<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">Your words have inspired me to share something written by a friend.</DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2><U>Hiking – It’s about Freedom</U></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>You’re not out to be a good, <BR>solid, sensible citizen. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=1> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>Goodbye to all that!<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=1> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>You’re out in the wild to let <BR>the child in you out for a run.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>Laugh, Play, Run free;<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=1> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>The system will whip you back <BR>into line when you return to town!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=1> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>But Why?<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=1> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>Because you haven’t done it!<BR>Because you want to!<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><FONT size=1><BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"></FONT><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>Forget: ‘Should’ or ‘Should not’.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>Indulge that little corner of craziness!<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In memory of a friend <BR>that I will always miss.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Allen Holden Sr.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>5/22/26 – 7/29/07<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">----- Original Message ----<BR>From: g l <gailpl2003@yahoo.com><BR>To: Paul Magnanti <pmags@yahoo.com>; PCT <pct-l@backcountry.net><BR>Sent: Thursday, December 6, 2007 7:48:09 AM<BR>Subject: Re: [pct-l] On wanderlust....<BR><BR>Thank you for that Mags. A very good read. I'll order the Steinbeck book from the library today!<BR><BR>But, I would like to say this. The AT ruined me too- completely. I went back to the "traditional" life after my thru in '91. It has been 16 years since I did that trail. 16 YEARS!!! What a horrible, horrible mistake. And tho my hiking escapades have been many since then, none have been so grand as the AT. I'm long overdue and I aim to correct that next year. From then on, I'd like to think I can work 6 months and hike 6 months every year. One of my philosophies
is: "It's only a mistake if you don't learn anything from it. If you learn something, then it has been a valuable lesson, not a mistake". So, I intend to cut down on my "mistakes" by hiking more. I make no apologies to anyone. Why do hikers always think they have to apologize for their lifestyles??? We're simply going for a walk!!! Tell me how that hurts anyone!<BR><BR>I have come to believe that life, for me, in "un-civilization" is a scam. It has NEVER fit right. I have 3 college degrees, 2 medical careers and a beautiful home. And none of it means anything to me or has given me joy and pride, as compared to my AT hike. So why not capitalize on it?? I tried it "their way". It didn't work. Now I'll do it my way. It's getting late in the game for me! Too late, too smart, but better late than never! I feel my wanderlust, gypsy blood, rolling stone spirit
is a blessed gift. How wrong it would be of me to "dull it down" by living a hum-drum life.<BR><BR>"Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road;<BR>Healthy, free, the world before me,<BR>The long brown path leading wherever I choose.<BR>Henceforth, I ask not good fortune;<BR><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">I myself am good fortune.</SPAN> <BR>Henceforth, I whimper no more, postpone no more, I need nothing.<BR>I'm done with indoor complaints, libraries, and querulous criticisms.<BR><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Strong and content, I travel the open road."<BR><BR></SPAN>Compliments of "Uncle Walt" Whitman....emphasis mine. A familiar read to all hikers, but always a welcome reminder............<SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><BR></SPAN><BR>Hike on! (Hike now, work
later!)<BR><BR>Wheeew<BR><BR><B><I>Paul Magnanti <pmags@yahoo.com></I></B> wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">I think many of us are attracted to Robert Service because it speaks to the wanderlust (and wanderlust in nature) in particular.<BR><BR>A little while ago, I posted this e-mail on CDT-L. It has a few lines from another wandering writer: Steinbeck:<BR><BR><BR><BR>Here 's an e-mail I sent out to some CDT friends:<BR><BR>Hard to believe.... <BR><BR>For<BR>those of us in the CDT 2006 crew (and those who admit to knowing us..<BR>;-) ), it has been about 1 year (give or take) since we finished the<BR>CDT. <BR><BR>Feeling a bit of CDT homesickness if you will, I watched Disco's Walkumentary again.<BR><BR>I<BR>laughed at the many funny memories, thought wistfully of the time spent<BR>in the Winds and think of what a great year 2006 turned out to be.<BR><BR>I don't think the time on the CDT would have been as memorable if it was not for all the great people
we met on the trail. Safe<BR>to say, I think many of us did the CDT expecting a solo experience and<BR>not a social one. The CDT was mainly solo for me, but the moments spent<BR>with other hikers were so memorable. There<BR>were not many of us, but those of us out there seemed to really have<BR>some great memories together. One crazy weekend in CB, marg night in<BR>Rawlins (who ever knew a pit of a town could be so fun ?), walking<BR>through some gorgeous country together and too many other memories to<BR>count.<BR><BR>One year later,<BR>it is amazing how many of us still see each other. A bunch of us did<BR>the 13er traverse outside of Berthoud Pass, D-low, Disco and I<BR>experienced CDT-like brutality (questionable boundaries, old and<BR>vanishing trails, road walking and snow drifts included!) around Pikes Peak,<BR>we continue to hook up for beers, a few of us hooked up at the ALDHA<BR>West Gathering (sigh. not d-low or I), and one crazy and
unexpected<BR>night, Speedo was in Denver at a mainly thru-hiker get together. Many<BR>of the people on this e-mail list were there. The energy was high and<BR>made for a memorable night.<BR><BR>What<BR>is there to say? The CDT last year was awesome. And I think part of the<BR>reason was because of the shared experience we all had. So<BR>here's to the CDT in 2006. Here's to a great 2007 that we are about to<BR>finish. And here's continuing to staying in touch for 2008 and beyond.<BR>:)<BR><BR>Nostalgic Mags<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>The replies back from my trail buddies were in a similar vein.<BR><BR>As<BR>I have said many times in the past, balancing a sense of wanderlust<BR>with an equally strong sense of wanting some stability and community in<BR>my life has been difficult.<BR><BR>I enjoy my community here in<BR>Boulder. But, I look at photos, I read my journals and I watch the<BR>videos. My mind wanders to the backpack hanging on the garage wall.
I<BR>just want to grab the pack and go.<BR><BR>Next year it will be ten years since I've done the Appalachian Trail.<BR>Hiking the AT, frankly, ruined me. It was hard to go back to my<BR>previous life in Rhode Island. And it left me with the desire to<BR>continue to wander. The intellectual part of me thinks "You are going to be 34 in a few months. You should grow up and settle down!" My gut tells me "When can I get out again??!?!" I readily admit to not knowing how to strike a balance. <BR><BR>For those cursed and blessed with wanderlust, you are in good company. Steinbeck wrote a wonderful book called TRAVELS WITH CHARLIE.<BR>In this travelogue, Steinbeck (along with his dog Charlie) travels the<BR>roads and off-the-beaten path areas of early 1960s America. A chance to<BR>reconnect with the common people he wrote so eloquently about in the<BR>past.<BR><BR>Some of the first lines Steinbeck wrote set the tone of the book:<BR><BR>When<BR>I was very young
and the urge to be someplace was on me, I was assured<BR>by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years<BR>described me as mature, the remedy prescribed was middle age. In middle<BR>age I was assured that greater age would calm my fever and now that I<BR>am fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked. .<BR>. In other words, I don't improve, in further words, once a bum always<BR>a bum. I fear the disease is incurable.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>A (now former) girlfriend once told me that "The outdoors for you is not a hobby, it is a lifestyle".<BR>She's right. But more importantly, my outdoor TRAVELS are a lifestyle<BR>for me. A lifestyle I am finding difficult to give up; a yearning that<BR>never goes away.<BR><BR>Even if I am not on the trail, or planning to<BR>be on long journey, the urge to get out there never goes away. Day<BR>hikes are nice, overnighters are fantastic...but nothing replaces the<BR>sheer joy and
bliss of being on a journey. The simple act of putting<BR>one foot in front of another. Getting from Point A to Point B under my<BR>own power. Living out of my pack. Having the country all round me and<BR>being discovered one step at a time.<BR><BR>Once a bum. Always a bum.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>************************************************************<BR>The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust <BR>caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched<BR>--Thoreau<BR><A href="http://www.pmags.com/" target=_blank>http://www.pmags.com</A><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Pct-l mailing list<BR>Pct-l@backcountry.net<BR>To unsubscribe or change list options (digest, etc):<BR><A href="http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l" target=_blank>http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l</A><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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