Build Flexibility And Options Into Your Trip Plan

I am seeing quite a few people proposing some fairly ambitious hiking itineraries. (Which is their right and their choice. Go for it!).

Some of them seem to have a good "backup plan" -- in case they encounter unexpected issues or delays. Others seem to be leaving themselves very little "wiggle room" for things like transportation delays, weather delays, slight injury, or illness, etc. A lack of "flexibility" in one's itinerary can be particularly problematic in situations where you are crossing the Island and/or meeting transportation (or having "food drops") at a specific place and time.

Allow me to give an example:
I usually build a day or two of "flexibility" into my itinerary. I achieve this by doing things like intentionally planning for easy hiking days for the first day or two of my hike---having a "zero day" somewhere in the schedule (where no hiking is planned)--and/or having a route that can be shortened if needed.

In 2020, my seaplane arrived on the Island approximately 24 hours later than planned due to fog and other issues. So, I was a day behind schedule before I even set foot on the Island in 2020. Then, on day three of my hike, I encountered many hours of torrential rains and severe lightning. Thus, it was not safe to be on the lightning-exposed ridges (which are also dangerously slippery when wet). Therefore, I stopped for the day at a different campground (many miles short of my planned destination for the day). Overall, I was 1.5 to 2 days behind on my planned itinerary. If I had not intentionally built a couple days of flexibility into my schedule, I would have faced a very severe problem getting to my seaplane on time at the opposite end of the Island.

It is great to have an ambitious itinerary planned. (I personally have an ambitious plan for my hike in August 2021). However, it is also good to have great flexibility built into the itinerary--in case you encounter issues that can "put you behind schedule".