[pct-l] What the PCT is really like?

[Jeffrey Olson]

Just imagine you hate what you're doing.  You hurt physically, either a 
pain that floats through all parts of the body or a heavy lassitude that 
makes you feel like you're walking through mud.  You hurt spiritually 
because you realize what you're doing is empty and nothing more than 
putting one foot in front of the other for a reason that no longer 
exists. And you hurt emotionally.  You are alone and the moment 
stretches forwards and backwards and the minutes flow so slowly.  The 
stark realityis the infinite, empty present.  And you're just hurting- 
heart aching, tears flowing as you walk, or angry and confused - missing 
friends and familyand the couch and beer and sports and your womanor 
man.  You feel the waves of suffering just washthrough you.  You want 
nothing more than to get off the god damn trail and get back to living.

Believe it or not, some version of this happens to almost everyonewho 
walks for six weeks or more.

Jeffrey Olson
Rapid City, SD


On 8/14/2013 11:41 AM, Josh Breslow wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am planning for my first thru-hike in 2014 so I have been reading trail
> journals and watching lots of videos on the matter; Class videos, Wizards
> of the PCT, Tell it on the Mountain, Cactus Eaters, Four Boots One Journey,
> Yogi's Handbook, etc...
>
> I feel like everything I have read/watched seems to show the good side of
> the PCT, the polished version. I want to see what the PCT is really like
> (preferably a movie vs trail journal or book but either is fine), the
> trials and tribulations of doing such an adventure. Is there something out
> there that will show me this stuff? Show me the difficulties of having to
> poop in the woods for 6 months, the achy blistered feet, the moments where
> you don't want to take another step. The difficult times, not just the good
> times.
>
> Can anybody recommend something that will show me these things?
>
> Thank you,
> Josh
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