[pct-l] Admin Note: God and the Trail

[losthiker at sisqtel.net (Deems)]

I disappear into the wilderness because it calls to me..the one yelling at
me to do so is inside me and deafens me until I stand alone within the great
silence I call my wilderness. It is an endless insatiable cycle that has
followed me throughout my life. It's not a religion to me, but an addiction
that can never be satisfied, for I am forever lost within the wilderness, my
home. The PCT is one of many simple manmade pathways to our wilderness
spiritual fulfillment. We must each respectfully hike our own spiritual
journey alone, share it with those that will listen, and heed the call of
the wilderness within ....
^^^^^^^^^^^^
I don't care what a person calls it, this Great Backpacker In The Sky, as
Strider calls it, only that we talk about it.  (Unless, of course, it is a
banned subject.)  People throughout history have gone into the mountains to
find
solace, clear their minds, and commune with "mother nature."  The  spiritual
side of mountaineering is a huge part of what it's all about.  It  should be
something that we can talk about without taking offense with each  person's
beliefs.