Six Million Steps a Journey Inwards - Christian Callaghan

I have written a reflection on Six Million Steps a Journey Inwards. Think of this as the one stop shop to what people encounter on PCT with some of my own thoughts mixed in between. Happy Hiking.

thru-hikers (life stripped to its core)

OPPORTUNITY 

In the film, there was much discussion of opportunity being the reason that many people decided to start their journey on the PCT. Concepts such as the need to hike before turning an age that prohibits someone from walking long distances (felt the need to do it - do the trail) were very prevalent. Additionally, the PCT was, to many, the perfect amount of difficulty, seeing as the other trails, such as the Continental Divide, were significantly more difficult. Below are some of the reasons that people actually wanted to do it:

In honor of a friend who was killed, 5 months of trail, never hiked before, sitting on the couch for a month and car hiking were all persuasive measures to get people to walk the trail.

TRAIL TOWNS

These were towns in which trail angels would be found, but I will discuss more about that later. They also held many of the resupply places that hikers would stop at to recover food for the next week of walking that they would do.

TRAIL NAMES

Trail names are earned by things you do when on the path, and they are very similar to callsigns given to fighter pilots. As a result, most people do not reveal their actual name and are known by their trail name for the time that they are on the trail.

COMMUNITY

Community was one of the more highlighted features of the film, as that is entirely what you rely upon when on the path. One interesting thing about it is the fact that there is no caste system, and that everyone is on the same playing field, as the PCT is the great equalizer. Many different people are on the PCT: both old and young, which makes people more open to giving to others. 

As discussed earlier, there are trail angels who will leave food and water caches that provide people with sustenance while on the PCT.

MIND TREKS

Often, when people are on the PCT, they are alone with their thoughts, and it allows people to know their demons and what triggers them.

DEFINITIONS OF SELF

The occupations on the trail are vast, and futures become more certain as people understand what they need to be doing for the rest of their lives as a result of taking so much time off.

SIMPLICITY

Helps you connect with the present, and you find actual relaxation

HIKING WITH OTHERS

People don’t really hike alone (bonds form) and make friends along the way.

MOTIVATION

When on he trail, individuals are restricted from a lot of worldly things, such as a surplus of food. Due to this fact, many people on the trail have a controlled diet, and become more physically fit, keeps them mentally sound, toughens them, keeps them thankful and gives people their own motivation to go forward.

INJURIES

A big issue with actually continuing to trek forward is the fact that injuries are a prevalent issue with new feet and back problems; many are forced to stop on their trip.

ATTENUATION

Individuals will also lose large amounts of weight and become really aware of their bodies.


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