Just Read The Book

I finally got a chance to see Wild this weekend.  It was my birthday so my husband had to watch whatever I wanted.  I enjoy Reese Witherspoon and I LOVED the book, so I was really looking forward to the movie.

It was terrible.

I don't know when I'll learn my lesson, and stop expecting great books to translate into good movies.  Wild, the movie, was depressing and upsetting. Wild, the book by Cheryl Strayed, was uplifting, positive, and inspirational.  All of the same things happened, but the focus was on the trail experience instead of the tragic events that led her there. 

It made me want to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.  Will I ever do it? Probably not. I doubt I have the stamina and I definitely don't have the time.  It can be accessed from Stevens Pass, about an hour from where I live, and someday we'd like to do a weekend camping trip from there.

We've gone hike-in camping before, which requires a person to carry everything they need on their back - water, food, shelter.  It's always an adventure.

Our favorite hike is the Capa Alava/Sand Point Loop, a ten mile round trip that travels through coastal forests before reaching the Pacific Ocean.  We took our kids as soon as they were old enough to carry their own backpacks.

Food has to be kept in a bear can or hung high in a tree to keep the critters away.  On our first trip, as we were explaining this to the boys, a raccoon strolled up and took T's fruit snack.  He was not happy, but the lesson was illustrated and learned.

It's not an easy trek, but once you arrive and set up camp, there's an entire beach to explore.

And star fish to find.

And the most glorious sunsets, without another soul around.

It's peaceful and calming and grounding.  

Unlike the movie Wild.  If you haven't already, just read the book, and skip the cinematic version.  And then let me know if you'd like to hike the PCT with me.