I've noticed that the term "thru-hike" is being stretched in its meaning. Not that this is especially egregious. A more global term would be to call these "treks". And some of these aren't exactly "long-distance" either.
I've done the Paine Circuit (which includes the "W"), and would never call it a thru-hike or long-distance. It sounds weird to me to call any loop hike a thru-hike.
I've done the Paine Circuit (which includes the "W"), and would never call it a thru-hike or long-distance. It sounds weird to me to call any loop hike a thru-hike.