We're All in This Thing Together

This past weekend was the annual kick-off celebration. As with such gatherings, word spread widely and frantically concerning everything from weather to the number of attendees. 100-700 people were there, according to the gossip, although it felt like 7000. Terrapin, Granite, and I got to ride with Frog, as his lovely woman, Nancy, came down from San Francisco to see just what kind of fruckus he was getting himself into. What has taken us a week of hiking was covered in an hour and a half.

Upon arrival we were all directed to the 'thru-hiker' section of the camp. It was easy to find as there were several hundred itty bitty tents, as opposed to the comfort palaces of those who came to celebrate the trail and community. A variety of presentations were offered ranging from mountain lion safety to water/snow reports. My favorite was a panel of three women who had hiked the whole thing some decades since. One of the panelists was Jean Murdof, a woman who rode the trail in 1959 with her husband. Every person they contacted had told them it could not be done in a single season. They did it anyway. When Scout and Frodo (the coordinators) posited the question "What was your favorite piece of gear?", she replied, "My horse!"

Hearing these women's stories truly was a source of inspiration. I experienced a moment of placement, as I sat listening to them. They were mother past, speaking words of experience to myself as woman present. Beside me a freckle faced little girl played with a puppy. Daughter future. It was wonderful.

I enjoyed observing all the other hikers around me, with aspirations like my own. The dread-locked young hippie-avants, the older folks, setting out to fulfill life long dreams, and everything in between. Each with our own motivators, but all with the same objective, Canada.

Sunday morning we tore down our camps, headed back up with Frog and Nancy, and headed up to Warner Springs. Despite fear-mongering tales of yet another storm ahead and snow levels becoming to nothing shy of a Yeti, we hiked into a beautiful sunny day. Ten miles up the trail our little clan made camp in a boulder field in a high mountain cup. Despite word that it was a dry camp, a steady stream flowed by our tents and frogs sang us to sleep. The next day we trekked on through more desert scrub oak, manzanitas, and general sunnyness.

Four miles on we crossed a dirt road just as several large horse trailers pulled up. They were a group from Back Country Horsemen of America. They were saddled up and packing back south to pick up a trail crew. Doing more than their part to love and maintain the trail. Cowgirl Jewel let us pet her valiant steed, Kansas, an impressive, powerful animal with a patient temperament. We were thanking them for their contribution to the PCT and Jewel just shrugged from astride Kansas, "You gotta be true to the trail." She smiled and took her postion in the queue as they rode off, leading their pack horses and mules. Having been blessed by several such encounters, I can assuredly say that a wide variety of marvelous and kind spirited people revolve around this trail, protecting, maintaining, and enjoying.

We camped along another stream in Nance Canyon. The water was flowing, but had a distinct...earthy taste. We were pleased to encounter a water cache some

Yesterday we rolled down to the Pines-to-Palms Highway 74 and hitched into Idyllwild. Rif-Raf, Frog, and I were picked up by a sweet woman named Christina who, being a life-long local, filled us in on all the area news. People like her make ventures like ours possible.

I began this entry under a gentle mist in the county park and now sit happily in a free-trade coffee shop, swapping stories and trail info with other hikers. Apparently this next bit is quite hairy. Those who have already passed Devil's Slide warn caution, it is a MUST for micro-spikes and an ice ax. Considering the money I dropped on a new pair of Montrail shoes and superfeet insoles (which I LOVE and have made a huge difference) and these upcoming snowgear purchases, I will be spending more than I had hoped, but as Terrapin put it, "Your life is worth more than all of it together!" I must agree. And so I conclude this and wander out into the town to finish errands.

Peace and perseverance!