[Cdt-l] CDT-L

[Jim Banks]

Iceaxe, it is good to hear from you and to know you are doing well.  I totally agree with your assessment about how the trails “ruin” your life.  I doubt if I go more than an hour or two without thinking about hiking the trails.

 

I-Beam 

 

From: Cdt-l <cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net> On Behalf Of Matthew Edwards
Sent: Sunday, March 4, 2018 7:46 PM
To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [Cdt-l] CDT-L

 

I thought it all disappeared.

Haven't seen anything from PCT or CDT-L in my inbox for years.

Still in the Bighorns of Wyoming working at a wilderness lodge year round as the maintenance man, wrench, snow removal guy and Breakfast chef.

Hiking the PCT CDT and AT completely ruined my life as it had been.

I had quite a tidy little box of a life.

Too small in fact.

Then I walked.

And after..

Took me three years back in the world until I got the courage to chuck it all and move to Wyoming.

Now I live and work in the National Forest at 8,990 feet elevation

Drive snowcats and snowmobiles in winter and hike the mountains in summer as time off allows.

Thinking of buying land here at the foot of the mountain and starting a rental business while keeping this job so I can afford to build a shop, cabin, septic, and well, and solar.

I was 40 years old to the day back in 2009 when i stood on the Mexican border and started north.

Be careful out on them trails.. 

You may not be able to fit back in, what you pulled out of that stuff sack.

And if you don't act on it, it will tear you up inside until you do.

Life still isn't rainbows and butterflies (like the trail) but there is a slow burning pleasant reverie, years on, from having made the effort.

I rarely pull the albums out anymore.

Never tell people about it unless a co-worker spills the beans.

I am almost afraid to think about it sometimes as if the memory might shatter in my head.

But I secretly keep a full set of Jonathan Ley CDT maps printed double sided on 11x14 paper, tucked away in a cabinet with my Sunnto compass and MLD Exodus pack filled with going to Canada gear.

As the young folks say; "The struggle is real."

It was worth it.

Many thanks to everyone on and off this list who helped.

Many thanks!

 

A hiker once known as iceaxe.

 

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