Bless this trail

On the Pacific Crest Trail, there are lots of miles (2,650) and lots of mammals. Big ones. You can view them at close range April 24 at the annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off at Lake Moreno County Park in Campo, Calif. This “low-key gathering of present section- and thru-hikers, past thru-hikers, ancient thru-hikers, trail angels, supporters and aspiring section- and thru-hikers” pumps up those destined to spend months away from the Starbucks-swilling hordes. What’s that like? Here is a sampling of entries in last year’s e-journals.

June 2

Saw some nuns hiking the trail in their habits. They all dressed identically and had identical walking sticks with string-wrapped handles and little round glasses. They were ahead of me and waited for me after struggling with the snow a bit. They asked me to go ahead so they could follow in my steps, so I went very slowly, kicking good flat steps through each of the snow patches. All seven promised to pray for me each night through June.

-- John “Molasses” Lovejoy, in photo above with the nuns on the flank of Mt. Baden-Powell, Angeles National Forest.

June 21

Didn’t know it at the time but this was Hike Naked Day. Later that evening there was some discussion about how to make up for our lack of participation. I felt that taking a shower in the buff should count. Most everyone else decided to make up for it on the trail. Don’t recall hearing or seeing any follow-up on this. At least I did my part.

-- Glen “Chance” Hubbell, on a layover day in Independence, Calif.

June 30

I’m at a place where horse packers can keep their livestock. With all of the cow and horse pies around I figured that I would see how good they really burn. Well, they don’t beat wood, but I’ll take a patty in a pinch any day.

I’m almost at 10,000 feet elevation and the nights get very cool so the warmth is very welcome.

-- Jared McClain, between Olancha Peak and Mulkey Pass

in the southern Sierra

May 29

A day hiker [said] that one time he saw a white lion.... After seeing him, we came upon a cabin, empty and open and long since deserted. Inside the completely empty rooms hung a Siegfried & Roy calendar on the paint-chipped wall.

-- Nate “Tha Wookie” Olive, along the trail near Big Bear

May 4

If I start asking “why am I doing this” on the nights when my arm is freezing and my hand is in a spasm from holding the tent for four hours, there isn’t an answer that will make enough sense to keep me on the trail.

-- Cindy “Able” Wells, on the trail near Warner Springs, Calif.

Source: www.trailjournals.com