The Pacific Crest Trail
Manning Park, British Columbia, Canada
Manning Park was a bit confusing. They have moved the trailhead to a
completely different location on a different road a couple of miles from the
former trailhead. Fortunately there was a map at the trailhead that told us we
should turn right instead of left to get to the lodge. Trouble was, Cheryl was
waiting for Sly at the old trailhead. Since we were a day early, thanks to
yesterday’s big miles, we didn’t expect her to be there, so we went for a late
lunch, and then checked in at the lodge. Sly had planned to meet Cheryl at a
nearby campground, but it was closed for the season. What to do? He left his
pack with us and walked down the road to find her. I know she will be very glad
to stop spending her days waiting for him at trailheads. They took off for a
motel in a nearby town, while Jim and I settled in for hot baths and laundry at
the lodge.
Now comes the question of where we go from here, both long term and short
term. We’ll need time to make sense of the past two years. In many ways, the PCT
was a disappointment –too civilized, too crowded, too easy, and too much pushing
for miles. And yet, I’m not sorry we hiked it. I’m really not sure whether the
problems we had with the trail came from the trail itself or just within
ourselves. Would our reactions have been different if we’d had more time to
recover from the physical stresses of last year? I’m sure that if we had spent a
year or two in the city, we would have been more appreciative of the beauty to
be found even in trail winding endlessly through dense forest and chaparral. We
would have made fewer comparisons with the CDT, if it hadn’t been so fresh in
our minds. I’m really glad that, despite some disillusion, we finished the
trail. I think it was worth the time, effort, and pain. Time hiking is never
wasted. Being on the trail is coming home for me. I am happiest when walking
through the woods and climbing mountains, even on the really difficult days.
There was a lot of beauty along the way, and many really good moments of
enjoying nature in myriad forms. The CDT was a better experience for us, but I’m
still glad we came to the PCT to see it for ourselves. Once again, we “went to
see the elephant,” and though we didn’t find what we expected, what we found was
good.
Created: 16 Jan 2004
Revised: 30 Sept 2016
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