[at-l] On topic if you carry a cell on the trail... OT if youdont... Imp...

[daveh at psknet.com (David Hicks)]

There are all kind of section hikers.

However, as one who has done both "short" sections (10 or less days) and 
longer sections (up to two months), I find that it takes me a few days to get 
into the "right now, right here, present moment experience."  The first few 
days I am still thinking about back home (and before retirement, the job). 
The last few of days a hike, I start thinking about re-entry -- the shuttle 
logistics, the trip home, what I need to do first, next, etc.

It is only in the middle segment (however long) that I am disconnected from 
the "other" world (and, as Colin Fletcher called it, its jangle).  It's those 
disconnected days that are prime IMHO -- when "You have been living by sunrise 
and sunset, by wind and rain, surrounded by the ebb and flow of lives that 
respond only to such simple, rhythmic elements." (again with credit to 
Fletcher) and when my focus is on the green world in a right now, right here, 
present moment experience.  In my personal experience, it takes me a hike of 
more than 10 days to develop that precious middle segment.

For me, any chain that can jerk me out of that prime experience is an 
unfortunate intrusion. As always YMMV.

That said, I am also a married man with folk back home who have needs and 
different comfort levels.  So, the cell travel deep in my pack and from 
time-to-time I will check it for a message left by my wife, should anything 
come up.  To date, she has never called, when I was hiking.  But she feels 
comforted by the thought that she could get a message to me.

Chainsaw


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim and/or Ginny Owen" <spiriteagle99@hotmail.com>
To: <rcli4@comcast.net>; <at-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 10:09 PM
Subject: Re: [at-l] On topic if you carry a cell on the trail... OT if 
youdont... Imp...


>>
For those who are section hikers - I don't have a clue - the same thing
"could" be true.  Or not.
<<