Well, please don’t give up on your blog even if few people will see or remember it. I’ve read just about everything you’ve written and have greatly enjoyed all the hard work you’ve put into it.

Hence the “romance vs reality”. And the amount of planning, if you will, that comes from that is more from experience or personal characteristics. Coming from a cynical blue-collar family is oddly good for dealing with life’s curveballs. More idealistic and less practical upbringings may expect unicorns, rainbows, and rock candy mountains. 🙂 And, no matter how much reality fell short of idealism, I know I am ou doing something I want rather than working on yet another PowerPoint a handful of people will see and then quickly forget.

From my experience, it would be hard to imagine any amount of planning that could prepare a new Pacific Crest Trail hiker for the disillusionment that comes from walking miles and miles through areas where forests and deserts have been burnt to the ground and blackened by wildfires.

Add to that the monotonous trudging along countless switchbacks that weave down the length of one side of a box canyon, around the back, and up along the other side only to go over the crest into another box canyon and it isn’t long before the accuracy of the title “Scenic Footpath” that rarely ever straddles a crest comes into question.

The group of hikers I encountered on the PCT in Southern California mitigated much of this disappointment by laughingly reminding each other that it will all look better on Facebook. 

All comments are moderated and are not responded to, or approved until I have time to write in depth. Since I am traveling, and do not update my website every day, you’ll just have to wait your turn like everyone else. 🙂 Luckily I am in Phoenix now and staying with friends. Next time may be three or four days from now. 🙂

I saw quite a few people who went looking for America in the 60’s and 70’s who returned home disillusioned and/or broke. Most of them would have done far better continuing in school or work. Luckily, many of them were able to recuperate in a sympathetic family members’ basement.

Eh…no different than if people read WALK IN THE WOODS, WILD, or DHARMA BUMS, magazine articles, various journals, etc. and did not plan accordingly, and were disillusioned with the romance vs. the reality. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I think I’ll stick with Bill Shakespeare’s declaration, “No legacy is so rich as honesty.”

“Friends, Romans, Dudes, People, Yous…I made up this speech that we have no record of” Bill? and also “borrowed” heavily from others? 😀

Hey! You deleted my comment.

I understand what you’re saying but I wonder how many people were influenced by Steinbeck to hit the road based on his claim that he saw the country from his truck only to have their experiences fall short of expectations. I saw quite a few people who went looking for America in the 60’s and 70’s who returned home disillusioned and/or broke. Most of them would have done far better continuing in school or work. Luckily, many of them were able to recuperate in a sympathetic family members’ basement.

It seems there should be some kind of responsibility for integrity in art. I think I’ll stick with Bill Shakespeare’s declaration, “No legacy is so rich as honesty.”

Yep, I am familiar that Steinbeck used some creative licensing with his travels. http://truthaboutcharley.com/dogging-steinbeck/
But sometimes the tales tell the truth more so than the reality. 🙂 “Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth“

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/books/steinbecks-travels-with-charley-gets-a-fact-checking.html