[pct-l] Getting off work

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

:)

Yep, that's about right!
A friend of mine once asked, "So when do you think you'll be finished?".
I told him that I don't want to look forward to that day.
The fact that there are many years of discovery ahead of me is, itself,
exhilarating!
My only regret is that I didn't get on this trail earlier! I've known
about it for some time, but it wasn't until a couple years ago that I
actually started off on it.
That trail is pretty damn addicting! It's odd how I look south to where
I left off at the beginning of each trip and then look forward to where
I'll return at the end of one.
It's really a unique feeling that I can only equate (but not quite
really) to ticking off 14'ers from the list.
Right now, my desktop wallpaper is a photo of San Jacinto covered in
snow, taken from above Fobes Saddle near Palm View Peak. . And the image
greets me each morning when I fire up my machine, and I see it again as
I shut down in the evening...
That's where I gotta go back to. It's kind of like going back home.

-Oilcan

-----Original Message-----
From: AsABat [mailto:AsABat@4Jeffrey.Net] 
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 4:44 PM
To: Mike Saenz
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Getting off work

So true, Mike. That's why I am...

AsABat, Class of 2014.

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Mike Saenz
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 4:36 PM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Getting off work

A lot of emphasis on "priorities" has been made on this subject. Most of
it made from the perspective that a thru-hike is the obvious top
priority and that the rest of life can be interrupted with no regrets
being realized after-the-fact. Allow me to provide a counterview.

Sure it would be great to embark on a life altering adventure of a thru
hike. But some of us have equally, if not more exciting adventures in
the raising of families, the pursuit of careers, and the occasional
weekend or holiday travel.
A wise, old, six foot six tall friend once told me, "There's no right
way to hike the PCT". For me, a huge part of the PCT experience is
simply meeting the people I've met who are   active and enthusiastic in
and about the PCT community. Whether they're packing eight gallons of
water to a water cache, providing invaluable first-hand knowledge of the
trail to everyone else, camping in a school bus along the trail to
provide burgers and beer to hikers, or most especially; meeting another
foot-sore hiker on some wind swept ridge out in the wilderness and
hearing "So YOU'RE Oilcan!".
I have a tremendously satisfying and fulfilling career that I couldn't
possibly interrupt for six months. Wouldn't want to, I love it so!
Though I left ADZ last year with a honk of the horn and a wave as I
drove past the herd as they approached I-8 with heavy disappointment
that I wasn't on the trail with them, the depression vanished the moment
I got caught up in the first flurry of phone calls back at the office.
This e-mail list allows those of us to stay connected on the progress
(or lack of) those who intend to make it to Canada. It also allows us to
hook up with some of us for weekend hikes and to provide support in our
own way by reporting back water and trail conditions.
Until I can be like Eric and kick off retirement by staring down 2600
miles at ADZ, I'll plug away at the miles as I can and happily report
back to you all!

Gotta get back to work!