THE Trip - Day 29

 The Pacific Crest Trail is 2,650 miles.  It runs through three states (California, Washington, and Oregon) from Mexico to Canada.  It is mountainous.  It is impressive.  Like its sister trail – the Appalachian Trail that runs most of the length of the United States on the East Coast, it is “there”.  One of those challenges that reaches out temptingly to certain individuals like Mt. Everest or the Tour de France – urging them to try it.  I am impressed by people who are willing to try and tackle these enormous undertakings…and I am also a realist enough to know that I am not signing up any time soon to take on something like that. 

However, I have walked short stretches on both of those long trails and enjoyed them just for the sheer pleasure of being on a hike in wonderfully scenic countryside.  Today, while at Timberline Lodge, Dennis and I walked a couple of miles of the Pacific Crest Trail that circles Mt. Hood on its way to Canada (550 miles north).   Soon after we were out of sight of the Lodge which was starting their 75^th anniversary celebration, we noticed the amazing silence.  The trees at 6,000 ft. elevation are sparse at the alpine forest level so there was no wind rustling through the branches.  Chipmunks and birds are pretty quiet as they skitter about looking for food.  No one else was on the trail while we were walking.  Even our footsteps were muffled in the soft ashy, dry dirt.  It was quiet. The only noise was us as we moved along slowly. 

 

Markers high up on a tree to be visible in deep snow

Standard trail markers.

Prior to leaving for our trip, I read “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed.  This is a non-fiction book about the author’s experience hiking the Pacific Crest Trail by herself.   She felt that the trip had helped her come to grips with her life and her actions and to pull her back from earlier self-destructive behaviors.  A trip like that would have given her many insights into herself – perseverance, courage, self-sufficiency….and, for certain, the silence would have given her plenty of time to listen to her inner voice.

For me, I found the silence to be both eerie and peaceful at the same time.