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03.2014 BACKPACKER 79 Perhaps worried that the atomic sun had poached my brain inside my skull, Mark paused—too long—and then deadpanned: “It has some aspects of that.” That, students of suffer- ing, is known as “generous understatement.” Now you may ask, charita- bly, Why? Here’s why: Did you ever, as a child, dream that you were flying? Remember that intoxicating exhilaration you felt when you awoke, as if every nerve ending in your body was a burning candle? Few activities replicate that euphoria for me. Three, actu- ally: rock climbing, skiing backcountry powder… and trekking 20 or 30 miles day after day. Hiking virtually nonstop on “America’s most beautiful trail” had a delirious effect of altering perce ption, of warp- ing time. That is how humans fly. On the JMT, the natural high lasted for seven days. Well, except for the after- noons. –Michael Lanza E Cover more ground—whether you’re out for a day or a month—and you’ll experience more of everything you came for. Here’s how to squeeze the most miles out of the least am ount of time—with ADVICE FROM THE ENDURANCE PROS who do it better than anyone ever. EDITED BY CASEY L Y ONS