You Can’t Rush a Thru-Hike

If you are excited about a future thru-hike, I encourage you to read this—even if you have attempted or completed a thru-hike before!!!

First, just to clarify the title, of course if you are attempting an FKT (fastest known time), then you can rush a thru-hike. If you have adequately trained for your timeline, you can go as fast as your body will allow you. You know your limits and capabilities best! However, rushing a thru-hike when your body isn’t ready for it can get pretty expensive, as it turns out.

Context: How Rushing Costs Money

I was very excited to hike the Long Trail and get some time to be in the woods at peace, doing what I love! 

As a student (with a weird school schedule that begins mid-August), I only get 3.5 months off for summer. During that time, it is very important for me to work and make money. I wanted to take as little time off as possible while still providing sufficient time to complete the trail at a quick pace. I thought 16 days would be enough if I pushed myself. After all, I love a good challenge.

 I would not recommend this approach – and it didn’t actually save me money.

I had been busy with life, and while I was going to gym, I wasn’t pushing my body enough to meet the terrain of the Long Trail.

On Day 7 of my journey, I realized my hike was probably over. I had a few minor physical injuries going on, but that was totally expected and normal. With the timeline I set, even taking a zero (a full day off) would mean that I was unlikely to complete the trail, and I was unwilling to compromise that. I kept pushing and was not taking enough breaks throughout the day, even once my knee began giving me issues.

In the end, pushing for miles resulted in needless injury. An injury that still haunts me months later as I write this.

Lesson Learned

The decision to get off trail did not come easy. At all. It genuinely seemed like something I would never have to do, and it was—in a word —humbling. Even though it was 100% necessary.

The simple truth is that I could have prevented the entire situation by allowing myself the time to go at my own pace. Not everything has to be done as fast as possible, even though it definitely feels that way at times. 

I had read a lot about going your own pace and not setting a deadline when it came to thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Yet, when it came to the Long Trail, that didn’t seem to apply. You almost have to set a deadline. Very few people are able (or willing) to quit their job for a 3-4 week hike.

I wanted to quickly share with you how my plan to save time and money actually ended up costing me about the same amount, without being able to experience the entire trail and inflicting long-term damage to my body. Hopefully, sharing this experience will help future thru-hikers to avoid my mistake!

Estimated Cost Break-Down 

	Estimate for Completing the Trail	Ending Early
	Food – $300 USD ($25/day x 7 more days)	Train – $105 USD
	Gear/Equipment – $150 USD	Hostel – $50 USD
	Hostel – $150 USD	Plane  – $800 CAD (~$598 USD)
	Trail Angels/Shuttles/Etc. – $300 USD	Ride to the Airport – $40 USD
	Other – $200 USD	Food/Entertainment – $100 USD
Total	$1100 USD	$1095 USD

Conclusion

When I actually put the numbers to it, it blew my mind.   I knew it was close, but my estimate was insane. It was essentially the same amount. Even if the numbers aren’t exact, there wouldn’t be enough variability for it to be all that different. I would have much preferred hiking the Long Trail to heading home early and injured.

Overall, I probably spent the same amount of money as I would have by completing the trail, but I was a lot more stressed and missed out on more than half of the experience. 10/10 would not recommend rushing your thru-hike.