[pct-l] when to help

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

I am so moved by your words that I'm sitting here at my desk at work, tears rolling down my face (thankfully my co-workers know me well).  The love, my dear friend, is definitely mutual.  

It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of your journey, to be of help in some way.  We are filled with admiration and awe of the intrepid adventurers who set out on this incredible pilgrimage of body, mind, and spirit.  To know that thoughts of those, like us, who serve are closely held in the hearts of those we seek to support is a reward greater than gold.  

I have never experienced anything like this community, ever seen or heard of as many miracles of human kindness as happen on this trail.  It is overwhelmingly good.  From this simple concept of a trail comes countless shining lights of how much people care, sacrifice, and give.  Here is found the finest examples of humanity.  As one woman wrote in the register, "it's the antidote for the evening news." 

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
From: Joanne Lennox <goforth@cnw.com>
Sent: Jul 28, 2005 10:14 PM
To: PCT-L@backcountry.net, "JoAnn M. Michael" <jomike@cot.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] when to help

What is obviously so exasperating is that not only was it a heroic effort to 
get to the meeting place in the first place, but the added time, worry and 
expense of following up on a possible emergency was much worse and far more 
dificult.  Hopefully, you will continue to help and the next person's 
heartfelt gratitude can balance things out.

Subway Sandwich !!! Oh!!

There are two things that I did not mention:  One is that I am much crankier 
on the trail, especially when I am really tired and really hungry.  It is 
possible that this person might be much more even tempered in other 
circumstances.  I have seen things on Mountain climbing outings that are 
very uncharacteritic of the people involved.  It has long been my belief 
that stress really starts to show up after about 1000-1500 miles of a 
thruhike - that is, about in northern CA, although in this case the person 
was a section hiker.

The second is that I keep a very powerful connection with the people that 
helped me on the trail, and I think about them all the time.  I do not think 
an angel knows how their "trail children" hold them in their minds deeply. 
EVery time L-rod posts on this forum, I never fail to read her posts at 
least twice and think about those hours Hopi and I spent in Agua Dulce;I 
remember vividly everything about those hours. Angels have little idea of 
the power of their actions, or their long ranging effects. A number I have 
called but I always think, what if everybody did that, and now I leave the 
time for them to connect with other hikers.  But they are frequently with 
me, and rarely do I think of thePCT without thinking about the experience 
with angels.

trying to help makes you very vulnerable.  It is a difficult thing to do and 
still maintain reasonable boundaries.  Take care, and peace to you.

Goforth 

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