Do You Set Hiking Goals for the New Year?

Do you set goals on New Years Day? Do you add hiking into those goals? Maybe us hikers should all set a resolution to not buy any new gear this next year... Or not!

Set an amount of hikes for the year!

Could you do a hike a week? This type of goal is a common wayl to get people on the trail. Honestly, I am not able to get in 52 hikes in a year, though I wish I had time too. This type of a goal will be easier for hikers that live in close proximity to some great hikes.

Set an amount of miles for the year!

This is a way to get more hiking done by not forcing an amount of days to hike. More hiking, less days! How many miles is a good goal?

Pick a region and try to bag all the hikes there!

This can vary by region as far as how many hikes and how long they are. Some regions packed with great hikes, while others are sparse. Go to WTA.org to pick your region or Grab a guidebook HERE

Use Another Hiker's Prior Goals

Have you heard the story of Kolby Kirk? He made a name for himself in this exact category. He set a goal of 100 hikes in just 240 days back in 2009. He hiked 417 miles in that period, including three different states and three different countries. 

The next year, in 2010, Kolby set a goal of of hiking 500 miles and tried to hike with 150 different people. He accomplished the 500 miles three weeks early! He followed up the next year by attempting the Pacific Crest Trail as far as he could and finished after 1,700 miles.

Listen to my interview with Kolby- HERE

His goals are lofty and got loftier each year (LINK to his site). Yours don't have to be that big or can be bigger. Either way, its good to have some sort of a goal.

It has been my goal to hike a major section of the Pacific Crest Trail every year. This year I am trying to complete the section from Highway 20 to the Canadian Border. It is also my goal to continue growing my girls up to also love hiking. They are my inspiration! 

My goals for them this year include summiting Mount Pilchuck and completing an overnight hike!