Monday, April 19, 2010

Why Not?

Hi all, I'm writing to you from the Warner Springs Resort in Southern California today, the first major resupply town on the trail. Maybe the word 'town' is too big, for it is more of a road crossing with a gas station, post office and a golf club house, but its been nothing but hospitable so far. There is a resort centered around some hots springs in the area that hikers frequent, and they have been nice enough to let us use their computers; the trail magic experienced on the AT continues out here as well. It seems like one can't stop at a roadside without being offered a ride, a drink, or some food (or weed for that matter, but I digress).
I've been hiking on and off with Axilla, a guy from Richmond VA with a masters in philosophy, as well as Homebrew and Rosie from Oregon, both dog mushers during the winter season. We have yet to encounter any financiers or buisnessmen out here curiously enough... wonder why that would be. The people have all been great, and we've encountered a fair number of southbounders who started farther up the trail and are hiking backwards to the Annual Day Zero Hiker Kick-Off (or ADZHKO for short) at Lake Morena near the border on the 22nd. I'm hoping to get a ride or hitchhike back there, partiatlly for the inevitable free goods and part for the essential information regarding trail reroutes and snow information. In the meantime I'm trying to take things relatively slow and enjoy the scenery and company.
That being said, the question of why anyone would do this kind of thing has been easier than ever to answer. The trail out here is awsome and often varied with no shortage of views to keep your eyes occupied. For instance, yesterday we started in a desert atop the San Jacinto foothills, camping amid blooming cacti and bushes with hummingbirds flying around, the night air perfectly still. Withing a few hours of breaking camp in the morning, we were down in elevation surrounded by twisted trees and relaxing through the hottest part of the day at a spring. Soon after, we walked through valley after valley of wildflowers, each bigger and brighter than the last, crowned by Eagle Rocks, an outcropping looking exactly like a bird with its wings outstretched. Finally, I camped near a stream running down a green ravine with chaparral bushes on one side and giant oaks on the other. All within one day. In perfect weather. Its basically exactly what you would expect California to be like if you were a settler rolling through 150 years ago.
With days like this, it makes one wonder why more people don't get out and at least give it a try. Granted it is early in the hike and plenty of things can go wrong. Granted I already have blisters, it has been hot, and some people have dropped out. Granted there is sure to be some awful weather down the road. But to spend an entire lifetime and not experience such a thing as a long hike, to never put comfort and stability as anything but the top priority and see how that affects your understanding of the rest of the world, that is perplexing to me. To be sure, there are many experiences that can do this; nobody here has such hubris to think that long distance hiking is for eveyone, or that its the only way to achieve that different perspective. It is, however, the way I choose to do so, and to anyone who would incredulously question why someone would do something like this, all I can say is 'Why not?'

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

BABE, i miss youuu! Everything sounds AMAZING so far! I understand more and more why you do this! Life in NYC is great too. There is so much to tell but I dont want to blast it on here! But I miss you tons and I'll talk to u soon! P.S. My last day of training as a server was today! oh mY