[pct-l] motives for long distance hiking

[reynolds@iLAN.com (Reynolds, WT)]

When you step on the trail you have either one of two expectations. 
1-You can be petrified with the journey and full of fear of what is around
the next bend. If this is true you probably will remain a couch potato.
2-You can trust your preparation and step on the trail with gusto
anticipating something new around every bend and trusting in the almighty to
overcome those unexpected problems that develop.

I bring this up because a friend was diagnosed with cancer on Friday,
entered the hospital on Saturday and died the next Friday, yesterday.

My advice is to take a hike into the unknown because someday you will be
required to.

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: David hiking PCNST in bits [mailto:pcnst@oakapple.net]
Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2002 4:47 PM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] motives for long distance hiking



I am supposed to plan an El Camino pilgrimage to take place in June 2003.
The following is from a book description about El Camino de Santiago -
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0520217519/
I wonder how much of this applies to PCT aspirants as well:

 ...provides a colorful
 portrayal of the pilgrimage while revealing a spectrum of hopes,
 discontents, and desires among its participants, many of whom feel
 estranged from society. The Camino's physical and mental journey offers
 them closer community, greater personal knowledge, and links to the past
 and to nature. But what happens when pilgrims return home? Exploring
 this crucial question Frey finds that pilgrims often reflect deeply on
their
 lives and some make significant changes: an artistic voice is discovered, a
 marriage is ended, meaningful work is found. Other pilgrims repeat the
 pilgrimage or join a pilgrims' association to keep their connection to the
 Camino alive. And some only remain pilgrims while on the road. In all,
 Pilgrim Stories is an exceptional prism through which to understand the
 desires and dissatisfactions of contemporary Western life at the end of the
 millennium. 
 "Feet are touched, discussed, massaged, [and] become signs of
 a journey well traveled: 'I did it all on foot!' . . . 
 Pilgrims give feet a power
 and importance not recognized in daily life, as a causeway and direct
 channel to the road, the past, meaningful relations, nature, and the self."

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