[pct-l] Ray Jardine's New Book

[Ryan Christensen]

Sean,

Thanks for bringing this up. I own and have read both editions of Rays PCT Hiker's Handbook. I feel like he did tone down his evangelical fervor from the first edition to the second edition. To me, the first edition felt more abrasive because in it he seems certain that he thinks his way to hike the PCT is THE way to hike the trail. All others are, well in his own words, "Hapless." To me, he comes across as arrogant and highly judgmental. 

Now I am a ex-Mormon, so I was once a Mormon missionary. I know what if feels like to think my way is the 'right' way. Other, well, they just don't know. They are hapless, I am here to help lead them to the light. 

For me a line is crossed when my view of the 'right' way starts to make value judgments on how other people choose to lead their lives, or how they choose to hike the PCT. Who am I to say what is the 'right' way to hike the PCT? There is no right or wrong way. The 'Ray Way" is not the right way. Nor is is the wrong way. There is only our ways. The way each one of us chooses to experience the PCT. 

So, yea for me the first edition is more abrasive. Even so, the second edition is not exactly filled with equanimity. He is still certain that the 'Ray Way' is THE way. 

Ryan



----- Original Message ----
From: Sean Nordeen <sean at lifesadventures.net>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 12:19:02 PM
Subject: [pct-l]   Ray Jardine's New Book

After several years of being out of print, Ray Jardine has updated his Beyond Backpacking and is calling it Trail Life.  Currently, it is only available on his website ( http://www.rayjardine.com ) as Amazon doesn't seem to list it.  I ordered one and should have it sometime this week.  I'll read it over the Christmas break and see how it is.  Currently, I think "Lightweight Backpacking and Camping" by Ryan Jordan (of backpackinglight.com fame) is the best UL backpacking manual out there,  so I'm curious if Ray Jardine can recapture that crown.  Hopefully he has come up with something new yet again that will lighten my backpack and it isn't just a rehash of things previously said.

Not long ago, I picked up a copy of Ray's original PCT Hiker's Handbook (the 1992 edition) at a used bookstore in Venice.  I had been curious about the creation of Ray Day and was looking for his reasoning which isn't talked about in Beyond Backpacking (as I intend to violate the whole must wait til June thing).  I had heard that the early edition of his book was abrasive (Ray's Way or the highway) but I'm not seeing that.  Then again, I'm not someone who has 20+ years of carrying 60lb backpacks and whose way of hiking feels threatened.  Perhaps it was the '96 edition that was more abrassive, as the Ray Way doesn't seem to be clearly defined in the '92 edition as some of his ideas haven't been completed.  Still an interesting read even though most the techniques have been talked about since then for years.

-Sean



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