[pct-l] How the PCT differs from the PCT-L

[dsaufley at sprynet.com (dsaufley@sprynet.com)]

Try as I might, I cannot find any community of people, either real or in cyberspace, that comes close to the experience we have with those hiking the Trail for a long distance.  

Even though the PCT-L is mostly comprised of long-distance hikers and aspiring long-distance hikers, they are at the time of contributing to the PCT-L in the "real" world.  I know some could successfully argue this point!  

I've shared this with hikers as they travel through, so forgive me if some have heard this before, but I have an armchair opinion of what makes the experience of being with the "in process" hikers so different.  DISCLAIMER:  What follows is a broad generality; not all "in process" long-distance hikers fit this description perfectly.  It also fits where Hiker Heaven is on the trail -- 464 grueling miles into the experience.  Further south, my suspicion is that folks haven't been "purified" as completely by the act of hiking the Trail.  So, here goes"

"First plant a deeply seated motivation deep in someone's soul; the call of the wild, the desire to fulfill a lofty, difficult goal that is far from easy or ordinary.  Remove them from the work-a-day world, not just for a brief vacation but for a sustained period of time. Remove schedules, appointments, household responsibilities, automobiles, the demands of work, and the ordinary daily stresses we all experience.  Remove the cacophony of soundbites we're bombarded with from countless sources, and the painful witness of the tragedy that exists throughout the world.  

Place them in the wonder and awesomeness of nature -- make them see it, smell it, wear it, become it.  Make them suffer physical hardships, exalt in overcoming challenges.  Humble them with towering mountains and sear their souls with burning deserts.  Give them limitless time to think -- alone, deeply, and without distraction.  Let them experience the bond of camaraderie with those who have also struggled and persisted.   And what you get is the soul of a person, down to its core, without pretenses, accepting and appreciative beyond measure for things that were never even given consideration in the lives they lived before -- clean clear water, a soft flat spot to lay down, the inexplicable spontaneous kindness of strangers.  This is clearly an altered state of being that cannot be replicated any other way. 

To me the PCT is more than just the people to hike it, or a physical structure that crosses the landscape.  It is a living miracle -- the concept of freedom of the body and the spirit, the refuge from civilization.  The miracle of it is that so many people, in different ways and through different means, have come together to make this concept possible.  It isn't done by government mandate -- it isn't something that any of us have to do.  But we're drawn to this larger and important concept -- whether it is to swing a Pulaski and toss brush, lobby Congress, give a hiker a spot to rest, or find the time in one's life to get out there and experience the miracle in their own way -- fast or slow, bohemian or engineered in method or style, and everything that fits inbetween.   That someone dreamed it, others create it, and so many have voluntarily come together to love it, is a miracle."

This is why I believe the PCT is different from the PCT-L, and why you don't hear the same voices in both places.  But, the PCT-L is as close as I can get to the soul of the PCT, until the hikers return again.  

Looking forward to that tremendous blessing again in 2005 -- good luck to this year's class in all their preparations.  

-=Donna Saufley=-

p.s.  Chuckie, sorry to hear about your friend and that he wanted to but never made it out there.  Jeff is considering hiking from the border to Agua Dulce with the northbound crowd in '06, and I am planning on a southbound hike of the JMT that same year (after the season passes our section).  We'd be honored to spend a little time with you out there, if it works out.  There, I've said it -- now I'm committed in a public forum!  Hope I've learned enough from everyone to not hurt myself out there.


-----Original Message-----
From: Chuckie V <rubberchuckie@yahoo.com>
Sent: Dec 23, 2004 10:54 AM
To: PCT-List <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Subject: [pct-l] How the PCT differs from the PCT-L 

 >>>>Some dogs, like Hurricane Helen's (Lights Out Larry's spouse), do absolutely fantastically and have great enthusiasm and athleticism for the hike. That dog was in fabulous condition and I still remember how excited the dog was to get back on the trail again -- its whole body was wagging! It was so happy to be on trail, it could have pulled someone to Canada!   -=Donna Saufley=-

 
 
I'm willing to bet it was a Border Collie. Not only are they stronger than any hiker here, they're a bit smarter and less opinionated too. This leads me to my next thought:
 
On this list, there are lots of different opinions and by many different people of diverse backgrounds. It is a great place to share experiences and to learn from others, which I hope is the mission of this board. That said, it is also a very negative place in far too many respects (as this letter may sound to some). The "I'm right, you're wrong" view is omnipresent here; (dogs vs. no dogs; bear canisters vs. no canisters; ultralight vs. more comfort; today's hikers vs. "back in our day", etc). It's ironic how different it is out there on the trail, where nearly everyone is upbeat and positive---and open minded, no matter what 'humble' convictions they may have, or what choices they make en route. I am a liberal, left wing, tree-hugging hippy purist at heart and yet one of the people I became closest to on the PCT was a fellow named Load, who makes our president (for those of us in the US) look like a southpaw compared to me. Did it matter to us out there? No. We enjoyed each
  other's
 droll, talking in depth, understanding one another's stances, and hearing why we each felt the way we did about our beliefs. We didn't argue until we were blue in the face and then repeat the same arguments over and over. (Though we did hike until we were blue in the face, and for whatever reason, repeated it over and over). 
 
I guess all I'm really trying to say is we should all strive to keep more of an open mind here as we likely would on the trail...so, to next year's crop and those beyond: Go live your dream. Start when you want (February is NOT too early if you go slow enough and June ISN'T too late if you're quick enough), bring your dog (Disclaimer: except where the law prohibits it...but even then, one must first know the rules in order to break them and it's not a law to know the law), forget your bear canister (Disclaimer: except where the law 'requires' it...), go for a speed record or go for a slow record, and keep an open mind---and in shape. The knowledge you'll gain is greater than anything here in this forum because here's the thing: Wisdom isn't received, you must discover it for yourself, after a journey no-one else can take but you. Unlike this list, on the PCT, things aren't always just black and white; in fact, they're every color conceivable and they are all beautiful. Go see
  for
 yourselves.
 
My next big hike is for my buddy Stevie, who never took the chance---and therefore, never got the chance---to do his thru-hike. I'll be spreading some of his ashes en route.
 
A piece of my mind and peace of mind to all,
Chuckie     
 
 
Merry X-mas!









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