[pct-l] Goal Oriented Hiking.

[kborski@xxxxxxxxx (Karen Borski)]

"Paul E. Dietrich" <cactus_paul@earthlink.net> wrote:

I am always fascinated by discussions like Appalachian
Trail vs. Pacific Crest Trail, or Thru Hiking vs.
Section Hiking.


Pedestrian!

Don't know if you remember me - Nocona.  We met at
Warner Springs, eating burgers (and salads, and ice
cream and chips and salsa and...) outside on the
picnic tables.  Glad to hear you are getting back out
there.  When and where did you get off in 2000?  I got
off at Independence and am trying to get back out
there this year.

About your questions:  I got out on the AT first time
because I have always been fascinated by wilderness
and adventure.  When I first heard about thru-hiking,
I immediately became obsessed and knew it was
something I needed to try.  I set a loose goal to hike
the entire trail, all of it, because I wanted to know
the land from point A (Springer) to point B
(Katahdin).  I allowed myself freedom of mind to quit
hiking if I knew it wasn't worthwhile.  It took all of
one mile on the AT to decide it was...and my
appreciation for the trail grew every step to
Katahdin.

What I got out of the hike was NOT what I thought I
would get!  There was wilderness and adventure, but I
got what I didn't know I needed:  my faith in humanity
restored.  What a surprise to me to find that gift out
in the woods, of all places.

So, I've lived the hiker lifestyle and different types
of non-hiker lifestyles (working retail, professional
jobs in high rise office buildings, high pressure, low
pressure, suburban, city, etc.) and now I know without
a doubt, that the hiker lifestyle is FAR BETTER for
the mind, body and spirit.  There's really no
comparison for me.  Once you know this, it's really
hard to avoid getting back out there as soon as
possible.  So, my PCT hike....and my second attempt
hopefully this year.

My goal is again to walk from Campo to Manning Park
each step, knowing the land all the way.  I like to
connect the footsteps so that in my mind's eye I can
"see" all the way from Canada to Mexico.  (It's a
comfort to me to be able to "look" up and down the
east coast using memories of my AT hike).  But my
motive is to enjoy the people, enjoy the happiness of
the lifestyle, the healthiness of living right.  Thus,
I like to stretch the trail out to be as long as
possible time-wise.  I want the journey to last and
last.  I never seem to want to get off the trail.

Nocona

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