Fwd: [pct-l] Help for Post hike depression:PHD

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Spring <kjssail@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Help for Post hike depression:PHD
To: karen.kellerford@gmail.com

Hi Karen - A couple of years ago i started out of Campo, and I got as far as Mojave before I came down with a severe pull of my Achilles tendon.  I limped on into Kennedy Meadows, where I gave it up.  I had been planning on doing a thru hike, but my body intervened.  I'm in my mid-60's, and I wasn't in great shape, but just fair shape.  I thought that I would get into shape on the trail somewhat.  Well, every body is different, and when I was 30 I would (maybe) have been a hot-shot, but at twice that age, I am a bit worn out. So I went home and spent a lot of time - 3 months - in PT, and tried to get into better shape.  A year and a bit later I hiked across Oregon - I hiked SoBo, because of a number of factors.  I live in Portland, and it is easier to access the trail at the north end from here.   Plus - and this is a big one - I wanted to hike against the "current".  It was great.  I met all the 20/30 year old hotshots, most of the 60/70 year old slowpokes and a whole bunch in between.  I figured out that the trail was much more interesting to see at my pace, and going SoBo I was doing my pace.  Only once or twice did I hike with other folks.  Nice - I like the solitude. Now - what I did to overcome my depression, and I did feel some after crashing at Kennedy Meadows, was to get busy at building my body a bit better and stronger than before, and to concentrate on other dreams.  Hiking is not the only thing in the world, although while you are hiking it seems like it is.  Also, I got away from the PCT-L...  It is taken prisoner by the thru-hiking crowd.  (many people who frequent it never have thru-hiked, but just like to hang out with that mythical crowd.)  I use it once in awhile - and then I turn it off.  It is mostly blather, and it makes you think that it is failure to not be able to hike the whole PCT in 4 months.  Even if you are 25 years old, and a sturdy marathon runner, there are plenty of things that might stop the thru from happening.  Injury is just one.  Loneliness, nerves, bad planning and logistics, hiking with fools, etc.  There are a lot of folks on the trail that are quite wonderful - but I was frequently bumping into a merry group of drunks on my hike out of Campo.  That left me bothered, although not as much as the Achilles... Well, good luck - the advice about doing some other physical work-outs is good, and just realize - there is so much more out there that is wonderful then just being able to call yourself a thru-hiker... take care, Spring [pct-l] Help for Post hike depression:PHD I am familiar with PTSD. Is there also help for someone suffering from PHD? Hiked only about 300 miles, planned to make it all the way. Life intervened and through no ones fault but my own, plans changed. Here I am home with no hope of getting to Canada this year, although I will keep chipping away at the miles as I am able, I love being on the trail. I am just too slow. Is anyone else out there grappling with the same disappointment? I would be interested to know how you handled it. (No "I told you so's" please, I feel bad enough)..