[pct-l] Hello

[Sean Nordeen]

I'm an engineer. Its my nature to plan. Because even if your plan doesn't
work out after contact with the trail, there is meaning in the planning
process because that research stays with you allowing you to make informed
spontaneous decisions no matter what comes your way.

 I read numerous trail journals in the couple of years before I hiked,
watched every documentary on the trail I could find, and took all the
guidebooks with me (having seperated the pages so I only carried the ones
for the section I was on). I didn't find knowing some of what was ahead to
be a problem.  One I was able to discover common problems with past
thru-hike and hopefully learn from them and thus avoiding the issue in the
first place.  It also allowed me to enjoy some sections that other hikers
hated because I knew what was around to see off the trail (such as in
Lassen Volcanic NP where the PCT avoids all the parks best features). Even
then, the trail will always have surprises you can never prepare (often in
a good way).

 -Miner