Ponderings

It's been a month since we got off the John Muir Trail. Since then, we've spent time with family, seen the ocean, visited a bustling city, arrived back at home, and started a job. There's been some time to reflect in the time that has passed because of the number of times we've told the stories, but there's so much to think about - to write about - it's tough to pick a place and dwell. How about a list!

On whether hiking is for me... It is. In our culture, it's hard to live simply. I read blogs about it by people using macbooks, iphones, and tablets. But I will give up anything to make my pack lighter. I've already written about the challenge. It provides intrigue. The views? Obviously an incentive. There's so much to learn about the art of packing light - of balancing need and want. It's the kind of tension I want in my life always because it's the attitude that will let me seek simplicity that goes beyond fad DIY home decor and knick-knacks. In my head I have Ben shaking his head: "Go without." It's not like I crave deprivation, but I do prefer it to over-consumption on most days.

On learning to trust the leader... Like all our adventures this summer, physical challenge requires a certain level of dependence. Ben proved in every way that he is far superior in skill and intuition in situations like the ones we encountered. I'm not very practiced at shutting up and taking orders, but it saved some blood when the mosquitos started attacking us and Ben told me to run (for roughly five miles). It kept me moving when I wanted to stop. It potentially saved our lives when he kept us from hiking to the tippy-top of Mt. Whitney during a lightning storm. Or, and this happened so often it was sad, trusting his eyes to keep me on the blasted trail.

On small critters... Ever seen a marmot? Or a pika? Or a ground squirrel whose tail is bigger than his body? I heard every twitch they made in the bushes next to the trail. Each time we spotted one it was like it was the first time we'd seen them. I'd like to live in the mountains so I can have them for pets without taking them out of the wild. Besides the critters, we stood within arms' reach of deer, including a buck who stood right in the middle of the trail in the light of the sunrise and later a doe, her yearling and her fawn grazing - we spooked the fawn and watched it hop away. We saw horses packing in supplies and llamas learning to do the same. A rattlesnake. And a bear knocked around our bear vaults the first night on the trail, but it was too dark to see him.

On the people... They're stories. A wellspring of stories. We expected to encounter more people than we did. Actually, we expected to encounter more people we could hike alongside than we did. We met many hikers, but most were hiking the opposite direction. Some stopped to talk - like Thomas, who was hiking the PCT for the third time and told us about a trail he's hiked in Israel. There was Bill from Hawaii who hiked the JMT for the second time, 40 or so years after his first time and reminded us to slow down and enjoy the matchless views. He had a thing for birds. And, finally, there was Ranger Rob, who shared his cabin with seven of us JMTers during a hail storm. His wife is also a ranger.

On sleeping on the ground for 15 nights straight... Don't skimp on the sleeping pad. And pack sleeping pills.