Hiking is good for the soul. It helps center one's life. And so it was that
Strayed took off at a moment's notice to conquer her fears, depression to hike
the Pacific Coastal Trail (PCT) the trail that spans 2,650 miles from Mexico to
the Canadian Border, crossing through California, Oregon and Washington.
For
Strayed it was not so much the distance she hiked but he distance she was away
from real life. Starting in Modesto, CA she made it through ice fields, rock
falls, bear and the occasional rattlesnake to the far side of Oregon. With all
the physical difficulties of hiking, from sore muscles and broken feet to the
extra precautions any young woman hiking on her own has to face the journey was
accomplished and life began anew.
I was very pleasantly drawn into this story
of accomplishment having hike the PCT's eastern cousin the Appalachian Trail,
under similar circumstances, about ten years ago and so many times I found
myself nodding or uttering agreement to the trials and tribulations Strayed
voiced. It was quite the mini flash-back and I really enjoyed basking with her
on her backpacking journey.
Like those before and those to come this life's
journey was one of abolishing one's fears and striving for a new beginning.
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