1859 Sept | Oct 2012_opt

Local Habit
top 5
TOP 5
Cheryl Strayed’s Top 5 pieces of advice to
those venturing onto the acific Crest Trail
Cheryl Strayed was 2 when she stripped down her life to a backpack and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, four
years after her mother died of cancer at the young age of 5. No answers came out of that journey except
a new resolution to go on. A good amount of writing followedincluding and her
most recent , both of the bestselling flavor. is a compelling memoir of letting go
and going on along the PCT. Now living in Portland, Cheryl Strayed shares some wisdom for those venturing
onto the Pacific Crest Trail.
SIZE MATTERS
At least when it comes to shoes. Trust me
on this. You’ll be happy to finish your hike
with all ten toenails.
GO ALONE
Even if only for an afternoon. It’s wonderful
to hike with family and friends, but
something different happens when you’re
is alone on the trail. The solitary mind wanders
in directions that conversations can’t.
REALLY GO ALONE
No phones or music or anything that enables
you to tweet Hey, I’m on the PCT
Disconnect from your technological toys so
you can connect with something else the
glorious cacophony of the wild. When you
do that, you can hear the stream running
deep in the gully beyond view. You can hear
the birds in the trees. You can hear yourself.
BRING CHOCOLATE
Or whatever feels like a reward to you. It
tastes better with trail dust on it.
photo by Joni Kabana
4 1859 oregon's mAgAzine SEPT OCT 2012
WALK INTO THE DARKEST WOODS
WITHOUT A STICK
By which I mean the best, most important
things require us to push bravely into the
unknown. Do that even if it scares you a
little though you might want to bring a
trekking pole.