Is this how thru hiking is supposed to feel?
I’m considering hiking the PCT next year and am very conflicted. I’ve done two “thru” hikes: the JMT and the West Highland Way and they were both absolutely incredible experiences. I am in love with the community that forms on long trails and the feeling of a zero day after grueling endless days of hiking, but I worry that my love of the community is greater than my love of the trail. I was in awe of the beauty of both the Sierras and the Highlands and spent a fair amount of break time sitting trail side beyond content to be amongst landscapes that I felt I couldn’t get tired of looking at, but when I was hiking, a lot of that was spent with head down and limited introspection, more like “5 miles til camp and hanging out with the people!” Large sections of the Sierras were the absolute hardest thing I’ve ever done and, while I’m proud of myself and wouldn’t trade the experience, I remember being in lone pine and summarizing the experience as “10/10, never again” simply because of how truly beat up I felt.
My big question I keep asking myself is: do I just need to do a medium long hike ever year to scratch this itch, or should I attempt the PCT? Is my experience on these trails comparable to what others feel on the PCT? I know I know that everyone is different and we need to hike our own hikes, but I’m still curious.