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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Matt, </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Good personal interest story. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I just finished a hike on the PCT/JMT from Horseshoe Meadows/Cottonwood pass to Tuolumne Meadows. There is something in long trail hiking that seems to bring out the best in people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Cdt-l [<a href="mailto:cdt-l-bounces@backcountry.net">mailto:cdt-l-bounces@backcountry.net</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Matthew Edwards<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 29, 2015 11:49 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:pct-l@backcountry.net">pct-l@backcountry.net</a>; <a href="mailto:cdt-l@backcountry.net">cdt-l@backcountry.net</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [Cdt-l] Long Distance Souls<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p>I live and work at a remote lodge in Wyoming.<br>Used to be a mild mannered plumber in Cali.<br>Turned forty and had a midlife crisis of sorts; hiked a bit.<br>Just rearranged my life a bit and now I am here; in Wyoming.<br>Quite surprisingly, and out on their own, two gentleman show up at our lodge wearing "JMT" sized packs.<br>They had hiked from Omaha Nebraska and are on their way to Yellowstone.<br>Their goal: 1000 miles.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Omaha to Yellowstone.. who knew?<o:p></o:p></p><p>Well that morning I had cleaned the lodge and cabins.<br>A party of 4 guests from New York had left a box of Cheesits and seven cans of Budlight.<o:p></o:p></p><p>While those hikers were eating breakfast and surfing our wifi, i stole away to retrieve that bounty for them.<o:p></o:p></p><p>They left that afternoon bound for Porcupine falls, but returned the next morning for breakfast.<br>They were so excited about the box of cheesits and a few cans of cheap beer.. made me have to go in back and cry a bit.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Trail magic happens even where there is no "trail". <o:p></o:p></p><p>Life is weird now after hiking.<br>Still trying to fit the whole experience into my brain.<br>Some parts fit.<br>While I have taken more than I can repay:<br>I think i am beginning to glimpse the "Angel's" perspective<o:p></o:p></p><p>What a feeling!<o:p></o:p></p><p>Iceaxe aka Matthew Edwards<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>