Some thoughts before departure...

  • I am still not a vet, doctor, lawyer, dog trainer, cia agent, fbi agent or a navy seal so...walk
  • I am doing this for the challenge of course, and I hope to gain a confidence that comes with this type of endeavor. But also I hope to gain some new knowledge about the world and the truths that reside in it.
  • Am I walking to "find myself"? Or just to take a walk. You decide...and you'll probably be right.
  • I'm not in the best shape of my life, but I do have a lot of new great gear so....
  • After living with my parents the last 2 years, it makes perfect sense to walk 2650 miles - alone.
  • Yes there will be bears, cougars, rattlesnakes and scorpions both imagined and real along the way. I'm definitely more worried about those imagined.
  • Am I scared? Not as of yet, more of just a constantly increasing anticipation. But check back with me on the 3rd night in the desert.
  • I tried to keep my pack fairly light, but I definitely would not call it ultralight. Somehow when I added up all my ultralight gear and put it in my ultralight pack, I ended up with just slightly heavy.
  • My biggest concern for this trip is that I get too hungry somewhere along the way, my brain goes awol as it usually does when I get hungry and subsequently you never hear from me again...I'll try to eat frequently.
  • I am not Christopher McCandless. This is not Into the Wild.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Another day bites the dust

Day 131, Mile 2369ish ---The arrows started flying just after sunrise. It was like in a medieval movie war scene where the sky blackens with arrows. I managed to avoid some but not all. Ok not at all really. In fact the only sign of hunters this morning were seemingly poor elk bugles. I obviously don't know whether it was a real elk or hunters calling, but it sounded pretty weak either way. The first 13 or so miles passed quickly and we had lunch at Camp Urich. It was a really nice cabin set on a large meadow. It was occupied by some folks and their horses who were doing trail maintenance work. Looked like a great place to wait out a storm if you had enough food. The last 15 or so miles didn't seem to go as fast. Certain sections were better then others; one section had amazing huckleberries. A lot of clearcuts but i don't necessarily mind that as it provides access to great views at times. Got into camp earlier then usual and got to set up and cook before dark. Once again we shared a good time eating, talking, and laughing. As a collective, this group has a really easy going and smart sense of humor that i enjoy a lot. There is an owl hooting right now that while a nice reminder that we are out in the woods, might need to be shot if it doesn't stop. Elk have been bugle-ing as well and one just did as i type this, it sounded close actually. Speaking of that, i just want to say that while i have no problem with hunting in general, some methods kind of suck. For instance calling a buck in with a cow call and then shooting it; or putting out good food and then shooting them. Imagine guys getting shot outside strip clubs and Hometown Buffet just doesn't seem right. I am realizing that people probably do get shot outside strip clubs and Hometown Buffet quite often, bad example but you get what I'm saying(writing). Alright this has gone on long enough and poorly enough. Thought of the day; high school dances were awesome. Song of the day; waaalk like a maaannnn talk like a mannnn, something like a man two nye-hi-hi-hite. Craving of the day; Enrique's and the breakfast i had in Mammoth prepared by mí Madre.


JWC on the PCT

3 comments:

Mom and Dad said...

"Walk like a man talk like a man walk like a man my suuuhnn
I think by Lou Christie, but i could be wrong.
I definitely agree with your hunting theory, but you know how i feel about hunting in general, but the Hometown Buffet strip club comment really made me laugh.

Love, mom xoxoxoxox

Lindsay said...

this reminds me of the hunting scene from wedding crashers - "lets hunt something cool like a human being..not a human being that's armed, but a worthy adversary."

Anonymous said...

"Walk like a man" - Frankie Valli, actually - but Lou Christy was an excellent guess!