Trail Magic

One of the gifts that I came to appreciate while hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail for 12 days (and carrying food and supplies for 12 days as well) is floating in water. What an incredible thing. For hours we go around, holding our own weight or a thirty-five pound back-pack on your hips and shoulders. And then, given a couple feet of water, you learn release. Suddenly you don't even have to carry the weight of your own head. Tilt your head back and let the water hold you. Spin, gently, and feel your heart open to the sky.
Lakes and rivers deep enough to float in were such a treasure on the PCT. While swimming in Pike Lake near White Pass, I came across two little purple flower blossoms, floating out from shore. A beautiful blue dragonfly chose my arm to be its landing spot. A family of ducks quacked their way to a humorous landing in the lake.
With sore feet and longing heart, these gifts mean the world to me.

When you backpack, you learn about a thing called "trail magic." Trail magic is when you are given food freely. You may have asked for it, or it was just offered, but either way, you end up with more food because of the generosity of another hiker, known as a trail angel. Sometimes, when hikers are the benefactors of trail magic, they want to, shall we say, pay it forward. One such couple set up a five gallon bucket on the PCT and filled it with everything hikers dream of- snickers, pay days, nutter butter cookies, goldfish crackers, recees peanut butter cups, and more. They keep it maintained and have a little log book for hikers to sign. You would not believe the joy this little bucket of goodies gives hikers (myself included)!!!

There is something so special about unexpected gifts. Within the first few days of our trip, Tamara and I came across an early huckleberry patch. Ripe huckleberries in July!!! Gifts unexpected make you pause. They help you remember where you and and what you love. They remind us that productivity is not the sole purpose of our days, but that joy and thanksgiving are part of the breath by which we live.

The PCT

There is nothing like hiking for 12 days to make you appreciate the little conveniences in life. Not only flush toilets, but the absence of biting mosquitos while pooping. Chairs. Running water that is not only relatively easy to access but ready to drink (no filtering required!). Water is a big one, as my friend Tamara and I hiked during the record-breaking heat of Seattle's summer. The experience sure made me not take for granted the sacred significance of running water, and the incredibly resting feeling of being able to wash oneself in cool, clean water.
We hiked from Cascade Locks on the Columbia River to Chinook Pass near Mt Rainier. 187 miles in 12 days. That rounds to about 15-18 miles a day. While it was nice to be able move all day, I am glad to not be spending the entirety of my day walking.
The trip was gorgeous. We passed through Mt. Adams Wilderness and the Goat Rocks (just South of Mt. Rainier.) I miss the rhythm I felt I was just beginning to unite with- of waking and reclining with the sun, filtering water, opening my senses to nature's surprises, and sitting in the dirt. It was exhilarating to be able pass mountains. We would see Mt. Adams and Rainier so far in the distance, and then, after a couple days of hiking in the valley, the trail would lead us up, and we would suddenly be resting at the base of such an enormous creation. A creation alive with lava and melting snow (and glaciers- let's lighten our carbon footprints, folks!!) and moving rock. And the wildflowers... we must have hit them at their peak, for not only were they a treasure for our eyes, but also our nose. With the lupin abounding, we were in flower fragrance heaven.
Having never been backpacking for longer than five days, the sheer length of our trip was new to me. Thoughts of food and few other things filled my mind as we walked. I was amused by what became important to my hiking partner and me, in comparison to what many people are concerned about in Western culture.
What hikers care about:
- their poops
- their pee (color, frequency)
- water access
- copyright date of the trail guide book
- trail signs!
- of course, food
- going to bed before dark

What hikers don't care about:
- their odor
- being caught naked
- asking people for food
- privacy
- sweating in front of others

Well, that wraps up my very enlightening, I'm sure, entry! Yay for rain in Seattle!! (it is so weird to be writing that!)