Walking starts to feel like a reality when you tell people about your plan. It is a commitment to a goal, and the transformation of your future. It is similar to an oral contract and a statement of expectations. The goal and reluctance to let others down makes it very difficult to change plans or stop hiking. These people and this commitment are the fuel you need to keep going through the hard days, and they are the people you share joy with on the good days.
This year, climbers around the world were faced with difficult decisions about climbing mountains. Many had planned for years to travel the long-distance route. 2020 was their year, but then everything changed. The Corona virus hit the whole country and introduced unexpected and uncontrollable changes. Covid-19 entered the equation and plans had to be changed. Last week, i Pacific Crest Trail Association, Continental Divide Trail Coalitiononce Arizona Trail Association all have recommended that hikers postpone or cancel their hiking plans immediately because of the virus. I was one of those hikers.
I have three big goals for 2020. I plan to attempt a prestigious ultramarathon (Barkley Marathons), the Pacific Crest Trail speed record, and the Appalachian Trail speed record. Months of planning, training, and gear preparation had already set me back a year. Last week, I canceled all those plans. Like many travelers who change their timelines, the opportunity to chase all of these goals at once will never be there again.
A thru-hike is a different and difficult journey to begin with. The logistics involved in taking months-long breaks from human life are complex. Committing to a long trip is not taken lightly, and the sacrifices to make it all work are huge. Climbers often quit their jobs, leave their homes, and rely on savings for years. I had done all these things and I thought I had enough to make epic 2020 happen.
The hiking season starts in March and many long-distance hikers start their treks before then. They were already on their way as Covid-19 and related precautions spread throughout the country. Many pedestrians were far away from the epidemic and did not know how fast things are moving in the big cities. I spoke to two climbers who said they did not learn about the severity of the virus until they contacted family or received messages on social media. They didn’t know what was going on outside.
Things are slow on track. For days at a time, a hiker only worries about finding water and a place to camp. Walkers carry a few days worth of food at a time and go to town and communities several times a week. The virus and the measures taken across the country developed so quickly that many pedestrians felt overwhelmed, confused, and lost. They could not see the hourly growth and the huge number of news related to Covid-19. Then the trail organizations issued statements telling people not to recruit. The governor of California has issued a “Stay Home” warning. Hikers scrambled to find ways out of the trail they thought was safe a few days ago.
I spoke to many climbers who were hired at the end of March in preparation for their trip. They were planning to give up their lease and stay on the trail for the next six months. Now they no longer have that option, and are busy looking for work and a place to live. Canceling hiking is not an easy pivot back to the life people were planning to leave. Their tenants planned to fill their jobs and their landlords planned to have other tenants.
Isn’t walking the safest thing to do right now?
This has been a common question for the past few weeks. Hiking and backpacking are great ways to get away from society, but hiking is not. Hiking is more than walking in the woods. Every few days the traveler will be resupplying the small town. They will often have to hike to that town, shop at the grocery store, and use the post office. Thru-hikers will contact the community before hiking to the next community to resupply. Mountaineers will be a link between many communities that would otherwise be isolated, and can isolate themselves to reduce the risk of Covid-19.
Most of the cities along America’s highways are small. Most do not have large hospitals or easy access to health professionals. They are compact and often involve older people. If one community on the trail becomes infected, the hikers are likely to cause the virus to spread to the rest of the community on the trail. The high risk of impacting these communities has made walking a daunting task.
Those who are still out on foot see a different path than they expected. Resupply has become very difficult and all options other than grocery stores and pharmacies are closed in many communities. It is unlikely that these facilities will remain open for the entire season, and hiking may be nearly impossible this year.
What should you do?
Not all climbers who have given up climbing can simply postpone it until 2021. Most climbers have planned for 2020 to be the year they attempt a long-term dream, with no contingency plan in case their efforts end before they begin. Once the new job, lease, and life have started, you won’t be able to try again next year. The act of telling the same people you’re not taking your trip has a terrible sense of finality. It’s a terrible way for a thru-hike to end, before it even begins.
But these vulnerable communities have taken care of hikers over the years. They have given us rides, magic to follow with devotion, and help us when we are in difficult places. It is our turn to give back by giving back to them. We can do our part by reducing the risk to these trail communities. We can stop walking for their health.
About the author:
Jeff Garmire he is 29 years old writer, author, and hiker with over 23,000 miles of trail including FKTs, the Triple Crown Annual Calendar, and the Great Western Loop. He is a writer and a writer who is always looking for the next outdoor challenge.
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