Reality check***
**Brace yourselves, this post may not be in line with all people's views, these are my feelings and if you would like to have a discussion about it please send me an email and I'll be glad to respond.**
One of the first things hikers on the PCT do when they get to town is turn their phones off Airplane Mode. This leads to a myriad of updates, messages, voicemails, missed calls and updates from the rest of the world. Unfortunately one of the first two posts I was welcomed back to wi-fi world was about the Massacre in Orlando...
It is times like these when you realize all you really are doing is walking across the country. Just moving your legs and body north or south, up or down, through creeks, head on into insect swarms and eating anything with fat and calories. Seeing what certain television figures have been saying about what happened in Orlando also reminded me why I have made a choice to try and avoid major "news" outlets while in towns for R and R. It hurts to see so much hate being shown in the world, so much tragedy and fear mongering being used for different agendas.
What I felt when the television showed updates about the Massacre in Orlando was how can we as society be better? How can we help? What can I do? Sometimes I feel lost, and I actually was lost for a little bit in the snow the other day. Long story short, I had to stop, take a deep breath and commit to a course of action that was going to lead me in a different direction. It is in times of great tragedy that a lot of people jump to conclusions, not all fault is their own. I let my own pride get in my way when I got lost and my mind was not thinking critically as I was driven by emotion.
I get to hike in the mountains, the wilderness, valleys, through rivers, creeks, by lakes and across the West. This isn't something I can take for granted. Through my travels north though I have seen great compassion through fellow hikers on the trail. Whether it is a simple hand to help someone up a high spot or the sharing of some chai or hot meal when everything is wet and cold. One hiker has ordered 50 rainbow flags to pass out and carry to Canada with all the names of the victims of the Orlando Massacre. Sometimes it feels like the rest of the world isn't there, but once anyone gets a cell phone signal you realize everything outside of your pack and 18 inch wide trail is still going on going on.
This last section of trail has been the most challenging. Terrain, weather, food, physically and mentally it was taxing. Two of my hiking partners, The Graduate and T-Rex had to leave the trail for a bit due to an injury. It was how fast that injury occurred that brought the hike back into perspective. Things can happen quickly and our bodies and minds being healthy are key to keeping this dream alive. As we've seen so much recently, one moment your lives can change forever.
Gosh it seems this had become a ramble, maybe some will see it as venting but with all I've seen and experienced thus far I am happy for the moments I've had. I appreciate every one of you and the moments we've shared together. I look forward to sharing more moments with you soon,
Love,
The Prodigy
No comments:
Post a Comment