Chocolatefro - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2008

Entry #4 - Taking Lunch at Lake Aloha

This morning I met Scott Williamson and Tattoo Joe, perennial PCT hikers as well as the team attempting to break the speed record (currently 79 days, 21 hours). I am impressed by their drive, singleness of purpose and precise actions. I keep thinking of ways to lighten my load (a 40 degrees bag with liner, no stove, less paper, fewer clothes, less food) (or rather no EXTRA food, I keep arriving to towns with 2 to 6 pounds extra). Last night I went into South lake Tahoe on a whim with a fellow hiker. I got pizza, slept in the woods [I could have sworn me meant to say “I slept in a bed”] and got back on the trail this morning. Nevertheless, town is a huge distraction. I’d much rather be napping as I did today, under a Foxtail pine next to a lake listening to the wind whistling and reading poetry, writing or just sitting still while the awesome power and glory of the (wilderness)experience penetrates my conscious. Now I understand why people get hooked. Nothing I’ve ever done compares to the beautiful rhythms of thru hiking (i this case only thru a 2000 mile section). I am sure there are other things out there but this is certainly a wonderful experience. [just shortened this sentence by a few words]. The funny/paradoxical part is that I get most lonesome out here not when I am by myself with infrequent and short conversations but when I am surrounded by people (like at Echolk). In some way I must be losing, ignoring or otherwise shutting off whatever connections I am finding out here. I know I can find that in towns, etc, but maybe it is more difficult. Paradox rides again! (Hot on the heels of God).

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