I just point out that I don't personally believe it's average for most backpackers on the OHT trail.

Jon quoted one of Tim's books:

Quote:
In Tim's guide for this trail (Fourth Edition, page 17) he states the typical hiker in great shape can do the trail in 14 days (165 miles). That would come to roughly 12 miles a day.


Tim points out in that passage that he is speaking of someone in "Great Shape". My point is, this does not describe the "Average" OHT backpacker. It probably does describe those who Tim hikes most with though so, for him, it may be a valid average.

I failed to mention that the reason I think that 10-15 miles per day is above average also has to do with the topography of the Ozarks. While we don't have high mountains, or even low valleys, we have almost no flat land at all and in between the two it's not ever very far and it's almost always very steep.

Kindest Regards,

Bill