[pct-l] Reminiscing...

[tangent at meinfelder.com (Tangent)]

At 10:57 AM 2/27/2004 -0800, Chuckie V wrote:
>I stopped in and ate at Jan's "World Famous" Red Kettle Restaurant. I 
>laughed at the "World Famous" part, until I realized that it's very much 
>the truth, thanks in part to the plethora of PCT thru-hikers

I recall fellow through hikers comparing every meal they ate after 
Idyllwild to Jan's Red Kettle and Jan's always came out ahead. I can't 
think of a better breakfast anywhere, myself.

>Thanks to Yogi, I was fired up even more than I had been back at the 
>trailhead! What is it about this trail?

In the section from Skyomish to Stehekin, I came across Chuckie V breaking 
camp at 12 noon getting ready for the day's hike. He'd taken an ungodly 
amount of food for a 4 day section and was stretching out his hike. He 
wasn't a slowpoke, I'd seen him pass me at ungodly paces earlier, he was 
prolonging a great a hike. It was absurd. As a through hiker, I was 
conditioned to putting in as many miles as I could and here was Chuckie 
doing the exact opposite. After a moment's reflection, it wasn't absurd, 
but brilliant.

We were both a bit sore from a summer's worth of hiking, though. I recall 
Chuckie V saying, "I'm through with walking after this. If you see me 
anywhere, it will be with motorized wheels. You know those carts in the 
supermarkets? I'll be on 'em!" I privately swore to sit on my ass for 2 
weeks after the hike, watching nothing but movies. I never quite got around 
to that, either.

What is it about the trail? Somehow the views, the quiet time to think and 
generous people you encounter combine to create a powerful and compelling 
experience. If it was just the views, I would just go back to the Goat 
Rocks and the JMT. I could likewise visit the people easier by car. 
Additionally, I can get more solitude in many places off the PCT. I think 
the usual distractions and stresses of life leave us out of touch with what 
is really important, while being on the trail makes things clearer and more 
easily enjoyed. It's like going to a spiritual chiropractor.

Hope to see you on the trail soon, Chuckie.

Tangent