Thru-Hiking Versus A Pilgrimage
Ask yourself this question. "Would I abandon a long walk?" or "Would I struggle harder at a pilgrimage?" I know it is not fair, because I worded the questions with an underlying inner -bias at how I perceive the reason to 'pack it in' or to 'put the nose to the grindstone'.
But IMHO, it is one of the differences that define being on the Camino. I base this not only on my perceptions of the experience, but on the many conversations that I have had with other pilgrims, and with some of the folks that I have met in life who enjoy the thru-hiking experience.
Naturally we are all different and bring different amounts of drive, desire and passion to our activities, but we are all also human with common threads of needs, urges and the complacency of having achieved something remarkable while feeling incomplete at the same time.
So for better or worse, here are some of my differences between thru-hiking the AT and making the pilgrimage to SdC.
Camino de Santiago
- 1. Sleep in albergues/hostels - no tent needed
- 2. Eat in restaurants/bars or cook in the albergue
- 3. Only carry enough food/water for the next town (usually less than 10 km)
- 4. Pilgrims generally do not have trail nicknames
- 5. The emphasis is on stopping and looking
- 6. Pack weight is less than 20 - 25 lbs
Atop Pico de Los Duenos, highest point on the Via de La Plata
Sometimes it's a path or a trail or a road
Appalachian Trail
- 1. Camp out - tent needed
- 2. Cook over a campfire
- 3. Carry food/water for several days.
- 4. Hikers have trail nicknames
- 5. The emphasis is on getting to the next camp site
- 6. Pack weight is more than 50 - 55 lbs
Mid-Atlantic Portion of the AT
Smoky Mountains
So there you have it. I'm sure the list is very incomplete, but these are the things that came to my mind based on my experiences.
What think you?
