[pct-l] News from the Trail: Goforth

["Karen Elder" <wild_mind@earthlink.net>]

Joanne "Goforth" Lennox is sending me reports of her thru-hike for me to
post here with news about trail conditions for this year's hikers and a
glimpse of our beloved PCT for the rest of us.

Karen Elder

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June 8, 1999
Tuesday
Walker Pass

Dear Folks,

        Well after my third diarrhea seige and wnd visit to the emergency
room, I decided to just escape capture in Big Bear, and set out a week ago
in the rain + fog and uncertainty. I had lost 12 pounds, mostly from not
eating for 2 weeks, and I had troubles physically and psychologically, but I
just kept going forth and after a week my appetite started to come back and
yesterday I felt the swing in my gait reappearing as well. So I climbed 7
peaks yesterday (6 had registers) to put the world back on notice. Gurdieff
said that if you are going to do something -- go whole hog, every night, and
Saturday night.
        I learned to love the horned toads -- gentle little dragon folk of
the chaparral forest. They do not slither off like the lizards, but scamper
a short ways to a piece of shade and watch you -- curious and quiet. They
live in the great hinterland which for them is infinite and wild. Their maps
show no ciites and the roads and trails are like watching television --
rivers where flow the drama of eating and being eaten.
        I bought a water filter, a pair of running shoes (for later); picked
up my boots and ice ax and less than 24 hours later, find myself in the
midst of a thruhiker crowd (now fast asleep) at Walker Pass. As Carlton was
dropping me off, right away I recognized the voice of Meadow Ed + was
assured by his gentle presence. For only the second night I camped with
other thruhikers.
        My feet are looking askance at my boots -- I seem to feel the entire
weave of my soft wool socks and am wondering why I abandoned my tennies --
because the snow + high passes are waiting. And I have my blister kit at the
ready.
        Received news that there was a thruhiker accident on a trail going
into Lone Pine. You can not imagine how sad this made me -- I feel very
aligned with all the hikers on the trail, and in a sense what happens to the
rest of them, happens to me as well. It is like we are all one organism on
the trail.

        Sincerely,
        Goforth



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