[pct-l] The PCT journey is now over...

[pmags@yahoo.com (Paul Magnanti)]

On Sept 12th at 5:25 PM, reached the Canadian border.
The trail may end seven miles up at the trail at
Manning, but emotionally my thru-hike of the PCT was
over. Camped in Canada the 13th and did a short stroll
to Route 3 in Manning Park, BC the following day.

My thru-hike of the PCT was incredible, as can be
imagined. Sunsets over the Anza-Borego desert. The
mixture of the raw and the sublime in the High
Sierras. The stark, glacier cover of the northern
Cascades. And of course my fellow hikers on the
journey who were such a large part of making the hike
so enjoyable.

My last week from Stehekin to Manning was a great way
to end the hike.  Saw the most thru-hikers I had seen
in a while (Sam I am, Ivan, Dewey, Yogi,
T-Bob,Gottago). Had sunshine for the whole stretch
with incredible scenery, saw all but Sam I am and Ivan
in Manning (get 5 thru-hikers together who just hiked
from Mexico to Canada and the energy is
incredible!)and as when I did the AT, hiked the last
stretch with  Tim, my good friend of many years. (More
like a brother to me than a friend!)

The thru-hike of the AT instilled a sense of
wanderlust that lead me to moving to Colorado and
planning for the PCT. The PCT? Confirmed that being a
gypsy is the lifestyle I want to continue to pursue.
In the future I may 'settle down', but for now other
trails and adventures await.  Mom is going to have to
stop bothering me about meeting a nice girl and giving
her grandchildren and start bothering my two younger
brothers. ;-)

For the first time in four years, I am now clean
shaven. No need to send bail money to get me out of
jail Black n' Blue. :D  Also about twenty pounds
thinner and have a short hair cut again.  Those who
know me from the trail this year or the hiking
community in general may not recognize me!

Now I have to send a reply to all the nice people who
wrote me an e-mail or signed my guest book. I
apologize to anyone who wrote to me electronically,
but my computer time was limited on the trail. Promise
to reply in the next few days.


As before, many, many, MANY thanks to TJ who
transcribed my journal. Will send off the last batch
tomorrow. It will be typed up and sent electronically,
no need to decipher my handwriting. :-)

OK, I am off to relax and watch a movie on my friend's
wide screen TV with a DVD and surround sound.
Civilization does have some nice ammenities....

Magaroni (but as most people call me:)
Mags
LT 97,99
AT GA-ME '98
PCT MEX-CAN '02
CDT '04 ?!?!?!?!?



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The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau

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