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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I-Beam <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Cdt-l <cdt-l-bounces@backcountry.net> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Matthew Edwards<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, March 4, 2018 7:46 PM<br><b>To:</b> cdt-l@backcountry.net<br><b>Subject:</b> [Cdt-l] CDT-L<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>I thought it all disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Haven't seen anything from PCT or CDT-L in my inbox for years.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Still in the Bighorns of Wyoming working at a wilderness lodge year round as the maintenance man, wrench, snow removal guy and Breakfast chef.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Hiking the PCT CDT and AT completely ruined my life as it had been.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>I had quite a tidy little box of a life.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Too small in fact.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Then I walked.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>And after..<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Took me three years back in the world until I got the courage to chuck it all and move to Wyoming.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Now I live and work in the National Forest at 8,990 feet elevation<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Drive snowcats and snowmobiles in winter and hike the mountains in summer as time off allows.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>I was 40 years old to the day back in 2009 when i stood on the Mexican border and started north.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Be careful out on them trails.. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>You may not be able to fit back in, what you pulled out of that stuff sack.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>And if you don't act on it, it will tear you up inside until you do.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>I rarely pull the albums out anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Never tell people about it unless a co-worker spills the beans.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>I am almost afraid to think about it sometimes as if the memory might shatter in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>As the young folks say; "The struggle is real."<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>It was worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Many thanks to everyone on and off this list who helped.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Many thanks!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>A hiker once known as iceaxe.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div></body></html>