September 1st Afternoon
Trail Miles: 1079.1 Miles

Yesterday I went out and hiked a ten mile segment that I was holding to do a day hike with a friend from home. She is moving to New Zealand, and hence was very busy with her last few days in town. Dissappointed, I understood, and realized another great opportunity.

Since I was in Portland, I contacted Debi, my old hiking partner. I told her that I had a segment to do by Mt. Hood ten miles long, and asked if she was interested in doing a day hike with me. Delighted to go hit the trail with me, I waited till she had a day off so that I could hike the ten miles with her. While the trail was a typical viewless stretch, the company was great. We walked down the trail talking of our hiking times together.

Hoping to catch a few northbound thru-hikers we opted to hike south through the stretch. She and I did meet a couple of thru-hikers, none of the ones that we spent a good deal of time with, but thru-hikers nonetheless. There is a natural connection that the long distance hikers develope which is hard to explain. You could never have met the hiker, but somehow you immediatly feel close to them. One particular hiker we met took the time to sit down and talk to us. We talked of people ahead and behind him, familiar acquaintances, and the trail. In a matter of a few minutes we were sitting on the ground talking of all sorts of topics. Sadly though, the nature of the thru-hiker is to move. As we were heading south, and he was heading north we said our goodbyes and walked away.

Debi and I chatted of the nature of the hike and our fond memories of our experiences together. I laughed at the familiar clink of M&Ms in her pocket, and the smell of chocolate in the air. I always teased her about her bizarre addiction to M&Ms. Enjoying the hike together, I can see that I will have a future hiking partner whenever I would like. (Thanks for coming out Debi, I look forward to our future hikes.)

Further down the trail we met a couple more thru-hikers that we had met back at Kennedy Meadows. We chatted briefly with the two of them in passing, but understood the “moving mentality,” a sense that time is being wasted if you are not walking. This is the saddest aspect of a thru-hike. All of us are out there to enjoy the trail, the people, and the experience. One of the greatest aspects of being in the wilderness is stopping to take in a location, enjoy its uniqueness, and marvel in the natural beauty. However, for a thru-hiker, we are not afforded the joy. There is a driving force that keeps us moving. Surely we enjoy the great accomplishment of the hike, and do have the joy of the beauty which we are hiking through, but pausing in a time and space is a limited treat. We have to push along. This factor is hard to understand, and often overlooked in the planning of the hike. It is a common factor for thru-hikers, and often the element which takes people off of the trail. Those who leave the trail for this reason generally will return to the trail with plans of hiking it at a slower pace, a pace less demanding of miles, and more accomodating to enjoying that which deserves attention.

I have taken Oregon much slower since Debi and Jon have left the trail. I make frequent trips back home to Portland. I return to the trail in short legs, and go a bit slower enjoying the nature I pass through. Soon though I will venture into the Washington hike of the segment, where time and money will start to require a faster pace out of me.

While accomplishing the whole trail in one season has its rewards, I would recommend to anyone who plans on hiking the trail to examine your wants. Doing the trail in 2 or 3 (or even 20) seasons is a magnificent accomplishment. It still allows you to enjoy all the trail has to offer, but perhaps allows you more time to take in that which deserves to be taken in.

Happy Trails, Inner Peace, & Harmony