#pct trailside reader

How do you record, remember, and express the variety of experiences and encounters on the PCT? Today many hikers post on YouTube or create blog sites that they maintain before, during, and after their hike. For me the approach began with keeping a journal and taking pictures. Over time that effort has included writing haiku's or simple free verse to try to capture what I was seeing and experiencing. 

Looking back at a few of those journals I have revisited some of those creative attempts at recalling a place, time, or experience.  The place, time, and experience I would like to return to is a trip from July and August 2012 hiking the PCT and JMT from Tuolumne Meadows to Whitney Portal. Once again, this was a hike with my dear friends and longtime hiking partners Rees Hughes and Jim Peacock. 

Following are a series of haiku's from this trip. These were inspired from an earlier PCT hike Rees and I had done with our wives and two of our daughters a couple of years prior. That trip and those poems were published in the Oregon/Washington volume of The Pacific Crest Trailside Reader under the title of ‘Walking in 5-7-5′. 

Time has come now

Rhythms return spirits high

Trail welcomes us

After arriving at Ruby Lake I attempted to reflect on the day. One thing that is not at all unusual along this stretch of the PCT are pack horses and equestrian hikers. 

Sweet smell of horses

They pass before us, we know

Boot prints over past hoof prints 

After a few days on the trail a rhythm gets established. Near Red’s Meadow these two reflections found their way to the page. 

JMT up, up

PCT down, up, down, up

JMT down, down

We sit, chat, laugh, think

Savoring chocolate bits

Remember this time

So often when we are alone in the surrounding nature it comes to mind, are we the first? Has anyone notice this place? This haiku tries to note that wondering. 

Vanilla pine smell

Ponderosas touch blue sky 

Who knows about this? 

Hiking with Jim and Rees is one of the joys of my life. After days together we often settle on similar feelings of appreciation for being together. These  last two haiku’s attempt to mark both what we feel and what we see and how we hold those close.  

How can this happen? 

Three from different places

Same feeling, same heart

Alpen glow shines bright

Is it rose or orange or brick?

Our memories know

I had the pleasure of hiking a short section of the Oregon PCT with my wife a few months ago. This trip was inspired by a couple of things. First it was a small piece that I had neglected for no good reason for years. Several years ago we and our daughter Emily joined our dear friends Rees and Amy and their daughter Chisa for several days on the section from Timberline Lodge to Lost Lake. This experience was documented in the printed version of the ‘Pacific Crest Trailside Reader’ entitled ‘Walking in 5-7-5′. We/I wanted to complete the hike to Cascade Locks. 

 My wife  has heard me talk about, seen me write about, and supported me as I have walked about the PCT for a long time and expressed some interest in joining me again to finish this part. We were determined to go from Lost Lake to Cascade Locks detouring from the PCT for the famed Eagle Creek section known to be ‘one of the most outstanding and beautiful hikes in Oregon’.

Long story short because of a fire in the area we were prevented from our Eagle Creek quest but still had another PCT experience together. Over time my hiking partners and I have developed a style that understandably may not be for everyone. Despite this I have found it to work pretty well. Since my wife Kathy was wanting to have something that resembled how I have been experiencing the trail I thought we’d give it a go. Honestly there is nothing unique or magical about any of this; its just the way I have been going about it and it works...for me.

Off we went agreeing to going not more than about eight to ten miles a day. When we arrived at Lost Lake there were signs posted saying the Eagle Creek route was a no go. Not to be deterred by this or the stifling heat wave enveloping western Oregon at the time, we hiked. The big trees were our friends and the trail tread very agreeable. 

Our first day got us into camp mid to late afternoon. Unfortunately the black flies found us and we took refuge in our tent. Here Kathy began to formulate what she was loving and not loving about our experience. Over the course of the next three days she wrote it down and I will share it here in the order it poured out not reflecting any particular order.The ‘Love’ list: Being outdoors all day and all night. Granola and powdered milk.(She makes the granola) (It is extraordinary!)  Slowing down and hanging out for hours in the tent and actually reading.(She’s an Audible fan) The quiet. The exercise. 

The ‘Don’t Love’ list: Pooping and peeing in the woods. Freeze dried food.Stuck in the tent because of the bugs. Lack of fresh fruit and veggies.Not always camping in the ‘best’ places. (being at the mercy of the route and timing) Being dirty. (She’s really not that dainty but she is honest!) The espresso. 

Generally there are items on both lists that make sense to me too. Kathy’s perspective helped me examine mine in a new way and I appreciate that. When we put ourselves outside of our comfort zone it seems we can’t help notice both the big and little things that influence us and our experience. Even with the ‘don’t love’ items she and we were very pleased with what we did and how we did it. Kathy gained new insights into what I and my friends are doing when we go off for another PCT experience. She can feel proud of the fact she has walked from Timberline to the Columbia. This is a proud fact for most any Oregonian and she is one. 

Love and don’t love lists are good exercises for any of us in a variety of situations. Walking the PCT is a prime experience for examining what floats our boat or sinks it. If you have a ‘Love’ and ‘Don’t love’ list please share it. Everyone has their own feelings related to their PCT experiences and we are interested in yours. Kathy’s list will undoubtedly change over time. Already only a month or two later the ‘don’t love’ items have slipped more into the background and what she tells more people about are the things on the ‘love’ list. I have to admit I am heartened by that. What’s on your lists? 

For the next few weeks mountaineersbooks.org is the only place where you can get your hands on a copy of the Pacific Crest Trailside Reader 2 volume ebook.