Scrambler's Hike of the PCT

In 2005, I attended the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick-Off (ADZPCTKO), and I met Scrambler, who had recently finished a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2004. Scrambler was no ordinary hiker, because she was just 10-years-old when she hiked the trail. Of course she didn't do this journey on her own, since her parents Gary and Barbara accompanied her on her journey.

Yogi e-mailed me a link of a podcast with Scrambler and her parents talking about her hike. One of the things I discovered to be so cool is that she was the one who had nudged her parents to do this hike! I thought it might be the other way around. It only goes to show that sometimes it is our children who are the pioneers and trailblazers in our families, be it in hiking, praying or spending time together. Way to go Scrambler!

Last summer I took my niece out for a 5-day backpacking trip on the Rae Lakes Loop in King's Canyon National Park. Over those 5-days, I reacquainted myself with my then 16-year-old niece, and I cannot imagine a better way I could have spent time with her. We hiked together every day, met interesting characters, ate all our meals together and played Scrabble every night. What a wholesome trip!

When I hear Scrambler's and her parent's story, I think of the beautiful and stark contrast to the culture in which we live. Many parents shuffle their kids off to an extra-curricular activity (nothing wrong with that) to another (now getting overwhelming) only to come home and watch TV at the end of the day. Some parents send them off to numerous camps over the summer because of the difficulties of having the kids around the house all the time.

How many parents can take 6-months out of their lives to be with their son or daughter for an entire journey along a National Scenic Trail? Very few. I can only imagine the incredible bonding that happened between Scrambler and her parents in 2004, and how a journey like that will be so educational and provide rich experiences that will be with them for the rest of their lives. If only every family could do something like this at least once.

10th Annual ADZPCTKO

I just got back from the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off (ADZPCTKO), which went very smoothly.

Attending this year's event was Eric Ryback, who is recognized as the first to backpack the Pacific Crest Trail in 1970. Eric did for the PCT what Earl Schaffer did for the Appalachian Trail: inspired countless hikers to attempt a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. His book, The High Adventure of Eric Ryback, is an easy and detailed account of his southbound hike on the PCT, and it drew a lot of interest in the trail.

I had the chance to meet Eric and have him autograph my copy of his book. I even got a picture with him, but I will have to wait for my friend Teatree to send me a copy of the picture. At any rate, Eric was a very pleasant and humble man, and he was so excited to be at the Kick-Off to share his account of his thru-hike.