[pct-l] KAREN'S HERO

[Reinhold Metzger]

I remember when I first hiked Mt.Whitney in 1968 with Karen (my wife), 
and Schatzy, our miniature dachshund, hauling a monster pack and wearing 
combat boots.

BTW....you ain't  "Hard-Core"  until you hiked Whitney in combat boots.

I remember Karen, Schatzy and I sleeping on one lounge chair, covered by 
a military horse hair blanket, at Whitney Portal.
It was not all that comfortable, but Schatzy, under that blanket, 
between Karen and me, liked it just fine.

I was a bad a$$ recently discharged Marine Corps "Grunt" (Infantry), 
used to hauling heavy packs and treating my women right.
So, it went against my grain to have my lovely recent bride haul a pack.
So, everything went int a "Marine Grunt" pack and onto my back with 
Karen skip hoping along.
BTW......I also had to carry "Schatzy" most of the way.
Schatzy was a great athlete and just loved to run, but with those short 
legs she always seemed to be in a  cloud of dust and the only thing not 
completely covered with dust were her brown eyes and black nose.
So I took pity on poor little Schatzy and carried her most of the way, 
with me moaning all the way.....like I said I treat my women right.

But Karen cooooing into my ear....."Reinhold you are my hero".....made 
it all worth it.
That is  "ALL"  I ever wanted to be......."Karen's hero".
Of course I was Schatzy's hero also.

Say guys, I understand now-a-days you guys make your women carry their 
own packs.

Yes, things have really changed from the days when Switchback and 
Reinhold ruled the trails.

JMT Reinhold
"Karen's Hero"