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[pct-l] "points to ponder"



I struggled a bit in order to finish the trail.  During my hike, past the
middle of Oregon, when I'd talk to others about my trip, I'd say, "I
couldn't start my trip now.  I'm tired."   Toward the last third, I was
hiking just so that I would finish.  Slowing down helped improve the end of
my trip, as did dropping down to 22-mile days.  Oh, and the beautiful parts
of Washington made it more enjoyable.  I had great hiking companions, which
really helped too.

Not wanting to be a quitter was not my motivation for staying on the trail.
I stayed on because I wanted to hike the PCT: I wanted to move through & see
the landscape. I wanted to travel from border to border by foot. I wanted to
challenge myself. I wanted to enjoy nature. Knowing that I was on foot to
get where I needed/wanted to go was incredibly empowering.

As Iron Chef said, living outside for 5 months is an amazing thing.  I
walked the trail with the notion that the trail was like a long series of
rooms in a nearly endless outdoor house.  Every night I had a new bedroom.
So many of them were powerfully memorable.  As I'd stop for a meal, I'd look
at my new kitchen and dining room.  When I'd listen to music on the trail
(gasp!), I'd notice my family room and how the landscape I was moving
through seemed choreographed to whatever I was listening to.  I guess, to
complete the analogy, the duller parts were just a hallway on the way to
another spectacular, or at least unique, room.

I look forward to thru-hiking the PCT again.

John B./Cupcake

"Ben Nyblade" wrote:
> To me personally the most unfortunate
>are those who realize that they aren't enjoying [the trail], but are loathe
to quit
>for various reasons - some people are incredibly achievement-oriented, some
>just don't like to quit or appear as being a quitter.