[pct-l] Rail Riders/Thru Hikers

[Matthew Edwards]

Okay, so I am way hungover after my sendoff party thrown by my neigbors, the Santa Cruz Mountain Boys/Girls. It totally interrupted my intended training regimen but whatever. I am cruising up HWY 1 (Sober now!) and I see this hitchhiker that totally reminds me of a thru hiker. 
Long story short, I am now 300 miles away in Arcata California. We got to talking and We were both so fascinated by the similarities in lifestyle between Thru's and Rail-riders that I kinda overshot the Golden Gate Bridge by like 250 miles.. Whatever.
I figured I would pay my hitchhiking "Kharma" forward for my upcomming CDT thru-hike;
These modern "Hobos" are almost identical in resupply strategy and philosophy to thru hikers.
LINT.. I totally understand where you are coming from now man!
Anyhow, along the way I passed many a road sign that bore vague references to things I saw on the PCT.
It is really amazing to come back so close to the trail yet on the far North west side of California.
I have lived in this state for 40 years and never bothered to come here.. Crikey the have some huge  Redwoods up here! It makes our little groves in Santa Cruz look like toothpicks!
The overall Point:
Be nice to your fellow humans be they section, thru, or day hikers. 
We ALL share a common Love of Wilderness and town. 
Your hike may begin in the dry dust of SOCAL but end far beyond the Canadian Border.
In Fact the end may never come.
It is scary... but Y'all and your ways are making sense to me now.
Be careful. Thruhikes and Epiphanies go hand in hand.

Cheers-Iceaxe
 PS. Tomorrow I check out the "Lost Coast".
Squatch.. I get it now! 


Hikestrong 2010