[pct-l] PCT Completion

[Tortoise]

There is far more to being an experienced PCT hiker than doing the whole 
trail in a year or so. Each of us has his/her own circumstances to deal 
with. Having been thru crisis and lived to tell the story and offer up 
lessons learned is very important.

So Steel-Eye, thanks for all your posts.

Tortoise

<> Because truth matters! <>

On 08/21/10 09:11, CHUCK CHELIN wrote:
> Good morning, all,
>
> Thank you one and all for your gracious comments congratulating me – and
> Piper – upon our recent completions of the PCT.  As gratifying as completion
> certainly was I apparently made a strategic error in making the
> announcement.  Through the many long years I’ve contributed, pontificated,
> harangued, and preached in PCT-L discussions, readers may have been lead to
> believe that I’m an experienced thru-hiker, a repeat thru-hiker, or even a
> triple-crowner.  With my recent *mea maxima culpa* that the trip required 45
> years I must have totally blown my cover.  Now the truth is out:  It took me
> 45 years to accomplish what reasonable thru-hikers achieve in 4.5 months.
> Grim….  Mine is a rate of less than 60 miles per year; 856 feet per day.  Not
> only did I have time to “smell the flowers”, I had sufficient time to
> observe how fast the grass was growing.
>
>
>
> Compared to me, Piper’s average speed was simply astounding.  Considering
> that I began the hike probably before Piper was born, and she finished –
> slightly – before me she’s a real piker in the slow-walk world.  Regardless,
> congratulations to Piper – AKA “Piper’s Mom’s Daughter” – on her eminently
> faster progress.
>
>
>
> Steel-Eye
>
> Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
>
> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
>
> http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 2:22 PM, james green<jagwrightwoodpct at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Congratulations! That must be a phenomenal feeling of accomplishment! One I
>> hope to have one day.
>>
>> On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 9:06 AM, CHUCK CHELIN<steeleye at wildblue.net>wrote:
>>
>>> Good morning, all,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I am very pleased to announce that I completed my section hike of the
>>> entire
>>> PCT at approximately 07:30A, 10 August 2010, when I reached the
>>> California/Oregon border northbound.  This completed two portions of the
>>> trail that had eluded me: the two fire closures from the ’08 season – one
>>> in
>>> the vicinity of Quincy and Chester, and the other between Etna Summit and
>>> the Oregon border.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The kindness of Piper’s Mom significantly facilitated my hike of the
>>> Quincy/Chester section, both at the beginning and the end.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> With me at the Cal/Or finish line was So-Jo (Sojourner) with whom I had
>>> hiked since Etna Summit, and who’s thoughtful and considerate nature I
>>> came
>>> to greatly appreciate.  After the obligatory Yee-Haahs were spouted and
>>> the
>>> photos were snapped I backtracked to Seiad Valley to catch the bus, while
>>> So-Jo continued her NoBo journey.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This adventure began in 1965 when, during a 20-mile hike of a section of
>>> the
>>> old Oregon Skyline Trail (OST) north of Crater Lake, I decided to –
>>> eventually -- hike its entire length.  Subsequently, the OST was
>>> officially
>>> absorbed into the PCT so I expanded the scope of my aspirations
>>> accordingly.
>>> I have now hiked every mile of the official PCT at least once.  A few
>>> sections I’ve hiked only once; some major sections I’ve hiked 2-3 times;
>>> some shorter sections nearer to home I’ve hiked literally hundreds of
>>> times.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The scenery of the PCT is significant, but available: I can view my
>>> photos,
>>> I can watch the “Class-of” DVDs, I can watch travelogues, and I can even
>>> revisit features or sections if I wish.  What is ephemeral and can’t ever
>>> be
>>> recaptured is the camaraderie of the fellow hikers that I encountered; the
>>> amazing support of Trail Angels; and the help of considerate citizens whom
>>> I
>>> didn’t know – and will likely never meet again.  That I can't relive or
>>> revisit.  I can’t begin to repay them for the benefits I’ve received -- I
>>> can only pass on the goodwill to hikers who follow after.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> “Life is just a collection of memories, and memories are like starlight –
>>> they go on forever.”
>>>
>>> Lyrics by John Denver
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Steel-Eye
>>>
>>> Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
>>>
>>> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
>>>
>>> http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> <Pct-l at backcountry.net>
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>>
>>
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