Got told the PCT is "overrated" by a guy who had only done weekend trips in the Sierras

Ran into this older guy at a gear shop in Bend last Saturday. He was telling me the PCT is just a crowded social trail now and he'd rather do his own thing. I asked him how many thru-hikes he'd done and he said none, just a few 3 day trips. Felt like he was missing the whole point of how a long trail changes you. Has anyone else run into people who trash talk routes they've never actually done the full length of?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_zara27d ago

Did the guy even step foot on the PCT or was he just talking out of his hat? Weekend trips don't tell you jack about what a thru-hike actually does to your head and heart. People love to hate on the popular trails because they feel left out or want to sound like a rugged lone wolf. The crowd is part of the charm, you meet your trail family and share stupid jokes for five months. If he thinks the whole thing is overrated, he should try walking 2,650 miles and see if his opinion changes.

sullivan.finley27d agoTop Commenter

Does it really take five months and a thousand miles to figure out if you like walking or not? Seems like you can have a valid opinion without earning a badge.