[pct-l] The Impact of the Trail

[marmot marmot]

Dear Michael,As an artist, when I was thru hiking the Triple Crown, I did one "endless painting" for each of the long trails. That means on each trail, I sent a 75 foot long rice paper scroll to myself. When I went into town to resupply,I also painted,then rolled up the scroll and sent it to the next town. Now,I remember the images I need to reproduce and paint the scrolls when I return home. Often they are of something that made on impression on me but could not record with a camera. Recently I finished rehiking the PCT in sections. While out on the last 700 mile section I had my first mountain lion encounter---something of which of course I have no pictures(I was busy scaring off the mountain lion). I will be painting my memory,my feelings.  My experience of the trails has been that in the beginning they pushed me to my absolute limit. I would arrive at some point and think," if it gets much more difficult I won't be able to do it". But,it was never true. It got harder,I just kept on doing it--I always could. I did the Triple Crown in the 90's. The AT and PCT were finished trails (if,especially the PCT, a bit lonely) ,but the CDT was just an idea for about one third of the way. I had to decide to do what ever part of it that I could find and enjoy being lost the rest of the time. The trails gave me the room to decide what sort of life I wanted and then I had to go out and get it for myself. I don't know what my limits are. I just keep breaking through what I imagine I can do. It's like being on the AT,coming to a high river crossing,sitting on the river's edge crying because it scared me, taking a deep breath and figuring out the way to do it. The AT taught me how to be a long distance hiker and all the other trails(at this point somewhere close to 15,000 miles,I've lost count)let me stretch that experience to what ever it could become. If you allow it---- the trails will change your life. Marmot

> Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 09:25:24 -0700
> From: michael.slusser at gmail.com
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] The Impact of the Trail
> I've been tremendously impressed by the thought and insight I've seen in
> the messages here, and I'd like to pick your brains for my own edification
> and that of others.
> 
> As part of my efforts to hike the hike next year, I will be applying for a
> sabbatical from my college. My hope is that the experience will help me
> craft a text for students on observational writing with a focus on
> wilderness and our connection with nature. To convince my superiors that
> this is a worthwhile effort, I'm combing through sources about the impact
> of wilderness experience on our sense of self and our perspectives.
> 
> To that end, I'm looking for anyone willing to weigh in here, since so many
> of you have succeeded in the journey I am hoping to take: how has the trail
> experience--specifically on the PCT (or other long trail)--affected you?
> How has your perspective on life and culture, and your connection with the
> natural world, been shaped by the long trek?
> 
> Any thoughts would be much appreciated, and I'll be certain to give credit
> for any comments used in the proposal.
> 
> You folks are awesome.
> 
> Michael
> 
> -- 
> *Quid sum? Nil. Quis sum? Nullus. Sed gratia Christi, quod sum, quod vivo,
> quodque laboro, facit.*
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