I am finding that as I get older I do not want to do as many miles as I did when I was younger. I used to figure 2 MPH now 1+ is more like it. Another thing that I have found is that out and back trips are not really bad and eliminate a lot of the planning and take the pressure off for finish times. You do not have to be dependent on meeting someone else for transportation. Five day trips are 2 1/2 days in and 2 1/2 days back and the trail looks different in the other direction and you see stuff you missed on the way in.