[pct-l] Time

[Kevin Cook]

Thanks for that Tim.

I think you've spoken about your decision to through hike a bit in the past,
but it's always nice to hear someone else thinks as I do. I couldn't
possibly have said this better. Maybe after I finish my hike, I'll have your
perspective and be able to.

One of my favorite Muir quotes is "going to the mountain is going home".

I've squandered enough of my youth. I'm turning 40 the day I start my thru
hike. Time to make good use of the rest of it!

On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 3:22 PM, Timothy Nye <timpnye at gmail.com> wrote:

> As well, having completed a thru hike is, in my opinion, a resume
> enhancement.  I ran a business that ranged from several to up to eighteen
> employees.  Seeing a thru hike on a resume tells me that an individual is
> goal oriented, self reliant, persistent, and, well, I could go on.  I had
> this discussion about the value of a hike on a resume with many hikers over
> the last couple of years.  The majority were surprised at this take, but
> then I also always told them that if this wasn't the case and it was viewed
> negatively, then the employer making that determination was probably one
> that they wouldn't be happy working for in any event.
>
> Life is short.  I was told by my doctor over seven years ago that I should
> go home and put my affairs in order.  That night I stared at the ceiling for
> hours.  The big regret that came from seemingly nowhere was not having thru
> hiked the PCT.  I had section hiked some, but hiking took a backseat to my
> career and even vacations or weekends off became scarce.
>
> I was lucky.  The whole time I went through treatment I told myself that if
> I survived I would hike the trail.  My goal after that was formulate and
> execute an exit strategy that would allow me the flexibility to retire and
> be able to recognize and pursue those things that make life worth living.
> For me this wasn't work.  The people that bought my business, there are
> three of them, are all my same age.  Afterwards, I asked them how much money
> was enough for them to stop working.  They began bragging about the new
> fancy cars they had bought over the last month and how large their homes
> are.
>
> We all get a wake up call.  The question is how much time you have left
> after you answer it.
>
> To me hiking is real life and the education that it provides as to the true
> value in life and what makes us human is incomparable.  Muir was and is
> right.  Going out is really coming in.  Spend your youth wisely.
>