[pct-l] After the hike

[Ned Tibbits]

Diane,

My experience thru-hiking the crest in 1974 at the age of 17 changed my 
life, to say the least. My trip on the divide in 1980 was different, but had 
it been my first thru, I suppose it might have had an equally profound 
affect.

The Pacific Crest is unique and awesome in its own way. From the bottom of 
my heart, please do the journey! Experience the dream. Hike it your way. Go 
into it expecting all it can offer and be open to all its lessons. If you 
want to hike it in sections, go for it; I'll just say that the 
accomplishment of the thru in one shot coupled with the length of time on 
trail to do it (meaning the length of time on trail allowed me to fall into 
a whole new lifestyle) worked deepest in me. No matter how you do it, it 
will always be alive in you. Talk to those who have gone before, it is so 
much a part if who they are, their spirit's yearn for it again!

Hey, and ignore this "relatively old" description of yourself; the body may 
show some signs, but the spirit is alive and well!

The time has come. Don't wait any longer. Make the decision.

Mtnned

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Please visit: www.mountaineducation.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 5:50 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] After the hike


>
> On Feb 26, 2008, at 1:34 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>>> How do you readjust to your regular life again?
>>> Do you ever?
>>
>>   Can't be done.  It's not the same life.
> Can you elaborate? What did you change?
>
>>
>>> Did it change your life?
>>   I would never trade what I have now for what I had before, and
>> what I had before was great.
>>
>>> Did it reaffirm you were on the right path to begin with or were you
>>   prompted to make a big life change?
>>
>>   Yes to both.
>
> What did you change?
>
> It probably comes across as a silly question, but you see, I have
> wanted to do this hike since 1975. Through a series of
> synchronicities it has occurred to me quite suddenly and recently I
> don't need to wait anymore.
>
> I don't know why exactly I have wanted to do this for so long. I
> don't think a year has gone by that I didn't think about it. I was
> only 10 years old in 1975, too, so I've been thinking about it a long
> time. I'm getting excited about the afterwards part. I WANT it to
> change my life and fear that it won't. Also, since I'm relatively
> old, that's why I'm hoping to hear from people who aren't right out
> of college (unless you went to college old like I did :-)
>
> I want not only hazy spiritual answers, but some concrete answers
> too. I'm working on specific questions (such as were I to do x
> afterwards, I should check out y during).
>
> I learn a lot hearing from other people's experiences. Most books and
> journals are written during. Few talk about the years that come
> after. What happened then?
>
> Also, I'm thinking I won't do the whole thing all at once. Maybe I
> will do all of California and leave Oregon and Washington for the
> future. I don't want to burn up my big adventure too fast. I want to
> savor it. I've lived most of my life with this dream, I want to keep
> a little piece of it alive. At least that is my thinking at the moment.
>
> Thank you for your answers.
>
> Diane
>>
>
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