[pct-l] Music on the Trail and Rain Gear

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I hiked the trail alone. I also really like words. I found that I  
automatically spent many hours composing and trying to remember  
perfect little phrases that accurately captured my experiences on the  
trail. I would write these in a paper and pencil journal at night and  
in towns post these journals, or excerpts, online. I found that I was  
sometimes lonely, but narrating my adventure as I went was a way of  
talking to my loved ones and sharing the experiences as I had them  
and feeling less alone. At the same time, I wouldn't have wanted to  
experience the trail any other way than totally alone. The solitude  
was a major part of the experience. I always thought how much I  
wanted Trailhacker to experience what I did, alone like I did. I  
wanted him to be here alone like me to know what I saw. I also found  
that at times my resolve flagged and I wanted to go home. Knowing I  
had online "fans" cheering me on kept me going. There were lots of  
experiences I had that made me realize that my hike was not only just  
for me. Knowing strangers were following my story was one of them,  
but there were others. I had to keep going because my hike was not  
only about me, but about how my experience was kindling dreams that  
other people had for themselves. That thought put all my petty  
whining and complaining into perspective, at least when I was  
clearheaded enough to think about it.

On Feb 19, 2013, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> From: Nathan A <nathan4517 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Music on the Trail and Rain Gear
>
>
> I personally struggle with online trail journals and social media.  
> I love
> to read them and virtually experience the trail and I think they  
> are an
> good way to recall your experiences. However, I know for me  
> personally I
> would experience the trail differently if I was looking at it  
> through the
> prism of what my friends and family would like to read about over  
> what my
> experience was.