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I've been considering it for a while, multiple sites quote "$8 - 12,000 ". This includes the official PCTA website, backpacker.com, and Reddit. It's gone up significantly since 2018 when the pcta website suggested four to eight thousand.
Ah thank you! Gosh it sounds such a fantastic thing to do, as does the AT! I’m useless with a tent, scared of heights, bears and all sorts!!
Its probably not for you then.
I used to “hike” thirty-some odd years ago. This involved a backpack with survival items (water, food, small med kit, and emergency shelter blanket with item for signaling for help). A cellphone with a wilderness outreach capability was not a thing then.
This was in no way similar…unless you’re on the primativo?
I think the only thing even close to what I consider hiking on the Primitivo would be the Hospitales, and even 95% of that is just a lovely walk. 
My son has hiked half of the AT (1000 miles). He carried a tent and rarely used the shelters, even though he had a lot of rain in the Spring.
You and me both!
Of the long distance backpacking hikes my son has done, the John Muir Trail has been his favorite, the Colorado Trail next. He liked the AT the least. It is often called the green tunnel and has far fewer views. He also felt it was actually more difficult than the others because it constantly goes up and down staying on the high ridge lines.
I guess that he had a support crew, is that correct?
Correct, I believe a crew of three. From memory the fastest unsupported time is 55 days.
I agree with you. I'd rather walk to destinations enjoying sights and people along the way. I live near the 48 mountain peaks in New Hampshire USA, part of the Appalachian Trail...zero interest. I did climb many of the 4000 footers years ago, but there needs to be something a bit more than trees and stones to keep me interested now.
When I was getting ready for Del Norte, I walked and hiked. I did have to find some hiking trails around where I lived and most the time they were about 20 minutes from where I was. I was also able to hike the same trail to get into the 20 km a day rhythm. Although my days on the Del Norte were longer, it was still a good practice. I have to say that I agree with you that when I walk, I do need to have a destination, and when I hike, I need to reward myself when I finish hiking.
I remember Thoreau bragged about living on “ the Pond” for his daily bread , but enjoyed walking into town for the Tavern. I consider him a lazy dreamer .
Not sure I agree with you here. For me, hiking is when the terrain is such that I have to watch every single footstep to ensure I don’t twist an ankle, and perhaps where there’s a bit of scrambling and maybe ropes and ladders, and I come home the same day. When you carry a home with you, that’s backpacking. I don’t do backpacking.
I agree completely with you - right up until you say that carrying a home with you is backpacking. I spent 10 years backpacking, and then I used hostels; the generosity of friends, family and sometimes complete strangers, or other such accommodation. I also slept under Bridges, in train stations, and a few other - sometimes oddball - places.Not sure I agree with you here. For me, hiking is when the terrain is such that I have to watch every single footstep to ensure I don’t twist an ankle, and perhaps where there’s a bit of scrambling and maybe ropes and ladders, and I come home the same day. When you carry a home with you, that’s backpacking. I don’t do backpacking.
Perfect definition!
I disagree. I can go on a short day hike with nothing more than a water bottle.Perfect definition!
On the Caminos I usually consider myself mostly walking, but sometimes I need to apply more energy when the trail morphs into a hike for a while; it's not exclusively just one or the other.
Absolutely true! Thank you for highlighting this fact.
I identify myself as a long walker.
I chanced on this thread today - it’s ANZAC day. A most significant day for many who remember.
For you, and your people: no words of mine, just this - when will we ever learn?
I would consider myself more of a hiker than a walker. I like multi-day outings with a backpack and the necessary gear for the hike. Although, I've always been a biker and have rediscovered the fun and benefit that comes from two-wheeling trails. Not too mention how much farther I can travel, and how much more I can see in a day. Walker, hiker, biker...whatever you see yourself as or prefer, just keep on keepin' on and enjoy the outdoors!
I am in the Northeast part of CT and looking for new trails in CT to hike. I am looking to doing a Camino soon.
There is the New England Trail.
I think walking vs hiking based upon a definition of countryside, or not, is rather relative, depending upon one perspective of countryside,if that is your criteria on defining it. Surely hiking the Napoleon route, and perhaps its parallel lower route might be considered countryside? And what about leaving Astorga to Molineseca, or Villafranca to O'Cebreiro. In fact for someone who lives in a city, I can imagine most most of the Camino Frances ,outside its cities, as being considered countryside. The distinction is relative to one’s experience.
My thoughts from 7 years ago post Camino.
True for so many issues and questions here on the forum. One reason why it is very difficult to give any definitive answers to any but the simplest of questions. "Is SJPDP to Roncesvalles too far to walk in a single day?" is one of my all time favourites. How can you answer a question like that without knowing the fitness and experience of the person asking?
Rick, not far from me is the "Ice Age Trail" that meanders nearly 1200 miles all through Wisconsin. Problem is that many sections are little used and overgrown. Volunteers are always needed to keep little used sections open. I assume the New England Trail has similar related issues.
I haven't been on it for close to 50 years. I did around 90 miles in Massachusetts and an adjoining trail in New Hampshire on a multi-day hike once. I only had one problem with it, the trail and it's markings disappeared at one point. I saw a faint path through the woods and followed it. It came to a good trail with a tree marked as being part of the trail I was following so off I went. A half hour later at the top of a good sized hill there was a lovely view. The same one I had seen an hour previously. I had only noticed the trail markers in the north direction for a few days and none of the ones for heading south. Once I returned to the path I made sure I took the trail going north, not south.
I thought this forum was about walking to Santiago, ref. the domain name. For the rest of the world, outside USA. (we are quite a few), the trails in the US are completely uninteresting. I wish we could stick to discussing the Camino trails leading to Santiago, if you don't mind. There is a big world outside USA.
What is surprising to me at least is the number of international travelers I've met on the trail. I mean I've met Italians, French, Dutch, British, South Africans, Kiwis, Australians, Asians, and every 5th person seems to be German. I would qualify your statement with "me" rather than the "rest of the world."
Indeed. Tired of reading about some strange US bush walkings as/when this forum is dedicated to Santiago in Spain. Surely, there must be other forums discussing these US walks which are of completely no interest to the rest of the world?
The forum is targeted to people looking for an adventure of a lifetime.
No. This forum is dedicated to pilgrims walking to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Disagree.This forum is about walking to Santiago in Spain. Hence the URL of this site.A. You can opt out of reading any thread on the forum that you want.
B. This thread is about the concept of walking vs hiking, and for many people where they are doing the activity makes a difference. People are just giving examples.
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This is a fair enough comment, but @trecile points out how the discussion is connected. We tolerate and even enjoy some diversion, to some degree.
I don't understand how you can speak for the rest of the world! That generalization is simply an unkind jab.
Having climbed Mount St Helen's in the Cascades before it blew its top as well as McCartney Peak in the Olympics (Washington State), I confess to having walked over the Pyrenees four times... but it can be a strenuous walk...On a slight tangent on the vocabulary we use. Does anyone else wince or shake their head when someone describes walking from SJPDP to Roncesvalles as "climbing the Pyrenees"?
Well, I am one of those from the 'rest of the world' and I am very interested. In point of fact, I came across the concept of the camino when I was researching the PCT. To specifically tie this in to the title of this thread: for me the PCT is a hike, the camino is a walk.
Indeed it is. However the comment you are replying to specifically says:
I typed a long post much of which is covered above but deleted it.
I don't believe that trecile said anything to the contrary. She just pointed out that you can always opt out of reading threads that are uninteresting to you and that the thread is about walking vs hiking in general and not specific to US trails.
My favourite post this year was on Facebook. When the idea of a fee to enter the Obradoiro was suggested in response to a similar proposal in Sevilla. Someone objected that it would stop people completing their pilgrimage because "all Caminos end at the carved stone in the middle of the square." I have been walking Caminos on and off for 30+ years and that was the first I'd heard of that!
I have no idea where that is either! But there's probably a group of cyclists standing on it.My favourite post this year was on Facebook. When the idea of a fee to enter the Obradoiro was suggested in response to a similar proposal in Sevilla. Someone objected that it would stop people completing their pilgrimage because "all Caminos end at the carved stone in the middle of the square." I have been walking Caminos on and off for 30+ years and that was the first I'd heard of that!
Good value?
I guess so - she had a wonderful time and met amazing people she is still close to. But any camino is luxury compared to wild camping for 5 months!
Thx. It sounded pretty good to me but wasn’t sure!
It will be interesting to see what Darren's costs come in at in due course. We've all seen how much the Camino costs have increased over the past few years, so much so that anyone's costs from 2017 are now completely irrelevant. I have no idea what inflation rates in the US are like, but I do recall that it hit something like 8% during covid. I'd assume therefore that it's probably around a 20% increase over the last seven years. Which would put your daughter's costs over $7k. in today's terms. Not bad for 5 months!
I don't know how much hotels/motels in small West Coast towns have increased. Airfares for sure. $7K is still good! When I saw estimates of $12K I was surprised - most long distance hikers are self-confessed dirtbags and "splurge" on stuff like entire tubs of ice cream. But I am also surprised in the other thread about how many people stay at Paradors and expensive places on their caminos. I actually try not to add up my camino costs!
