[pct-l] Biography's

[jimo@plsstaging.com]

To all,

I think that Jim Owen came up with a great idea, essentially to
bring out the PCT-l lurkers that sit at their desks and read, 
read, read, but never contribute - like myself. I find that 
when I do reply to anyone about anything, I tend to send personal 
email instead of working through the list. I attribute this to 
shyness...
I promise to try and change that antisocial cyber-behavior.

My name is Jim Oakley (Big Bear - AT'93, PCT '96), one of those 
people that stumbled - literally - into long distance backpacking
and finally found something I could do that gave me a true sense
of SATISFACTION when I finished - whether it was a day, week, 
month or an entire thru hike. By no means am I a lightweight 
backpacker -although I have read everything there is to read. 
I found that Ray Jardine was a delightful guy to meet and exchange 
correspondence with and that he had several really great ideas that 
helped me in my planning for my PCT thru hike. I just like having a 
few luxuries on trail that lightweight junkies give me grief about. 
Hike yer own hike!

I'm currently a young 39, single, living in NJ and in a management 
position with a successful audio visual staging business. My job 
allows me to make long range plans that allow me to hike long 
distance, even though the planning stages for the off trail finances 
and living arrangements and the like are along the lines of an Apollo 
Launch.

Like many of the rest, I was in scouting and that awoke me to the
Great Outdoors, but it was my parents that encouraged me to keep 
my interests alive by taking us on long family vacations to
the National Parks during my childhood. My Dad and I did a small 
piece of the AT when I was 14 and I finally returned in 1993 to make 
good on a promise to myself at age 33 by thru hiking the AT. Like the 
rest of you thru hikers out there, that changed everything.

The AT was great, the PCT was awesome and my planning for the 
CDT has already commenced. My experiences have also taken me 
through the backcountry areas in a good number of the National 
Parks, Forests and BLM lands that aren't on the major trails 
and I have enjoyed those two week scurmishes through the 
(somewhat) protected areas of the US. I've learned plenty 
about what the trails are about, what the Hiker World is 
like and what my personal capabilities are. I love to read 
what the rest of the hiker world is thinking (although I find 
the at-l a tough read at this point) and I cherish the friendships 
I've made on trail throughout the years.

The PCT-l is interesting and diverse and I thoroughly enjoy
reading (and hopefully posting) for our world to share. Let's keep
it fun, informative and civil.

Thanks,

Jim        
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