By Sam K White
People of the PCT
Adventure On The Trail
Share
Tweet
Sam K White
Half Mile (Lon Cooper) and Deb are now doing gps maping of the entire trail. His maping is available on the internet for free at http://halfmile.com. Very detailed. For an example of how detailed...when I had the honor of giving them a lift to Cameron Road he walked from the car to the exact point he stepped off of the bus to turn his gps on and continue on the trail. I would rather have met him than any movie star.
Who are these people strolling the streets of Tehachapi, looking a bit dirty, suntanned, bearded, having backpacks, close enough at the right time of day, body odors. PCT Packers they are. Trail mile 558 is at the Cameron Road and Willow Springs junction, 10 road miles east of Tehachapi. Most began their pilgrimage at the border of Mexico in mid April, and Tehachapi is only a few miles short of their first ¼ of the journey. Tehachapi is a way-point on the trail. Here they resupply, mail and receive packages, and many spend the night in town as a 'ZERO' or a 'NERO' day.
In my role as Trail Angel and host at Camp Tortoise I have met packers from countries around the globe. Israel, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, England, Canada, America, to mention a few.
Statistics and meeting many tell me about the average packer: They are of all ages (26 Average), sexes (65% Male, 35% Female), nationalities (88% White, 12% Multi-Racial, Education (none to phd, 50% batchelors program)
With almost one quarter of the trail behind them a packer has developed 'the look'. It is a combination of a lean, tanned, muscular body and a look of confidence and determination in their eyes. Those who have 'the look' will probably finish their hike. Those who don't have 'the look' will probably leave the trail before they finish.
Some thoughts for other packers from the Camp Tortoise Journal:
Hard Way, New York, age 59: "Accept that it will be tough before you start. Once you accept it, the trail doesn't seem as tough after all. Don't worry about planning too much for the hike. You'll figure it out along the way. You'll have plenty of time to think about your next move. Unexpected things will happen, some good and some bad. Expect the unexpected might happen and just roll with it. You'll never be the same."
Wanderer, New Zealand, age 35: "Love the trail and the trail will love you back. The worst day on the PCT is better than the best day at work."
Sam K White
How do you think this lady got her trail name? She was delighting on her first trail morning by doing a handstand. Hence her trail name became Handstand.
Patches, Houston, Texas, age 23: "Do what feels right to you in the moment. Try not to hold too strongly to ideas or plans you had before you started, let the trail shape you. The trip takes on a life of its own once you're out there, and that's the best part!"
Lenka White, Czech Republic, age 57: "GO! Be open to letting it happen and knowing you'll be fine adapting to what's going to come at you. It's simultaneously easier and harder than you think. People obsessively plan because they are afraid of not having control. Most of your control goes out the window in the first several days."
The most repeated encouragement is from the PCT Glossary: "Hike Your Own Hike. An encouragement between hikers to hike according to your own dreams, goals, expectations, etc., and not have your hike determined by other hiker's expectations. This is your hike. Hike it your way."
Will see you again next issue when I am back on The Trail.
