Rant: hit 500 miles on the PCT and my body felt worse than at mile 50, so which is it?

Keith Scott · 2026-10-18T01:30:03.467377+00:00

I crossed the 500 mile mark near Tehachapi last month and was sure my legs would feel like machines by then, but my knees ached more than they did back at mile 50. Some hikers swear the body just needs 3 weeks to adapt and pain after that means bad form, while others say the 400 to 600 mile stretch is the real wall nobody warns you about. Did your body get better or worse after the first 500 miles, and what got you through it?

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Rant: hit 500 miles on the PCT and my body felt worse than at mile 50, so which is it? | Backpacking Routes - Thought Shares