[pct-l] Getting off work

[dsaufley at sprynet.com (dsaufley@sprynet.com)]

I'm sure you'll get your responses from those of the Class of '05 who are out there, but this is a question that I am often asked when describing what we do, and for whom.

One large segment of the thru-hiker population is made up of college students, generally inbetween their completion of college and careers.  Many are college students on break (they're usually on very tight schedules and don't always plan to complete as the summer break isn't quite long enough).  

The next large group is retirees.  Dang them, they are not driven by schedules and do what they like!  They are also extremely hardy and what they may lack in youthful energy they more than make up for in mental fortitude (let's hear it for age and treachery!).  Some of them kick butt out there and hike the relative youngsters into the ground.  They inspire.

Of those who actually have jobs, they've been:  waitresses, cooks, writers, editors, musicians, artists, pastors, engineers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, scientists of many types, veterinarians, airline pilots, seasonal resort workers, construction workers, contractors in various trades, financial planners, firemen, policemen, ranch hands, one world-class triathelete, and and even an Israeli TV travel show host.  This is certainly not an exhaustive list.  Another common occupation amongst hikers is youth program leaders.  Many, too, are recent Peace Corp, AmeriCorp, and Conservation Corp veterans.  

People take sabbaticals, leaves of absence, or quit their jobs outright.  Some save and plan to afford it, putting their lives on hold (or have friends/family mind the fort in their absence), and still others sell it all and divest themselves of material things (ala Homeless & Unemployed, who gave it all up to hike).  Some are hoping to do something different when they complete their hike.  The hike is a transitional point; sometimes this is intended, but more often it just becomes pivotal.  The experience of hiking the trail can sometimes change people forever.

While true ethnic diversity sadly eludes the PCT population, the social and economic diversity is tremendous.  We've had folks that range from independently wealthy to the truly homeless and bankrupt on the extremes.  One memorable fellow was a self-acknowledged ex-convict turned hiker/seasonal worker.  And, we've even seen one whose family supported his hiking habit apparently in lieu of having him committed to a mental institution.  

And last, but perhaps greatest, there's that special class of hiker, the "Regulars".  These are people who are chronic hikers, who are stopped only by winter, during which time they scrape together the resources for their next hike by some means or other which is completely irrelevant.  These are people who live to hike, and when you meet them, you can sense the miles that they've covered.  

But the most interesting thing of all is, when you meet them they won't be any of the things that I've mentioned, unless you ask them, of course.  As a general rule, amongst their ranks NO ONE will care much what they did before they were on the trail or plan to do as a career, if at all, afterward.  They will all just be hikers, as the trail is the Great Equalizer.  You really won't be able to tell who is a professional of some sort, or who isn't, who has money, and who doesn't.  They will each be as dirty, stinky, hungry, tired, and elated as the next.  They are the antidote to encounters with people in the material world.

-=Donna Saufley=-


-----Original Message-----
From: EShoe2000@aol.com
Sent: Mar 26, 2005 9:35 AM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Getting off work

Hi all,
I have a question for those of you who have done the PCT or are planning to 
do it this year.  What types of jobs do you have that allowed you to take off 
work and go on the trail for 4 or 5 months?  Just wondering....

Emily
_______________________________________________
pct-l mailing list
pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
unsubscribe or change options:
http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l