giving us the courage to try. Thank you so much!! I’ll be forever grateful for the information you’ve shared. We’ve now completed just over 1/10 of the trail in a year’s time. And even though we are both grandmas (Yaya and Mimi on the AT), we are determined to finish the Appalachian Trail one section at a time, no matter how messy it gets or how long it takes. You’ve been our inspiration!
It was great running into you in the Smokies - OHDI and Steamer. You both rock!
@@allrightonthetrail8873 awe! It was great to meet you too. I hope your Smokies section ended well. It sure was a beautiful week to be on trail.
One more BAD thing about section hiking is that when you do have to get off the trail you kinda miss the people you were leap frogging with on trail. After a week or two or three you start making friends and then you leave them and start over in a new section.
I'm Section-Hiking a three mile long trail..Went in a half mile and set-up camp.
Hike with your soul, not your ego. I always laugh at the "numbers hikers". Altitude, miles, temperature etc.... When the "numbers" ask me how many miles I've hiked, I say, "50"...lol, you should see their face!! I'm a 10 mile max per day in the Sierra hiker. But I love telling people I hiked a 100 miles and killed some bears and and wrestled a mountain lion! The hardest part about hiking is worrying about my dogs and my daughter at home.
As usual spot on! As a section hiker I would say that I backpack because I love the camping experience, both setting up and sleeping in beautiful places and having quality cooking and eating opportunities. The most recent section was 100 miles and I didn't have the time to spend in some of the beauty I saw as I raced through. The SOBO'S I passed in their last 600 miles of the CDT were driven. It's just different priorities. Your videos have contributed so much to our section hiking experience. Thanks to you our gear is better, our understanding is better and so we can hike further and longer. We are in our Mid 60's and you have extended our ability to backpack by years. Thanks!
Thank you Dixie! Sometimes I think there's some "us vs them" in the hiking community, whether it's thru hikers vs section hikers or both vs weekend warriors. We're all out there doing the same dang thing, just at a different pace. I appreciate you for pointing that out so eloquently ❤☺ Maybe when I'm 67 I'll be able to do the AT like Grandma Gatewood. After I'm done with the Trans Canada Trail 😉
As a section hiker, I appreciate this. Many years ago I was up in Maine and there was a younger hiker, NOBO on the AT, who insistent with all seriousness, that no one should be out on the trail unless they were through-hiking NOBO. I even suggested that maybe some through-hikers went SOBO because maybe a job schedule and his response was "They should quit their job; there's no reason to do it the wrong way." And he was serious.
This was the exception however. This year, after many years of one week hikes with a maximum in a year being 210 miles, I did about a quarter of the AT on a single trip and did a total of 730 miles this year. I found the through-hikers were very supportive. Even after that 566 miles (Water Gap to Roanoke), the 80 I did in Maine a few weeks later was still tough. But on that 566 mile hike, I did twist both ankles around mile 500, and that would have ended hikes on prior years; this year it was a day off at a hostel, then continue on the last 65 miles.
I've encountered many, many youngsters like that. Not hiking though; in another context.
In the context I'm referring to, a Sergeant usually says "Soldier, come over here."
Foolishnes is a privilege of the youth. We were the same.
Great job! I just finished the GR5 in Europe, in sections. 1348miles in total and we did it in 16 years. Now the kids are bigger I dream of a real thruhike. But we'll see. Maybe start with longer sections first and get the hang of it, like you did! 😁 I could have quited my job, but not my kids! 😁 All the best, Kaat
Man, I feel sorry for that kid being so confidently wrong.
Just laugh and ignore people like that, shouldn't be taken seriously
Thank you very much for this video. I section hiked the entire AT after I retired, from 1993 - 2007, (age 57 - 71) doing a section every year except one, when my family tried to convince me that I had done enough. I was originally going to do a thru-hike, but when I asked my wife about it, she replied, "I may not be here when you return." Thus, I became a section hiker. Some of the differences I encountered were as follow:
1. I lived in Houston and New Orleans during this period and flew to the trail most years and took a bus a couple of years so my expenses for travel were more than a thru hiker would experience.
2. Toward the end of my section hike, I found I couldn't stand the trail and cursed it out a lot, but after being home for a week, I couldn't wait to get back. This occurred every trip.
3. I ate the same amount of food and lost about 6 pounds during the hike, which I gained back when I returned home.
4. I never took a zero day.
5. I hiked from 4 - 17 days on each trip. I was eaten up by bugs on a trip I had planned for 17 days, but left after 4. Once I left early because I got a small seed or pebble in my boot and I kept hiking without removing it. It caused a large blister to form and after a few days, I could hardly walk on it. Another time I left early because I was just sick and tired of hiking.
6. Section hiking allowed me to make changes in my equipment and food during the 14 year period. I started off with a 35 pound pack and ended up with an 18 pound pack, including food. I went from hot food to cold food. I never carried a tent, but slept in shelters, most of which were empty when I arrived. Woke up one morning to find a cat sleeping on my chest. I used my backpacker poncho and ropes for sleeping if I couldn't get to a shelter.
7. I always hiked in July and August. No snow and the rain was refreshing. I hate the cold but love the heat
Hood Ornament
Your inclusive perspective, compliments, your knowledge, and skill. Thank you for sharing
At age 78 I set out to do most of the JMT. early on I hurt my back which made for slow starts in the morning and a slower day than planned for. I totally enjoyed that slower pace with many stops to smell the flowers, take many photos. I enjoy the camp as much as I enjoy the hiking so I ended the day a little early so I could do all my chores in daylight then have time in my tent to journal, do some artwork, charge my electronics, enjoy a campfire where allowed. By the end of the 2nd week I realized that I was likely good for a month on the trail and no longer. There was a death two passes ahead of me. The trail was tougher further along and I had already taken some hard falls. What was forecast as an afternoon shower was 4 days of soaking rains and cold during which I spent 20 hrs nursing a fellow hiker who nearly died of hypothermia and I subsequently bonked. Thus I chose to end my hike at 70 miles and 23 days followed by road trekking and camping and hiking with my van. I had started the hike with the idea that if it stopped being fun for more than 3 days I could quit. I've never regretted the decision of turning the thru hike into a section hike. Despite my vintage age I may indeed return and do another 70 to 100 miles. In the meantime I will section hike the Arizona Trail except the portions where water sources are too long a hike at my age. I did have my moment of fame as the oldesr solo woman between Mexico and Canada :) I had traveled what I have been told was the prettiest section of the JMT going NOBO. I have great memories of such stupendous beauty, a wonderful accomplishment, tons of sources for my paintings and so many memories of the people met and spent time with. The people are the best part and I had time I could spend in good conversation.
Anyone else spend the first half of the video trying to figure out what Dixie’s t-shirt says? If so:
“My dog is a pink blazer” 🥰😂
Even as "short" a trail as the Long Trail I section hiked as I couldn't even get the month It would take off. I can't tell you how I felt when I reached the Canadian Border. 18 years later, at 72, I am still hiking but shorter distances. I still wear that end-to-end patch on my pack proudly!
Me, too: 1990s. I had section hiked the Vermont Appalachian Trail, and decided to go back and finish the LT. I tried to thruhike it last fall, but tore the muscles in both of my calves and had to pack it in at 70 miles. This past spring I managed to hike the southernmost 274 miles of the AT in one trip without breaking. 270 more AT miles and I will be done. I'm 68.
@@danielkutcher5704 Us old timers have to stick together!
That’s awesome! Good for you :)
As a section hiker doing this for the last few years thank you Dixie thank you very much.
The thing is you need to have a lot of socio-economic privilege to drop everything for 6 months while people who choose to section hike are often doing the best they can with what their given and deciding to not be defined by their circumstances. That person deserves alot of respect.
I do feel so privileged to have been able to hike while getting paid long service leave from my Midwifery job in Australia it enabled us to thruhike the PCT
A thru hike is too overwhelming for me as a beginner. I wanna learn to crawl before I even try to attempt walking! Thru hiking seemed to overflow & discourage me from even experiencing section hiking! I can't allow that to happen. I'm just glad I realized it! I love hiking period! I hike a lot actually. I've never backpacked though. I've camped in a campground & hiked but not carry the pack & find a spot hike. Subconsciously, all the thru hike info might of held me back a bit. Now that I think about it.
We are all one. We all have a passion & love for mother nature. 🧘♀️🧡 Thanks Dixie!
Every seasoned hiker was once a beginner and tbh that's one of the most special places to be.
Savor it when the time comes, don't rush it, at least not out the starting gate, and what you are likely to get is something that many others can never have because they rushed along and missed it. However you do it will be yours if you just stick to what you can do without putting yourself at risk. Don't ever let anyone else disrespect that.
Stay Calm and
Semper Gumby
I usually do 150-200 mile sections and I'm guilty of saying " I'm just section hiking ". And logistics can be such a challenge sometimes. Great video once again Dixie!!!
Part of my song "My Hike" based on Billy Joel's song My Life:
🎶 It was a pleasure when I got to meet Second Chance
And yes once I was a victim of fire ants
I'm still hiker trash
But you can kiss my ass
If you think drugs and miles
Can beat old school style
🎶 First they tell you you can't hike it thru at your own pace
Then they tell you you're slower than everyone else
Oh but finally you learn that it isn't just a big race
The best way everyday is rely on yourself 🤠
Only two kinds of people really when I'm out hiking.
There's hikers and
There's folks at home sitting on the couch.
That's it.
Stay Calm and
Semper Gumby
We met a some through hikers on the CDT this summer while we were doing a section. One of them said, "The trail is the trail, it's up to you how you deal with it.
Man. On the last video I was all commenting, "Don't feel bad if you what you REALLY WANNA DO is section hiking or whatever" and then BOOM! Dixie follows up on it! For some of us we just wanna get out there (and often are out there just as long as the thru hikers if you count days on the trail.)
Thru hiking is cool and all but it does often overshadow everything else. Thanks for point out that it isn't any more "valid" than anything else!
So right! And while I love to backpack I love my children and grandchildren more. Won't forgo time with them to do a thru hike but I'll drag them along on section hikes.
This topic to me, is similar to the one about which long trail is harder....the AT or the PCT. There is no right answer because they are so different in many ways. The section hiker and the thru hiker debate also has no right answer because of all the reasons you have explained so well. Open-mindness and generousity for others opinions and struggles is ALWAYS the right answer! 😊
My wife and I have been following you for years. We initially were going to do our thru-hike in 2019, went to Springer Mountain, but never really got started. We thought we would delay a year, but my wife had ankle surgery and I had knee surgery, and, of course, Covid. I always wanted to thru-hike from start to finish, but agreed it was best for us to do a section hike thru-hike. We start New Jersey in four days, on Sunday, on our hometown trail, which we are intimately familiar with from day hiking and backpacking it over the years. We plan to continue throughout the winter months, as my wife doesn't do well in the hot summer months. Your exploits and videos have been a source of inspiration to us.
Great sense of humor with the yellow logo in the snow!😂🤣😂
I walked around the whole coast of the UK (5000 miles) using the "section Walking" method, I started in Nov 2009 and eventually finished Sept 2016. I found using my holiday time off from work really energised me and I would look forward to the 10 days walking. I never had any injuries either.😄 Also, I really hate camping! so I used Bed and Breakfasts which thankfully there are many around the coast in the UK.
Wow! That’s amazing
Although I just geared up for section hiking, I consider myself a base-camp hiker. Campsite camping for a week and one 7-8 hour hike to a 4000+ footer a day. Come back to a home-made meal. It takes a whole summer of weekend hiking to build up to it, but I do it to enjoy the views.
I grew up hiking the White Mountain National Forest. I’ve hiked it in all seasons and covered nearly every major trail. I’ve hiked far, experienced natures moods and seen it’s beauty and never left NH, what a trip it was.
Let's Go Brandon ♥️
Thank you for this Dixie! I am unable to do a through hike for many reasons, but hike and section hike local trails weekly. We do backpacking for a few days in the summer. Some through hikers make me feel like that's not important, but it is so important to mental and physical health! Keep on hiking!
I don't have time to do a through hike. The most I've ever done is 3 days on the Ocean to Lake trail here in Florida.
I just love how you're so accepting of everyone's different ways of going about it. I hope your attitude is as contagious as Delta Variant COVID. 😀
Mary Dawson section hiked and did Triple Crown that way. I believe she finished at age 76. Inspired by Grandma Gatewood story and plan to do Grandma Gatewood trail January 15th.
For me, I'm finding myself with a gap in a job coming up in about 2.5 years. I've been seriously considering doing an entire thru-hike of the PCT, but ultimately I'm thinking of doing a long distance section. Start at Lake Tahoe around late April/ Early May and start heading north. I'm leaving my home in the PNW and I kind of want a last goodbye to the Cascade volcanoes. As it is I usually do a 100-ish mile section in the summer in Washington. So far done everything from Snoqualmie Pass down to the south of Indian Heaven, but covering everything from Lassen Peak to Mt Baker in one go would mean a lot. If for some reason the PCT idea doesn't work... might do the Pacific Northwest Trail instead. We'll see as it gets closer.
I also have another consideration on my end with some asthma. I'm just super sensitive to smoke. I got lucky on my last section hike: the one day it got super bad I had a zero in Trout Lake. I even packed some N95 masks to deal with it in case I needed them. I need to stay ahead of it, and that means doing a lot of the sections slightly early than one normally would. Yeah I'll have to do more stuff with snow, and that might mean an extra day or two between resupplies, but still.
Though all that said... I am definitely guilty of doing the "I'm just a section hiker" line.
Thank you so much for explai8ning this. I found it so confusing before. And i think I need a t-shirt that says
"step away from the Matrix" - Dixie,
on it. Lol
I am section hiker on Camino trail through Europa. Every year 2 weeks - 400-450 km. The worst for me with this is that, after 2 weeks of walking my legs and arms become totaly ok with eford and I feel like I could walk forever, but I have to go back home. And the next year all the storry with legs starts from begining. But I feel blased that I am in situation I can disapear from duties and every-day routine for those two weeks at least 😀
Dixie, as always very informative. I live vicariously in watching your videos it like I’m there with you. Thanks for your channel.
Thanks so much for this. I got off the CDT this year at about the halfway mark because I felt that I was blowing past so many areas where I just wanted to stop and soak in the beauty. I never felt that I could afford the time. So, I decided to turn my thru hike into a section hike so I can take more time to enjoy certain areas. However, I’ve been beating myself up ever since because I’ve been concerned that when I actually finish it, I won’t get the same feeling of accomplishment. Maybe I will.
Its about the journey not the destination! You will make so many more amazing memories this way
Section allows us to really see and enjoy the process! So many thru people say they get in the zone and get the miles but miss so so much!
@@MrsStevenBrown that’s exactly how I was. Pretty much heads down and get those miles done. Too much time pressure to stop and smell the roses.
@@richardshields3484 This is really helpful for me, I am moving to Albuquerque this winter, and was planning on thru hiking the CDT once spring came around. But I love swimming, stargazing, paddling, reading, cooking awesome meals, and a million other things I might not prioritize if I was just focused on reaching Canada. I think I will just take my time, explore everything I can, and not worry where I end up when its time to get off the trail.
@@defeater5497 Just keep in mind there are stretches where one is forced to hike at a good pace just to get through the stretch due to lack of water sources. This is especially true in New Mexico.
I started section hiking the AT 25 years ago I've done the bottom quarter of the trail . in The Last 5 Years I started redoing that same part with my son I've always wanted to do a thru-hike
I was going to through hike the AT but found it impossible to take 6 months away from home and other responsibilities, and in the end nobody cares except for a few hiking snobs
We are day hikers, and feel that it is very fulfilling and enjoyable. We go to different places every week, hike different trails. Great video as always!
I love the smell of day hiker in the mornings :)
Section hiker here. For me I'm only able to get time off really late in the season well into fall and I can't really schedule around good weather. So when it comes to weather it always seems to be pretty bad on my trips. But being late in the season also mean fewer people so that's nice and mosquitos aren't a thing either so that's neat.
I agree when it comes to side trips and taking your time. I really enjoy climbing/peak bagging, section hiking allows me to take a day or two to climb a nearby peak when I want, that's a luxury a through hiker doesn't have.
My goal is to one day thru hike but my short term goal is to section hike the AT. I have two more sections planned this month. It's really encouraging to hear you speak of section hikers this way. Thank you 💖☺️
SASH or LASH (short ass section hike or long ass section hike) is also a great way to do a gear & physical condition shake down. It can also help some get used to being alone on trail.
My SASH this past spring showed me my gear was in better shape than my body. After healing up I started a strength/conditioning routine. My next SASH a few months later was so much better and enjoyable.
Where have you been Dixie, you have the best hiking videos!!!!
Hey Dixie, great video! You did a great job highlighting the differences and the similarities, and you can't really say one is better than the other. It really hit me at the end of the video when you were talking about the conclusion of the trail...this whole video totally embodies "hike your own hike".
iam a proud section hiker did the first 50 miles of the Appalachian trail with my dad back in 2019 and did a section hike of the Colorado trail. absolutely love every moment of it. and being able to share my adventures on my UA-cam channel.
I am 64 and have been section hiking the AT since I was 30. I’ve hiked one week at a time, when I could between family and work. I hope to hike more frequently now that I am retired.. You are correct that just about the time you get your trail legs it is time to end. The logistics are much more complicated especially if you hike alone. I use much of the same gear as thru hikers, because weight savings is still very important. Resupply is easier as I take what I need for each section. I love meeting thru hikers and learning from their experiences. Dixie, your videos have been very helpful and enjoyable. Keep up the good work!
Totally admire the dedication!
Nothing wrong with section hiking everybody has their on lives and responsibilities like the quote from Theodore Roosevelt “do what you can can with what you you have and where you are!
Great video. One aspect I see you kinda covered with expenses is gear costs and weights. Those on a thru hike tend to carry/need less weight options which in most cases costs more. I know if Im carrying a tent for a week and 25 miles if its a tad heavy thats okay. But if i'm carrying it for 25 miles a day for months then its going to be light.
Trail family experience is probably the biggest difference between thru hike and section hike experience
Well done on an important question. There has been a social media and Internet people fueled frenzy in the last few years that thru-hiking is somehow more "pure' than section hiking a major trail, let alone just backpacking. I am among the dazzled by Triple Crown athletes, and yes in my mind they are true athletes, that get up day after day and pound out another marathon. I am bad. I can watch a YT video on the CDT or PCT and tell pretty much where the vblogger is. The upside is I have specific areas of the PCT and CDT I want to section hike for 10-14 days. Gila Wilderness and the last 150 miles in Northern Washington. Cherry picking is another section hiking attribute.
Whatever distance you’re hiking, beware of yellow logos in the snow. 😜
I had to rewind a couple of times because I was sure I was seeing yellow snow. 🤣😂🤦🏻♂️
Do you have a timestamp? I definitely missed that the first time around!
@@kimbettendorf3937 it’s about 0:13 seconds in, down in the bottom left corner. 😂
@@susiehilsman1360 thank you!
Spot on, Dixie. It's all about just getting out there and doing what you can.
💯
Agreed - anyone who gets out and attempts ANYTHING - is heading in the right direction and should be applauded!
9:40 Dixie, these are some of the truest things any mortal human has ever said. ❤️👍🏼❤️
An advantage of long sections.. you get to keep going back- you avoid a severe post trail depression because you are planning next hike..
I tell all my friends who are interested in hiking to look at your channel and gear lists. I'm a section hiker BTW because I have health issues such as allergies. Thanks again Dixie
just done A section hike on the Appalachian trail was fun but got get A bear bag before next trip
Watching this as I'm section hiking in my area in NJ! 😆😆😆
My wife and I are starting NJ at the DWG on Sunday. Best of luck!
I did NJ in September. It was fantastic!
I think the seasons argument is really strong for section hiking. If you are thru-hiking you may be forced to pass through certain areas under sub-optimal circumstances just to be able to make it to the end before the season is over. It may be too cold, icy, buggy, wet or crowded for comfort during long periods of a thru-hike whereas if you section hike you can cherry pick the time of year and arguably get the best of what the trail has to offer!
I’m a section hiker. Sort of. Lol. I would really like to be able to get out and hike a section without having to spend my whole vacation time hiking in rain. Lol. It’s so frustrating to plan a hike when you can’t really predict what the weather is going to be . I have to request my vacation in advance and I can’t just leave on a spur of the moment when the weather is great. I definitely learned how to deal with hiking in the rain.
Do you hammock?
It's not my preferred way to camp but it has advantages especially when it's really wet. I recently got a super light hammock from Walmart $40 (I paid a lower sale price). There may be a bit of a learning curve with how to put up your ridge line and knots, etc. It's not like most tents where there is only one prescribed way to set up, but that's part of the whole experience.
@@treebeardtheent2200 no, I have a hammock but I haven’t used it yet backpacking because of weight and extra gear needed. I used a tarp and I slept in a shelter on the trail during a really bad storm.
@@kerrir1955 Well I'm confident that was better than the big slab of rock I crawled under at this time last year in central WA. Storm hit and heavy rain turned to snow. 7 continuos days below freezing 24/7 after that. Moderately high elevation.
Nothing wrong with section hiking. I've hiked various sections of the PCT but not much overall. :) I wish I could take 4-6 months off at a time to do it though.
Isn't "Pink Blazing" a euphemism for looking for love on the trail?
Thank you for admitting that it's still hard, even after you get your trail legs. I assumed that younger more seasoned hikers just took it all in stride. Gives me hope and encouragement to know.
Flexibility just rose to the top of many priority lists. "I'm going to arrange my entire life around my once in a lifetime through hike in summer of...2020."
I’m about to finish my second section hike of the Sheltowee. I can’t take off 3-4 weeks all at once. But, I can hit the trail for 2-3 days every month. The best part of section hiking is that if the weather is absolutely awful, I can put off that section. It has also made it easier for my kids to hike with me.
Fantastic video! I've been considering starting a section hike of one of the big 3 and then chipping away at it over the next decade. My current situation just wouldn't allow for me to take the 4-5 months off to complete it in one go (although I would LOVE to!)
The section hike would be an awesome thing to accomplish! But I also wouldn't want to feel like I 'have' to go backpack the next section in case there is somewhere else I'd rather explore.
Thanks for sharing!
I don't have going back to the job in the back of my mind on a thru hike till near the end.
Although a well planned section hike can be done at any pace you choose and you can carry luxury items.
The Colorado Trail Foundation awards certificates not for thru hikers but for “Completers” - so section hikers of the CT get the same official recognition.
had no idea... done most of the ct with the exception of about 80 miles around lake city
Yellow Logo in the snow - LOL, Aaron you're sick!
I just this season finished up my 3 year long journey from Wisconsin to Canada on the Superior Hiking Trail! 3 years of commitment on every weekend! Best 3 years of my life! 🥾🤘🏼
doing section hikes get to meet thru hikers and hear there storys
WoW Dixie! (As in Words of Wisdom.) Thanks for helping validate us section hikers. For the last nearly 20 years I have introduced myself to that noble band of thru-hikers (for whom I have the GREATEST admiration!) as "just a section hiker". But, like you, many if not most have responded positively to my choice and did not make me feel inferior. It is HYOH (Hike your own hike) in action. Just getting out there marks us all apart from others. Now I can tell people, "Well, I may just be a section hiker, but Dixie thinks that's OK!" And that will be telling them . . . What I like most about section hiking is what you mentioned towards the end. To us, it is our vacation! We can take it easy. Clear our minds. Travel down all the blue blazes. Have an hour lunch (or two if the meadow is nice and sunny and we may, well, take a little nap). Or stop and chat with other hikers without feeling a time crunch. We end up really enjoying the trail, and not seeing it as a "chore" day after day. (Doesn't mean it's easy, since your comment on lack of trail legs is absolutely spot on!) Hiking on after 1091 miles on the AT (only 1100 to go! Woo hoo). Thanks, and cheers, Tortoise
It seems like which style of hike you choose depends on what your priorities are. For people with children or a job they enjoy or things like that, a section hike would allow you to experience that hiking life while still having a home life with your family etc. If you want to be immersed in the hiking life and those ties at home are more flexible, a thru hike makes sense.
I’m really glad that you made this video. I’ve been considering doing section-hiking but my brain is telling me that it feels like cheating because I can’t get to do the whole trail because I can’t just quit my job.
Thank you for this. I am a section hiker with a little over of a quarter of the AT done. I also maintain a career as a social worker which IMO edges out Thru hiker just a little. I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis so again section hiking just works better for me. The catch is that it’s actually more meaningful depending on how I am feeling. Section hiking is IMO tougher than a Thru and I would not change it in any way. ❤️
As they say, we all have to hike or own hike, I think Dixie said that in her last video for sure! 😁 Nothing wrong with section hiking! It took us 16 years to finish the GR5, a long distance trail in Europe! 😁 All the best!
@@StepsbyKaatje OK… I really wasn’t knocking Section Hiking since that is what I do.
It took me two years to finish section hiking the southern quarter of the AT. Which I did on overnights and vacations, even on dayhikes where I had to hike back the way I came but I still felt accomplished after the completion of the journey since that was my goal as I live in Asheville,NC so I wasn't too far away from any trailhead to knockout the 511 mile section from Springer to Grayson Highlands. And another good thing about section hiking is going out when the weather is favorable, although I did go out in winter when I had several inches of snow and temps down in the teens at night.
That commitment is so admirable!
@@LaurenRoerick Thank you.
Is there a name for exploring a section and some of its side trails? There are so many beautiful side trails on the PCT and JMT.
Wandering? I have a t-shirt that says Wander Woman that l rather like!
Leaves me wondering... if I don't ever finish a given long distance trail, am I still section hiking it, if I pick away at sections - or am I just hiking sections of that trail?
I also have to wonder about things like using the Tuscarora bypass, in a single push of the AT, and therefore not being credited as hiking the AT *which is how I would do the AT, even if I don't get credited by the ATC as a finisher.
I live just off the "roller coaster" section and have almost always solo hiked sections of the AT as out and back hikes, so if I ever finish the trail I'll have hiked the a major amount of it twice.
A great comparison of the two most common styles of hiking! It really is what works for you (and in our case ..what works as a Backcountry Couple) Thanks for sharing ! Colleen and Jonny
Hey Dixie I love you videos , Wish I could be as good as you at hiking one day! Have a good day everyone!! ☀️
Great subject. I learned a lot.
"If you're getting out in Nature and crushing goals you're already winning"
Well said
dixie you are the best....always a great attitude......a pleasure to watch....thanks a million
Very well done, thank you for the perspectives. Made me rethink my jmt plans. I'm old and retired which means I'm lazier than I used to be. Also I have the time but have to be aware my mind tends to write checks my body can't cash. Thank you again for all your efforts.
Well our bodies use less calories than those hikers half to one third our age, so we can go more days on the same amount of food they carry 😛
I'm slow on the JMT too.
Well said! The golden years seem to be lined with lead.
@@jurassicstroller803 perfectly said
I wonder if section hikers are more likely to become trail angels, because they live by / get to know a particular area better.
I think you may be onto something. A lot of the trail angels in Florida are section hikers.
There's good trail angels and then there are some that are weird near the PCT.
Some of the qualities involved in thru hiking are dedication perseverance and staying power. I met a gentleman who was finishing up doing the PCT after 20 years hiking 100 miles at a time and a bunch of long weekends. I'd say as far as these qualities go he's left thru hikers in the dust. :) I really think it would be wonderful for him to write an article for outside magazine or something with old photos. It's a great story. I was really impressed!
I do a lot of section hiking throughout the world, and one of the big problems is you always feel rushed to get as many miles as you can in that one, two, or three week time frame that you have. So you end up exhausting yourself and not taking as many zero days as you sometimes need.
Unfortunately, this is what you’re sometimes forced to do when you have limited vacation and don’t want to quit your job. 😉
Thanks Dixie, I enjoy section hiking. I mentally am not tough enough for a thru hike.
Always great to here your insights.
I'm a long distance section hiker but I've never come home sore. (except once I got a bad shin splint) I don't get sore much at all any more but I was sore ALL YEAR my first year of backpacking. I did 1200 miles my first year in 2019 but it took 6 months to do it. It was my Achilles tendons that hurt but it was not too bad. In 2020 and 2021 they never hurt at all.
My trail legs kick in about when I have lost 10-12 pounds which takes about 10 days. I've done 100 mile sections all the way up to 550 mile sections of the PCT and Ive done most of California twice because I live in CA. And since I'm hiking all year (not always backpacking) I'm staying in pretty good shape but doing the Sierras I do need a few days to acclimate to elevation. The first high pass is the hardest not counting Benson Pass which is as hard as the first because it's steep and rocky. I did the entire Sierra section in 2020 and again in 2021 and I was 9% faster in 2021. I would be a thru hiker if I could be on trail more than 2 months in a row but I cant and I cannot sell everything and start over like so many young people can do.
I'm also hiking without a pack about 20-40 miles a week at sea level but with a LOTS of steep hills and I hike local mountains like Mt San Gorgonio . . . I'm 66 years old.
I never carry a stove and I do not eat sugar or junk food so I eat a lot of dried meats and protein powder and peanut butter and then fresh cooked food in towns. I really don't care if I like what I eat or not but I'm so hungry I pretty much like everything . . . I also do not have Facebook on my phone and rarely ever listen to music.
I pretty much try to put in as many miles as I can but I usually don't hike more than 12-14 hrs a day (5am to 6-7pm with a few short breaks).
The BEST part about section hiking is . . . all of it. LOL . . . because I can and I cannot get the time all in a row for a thru hike.
If you like this channel you must like hiking so get out there and do it.
Most if the soreness/injuries seem to come from excessive miles day in day out it seems evident to me.
Yes there may be a few rare hikers who carry too much weight + too many miles and suffer some strain, but mostly excess weight just slows a hiker down and over time most will make any necessary adjustments.
I carry a somewhat heavy kit and it actually reduces my liklihood of injury because I go slower than I would with a light pack.
@@treebeardtheent2200 Nice name :o)
My base weight is around 14 lb and I never carry more than 29 pounds except on rare high water carry days when I also have a full food load. When I started I pretty much just copied what Dixie was doing but with less food and no camera gear. Arc Haul and Duplex tent. The one time I got a shin splint was from hiking too fast just one day with a full pack . . . I payed a steep price for that.
@@hikerJohn Going too fast downhill got me once too. I got excited and violated my own rule not to rush.
My kit weight is rarely less than 60 lbs. Total weight is all I ever bother to measure. Primary footwear not usually included. Coming off trail the weight might be 50 pounds or less sometimes but I've never checked.
Great video! Been section hiking since 2016 and crossed into NJ this past June. Travel from NM every summer, and this topic always comes up:)
I love section hiking! Thanks for the video! ❤️
Good points...Section Hiker I am... It once took me a whole week to go 40 Miles.... My pack is usually 35 pounds and I carry a chair... I have had thu hikers go by that I could feel the breeze they made....I would too to make it to Maine Before October. Both Worlds seek the same thing... Lose our minds find our soul.
I've sectioned long and short sections. Longest was 1800 miles. I've loved them all. I've found that if I only can do a 12-15 day hike with my vacation time, building a crazy route of my own produces the greatest total combination of satisfaction, adventure, pride, lingering feelings of triumph and daily on-trail happiness. As for long trails, I find that about 800-1000 miles is about perfect. After that I start really wanting to go home.