[pct-l] Where to start?

[Matt Thyer]

Speaking of lifestyle decisions, I've been sitting in my office for days now
wondering if I was going to get laid off (the company I work for cut some
more yesterday).  That's a personal curiosity regarding fate which has
several meaningful components in my case.

Years ago I made my living (eked it out actually) as a backcountry
wilderness guard on a large Wilderness in Colorado.  I was, as Buckwheat
mentioned to me this summer on the PCT, money poor and free-time wealthy.
My "job" was to backpack all over untrammeled wilderness, and while the end
of each summer saw me getting a little down in the boots about crisscrossing
the Flattops one more time, by and large I was exceptionally happy about
what I did for a living.

At that point, my life had a central focus and very little scope.  Pretty
much everything revolved around my feet and the house on my back.
Entertainment was a mix of leisure activities such as listening to the camp
ground hosts on the radio at night ("Did you get that truck load of TP Mel?
Over."   "Yep we got it, thanks.  We were about out and I can't imagine what
might have happened.  Tell Dave thanks for swinging by, and that we're sorry
we were up the trail when he came, over."  "Will do, what are you and Marsha
having for dinner?  Over."), reading library books that would almost always
be returned late, and writing stream of conscience misspellings in a
journal.

These day's I've got many more distractions, but the scope of my life has
grown exceptionally by comparison.  Right now I'm finishing up some work at
the office, listening to music, and occasionally stoking the fire to warm
the house up.  The feet and the backpack are still with me, but there are
many other responsibilities which now accompany my feet and all of those are
situated in within a percolation of life which exceeds the boundaries of my
backpack.

I almost hope that my name gets put on that list.  That some morning an
impersonal pink slip will show up in my inbox necessitating a serious
revaluation of my options.  A reevaluation of what should and should not be,
can and cannot be included in my day-to-day existence.  Walking can be a
lifestyle.  It can be the left and right bounds of your reality and in some
ways (despite the lack of dental care) it is a highly preferable mode.

Tempting the Fates, especially Atropos,

Matt "trail nameless" Thyer

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of jeff.singewald at comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 10:21 AM
To: Laura Newman
Cc: PCT mail box
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Where to start?



Laura, 



This is really a personal choice decision that you need to make yourself. 
If you are interested, for whatever personal reason you may have, in
completing a single-season thru-hike than theoretically the only way to
accomplish this is start again from the border.  If your goal is to hike the
entire PCT and a single-season thru-hike is not an important, it would seem
that you do not need to re-walk the section between Campo and Auga Dulce. 



The definition of a thru-hike seems to have taken on multiple definitions
over the past few years.  For some a thru-hike is an end-to-end or hike and
for others it is more a definition of the lifestyle of a long distance
hike.  You will need to identify for yourself what it is that you want to
accomplish and what you will be satistified with. 



Heck, if I had the entire season open to hike next year, I personally would
choose to start from the border.  Those first 454 miles to Auga Dulce are
quite beautiful in their own way and I would definitely enjoy hiking those
miles again.  But, that's just me. 



Enjoy the process of coming to this decision about what will bring you
satisfaction. 



Elevator 




----- Original Message -----
From: "Laura Newman" <newmanonthepct at gmail.com>
To: "PCT mail box" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 10:48:16 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: [pct-l] Where to start? 

Hi All, 

I tried my hand at thru hiking in '09 but got as far as Agua Dulce due to
calendaring issues etc.  I have one more year off from work and want to try
again in 2010.  My question is do I start where I left off or do I start the
whole darn thing over again?  Looking for some sage advice on those that
have been in a similar situation. 

Thanks, Laura
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