Pacific Crest Trail Data Book. Benedict Go

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      The Journey of a Thousand Ri begins with the first step.

      Pacific Crest Trail Data Book

      5th EDITION 2013

      Copyright © 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2013 by Benedict Go and Wilderness Press

      ISBN 978-0-89997-745-4; eISBN 978-0-89997-746-1

      Manufactured in the United States of America

      Published by: Wilderness Press

      Keen Communications

      PO Box 43673

      Birmingham, AL 35243

      (800) 443-7227; fax (205) 326-1012

      [email protected]

      www.wildernesspress.com

      Regional section maps are used with permission of Andrew Alfred-Duggan.

      Thanks to the following photographers for contributing their lively images:

      Page vi: (top left and bottom right) Pacific Crest Trail Association/Heather Tilert, (top right) Pacific Crest Trail Association/Ron Kelley, (middle right) Audrey Alfred-Duggan, (bottom left) Pacific Crest Trail Association/Caitlin Barale, (middle left) Pacific Crest Trail Association/Deems Burton

      Page 129: (top left and top right) Paul Gerald, (bottom right) Pacific Crest Trail Association/Joe Walters, (bottom left) Pacific Crest Trail Association/Don Saviers, (middle left) Pacific Crest Trail Association/Caitlin Barale

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author and publisher.

      NOTICE: The author and publisher caution users of the data contained herein that land and resource managers along the route of the PCT can, and often do, make changes to the trail’s routing, thereby changing or invalidating the information. Post Offices and resupply points may be closed for numerous reasons at any time, so verify mailing addresses before shipping supplies. While every attempt has been made to verify this data as this book goes to print, contact the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) and local agencies for current conditions and recent changes.

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      I would like to thank Wilderness Press and the authors of the PCT guidebooks, especially Jeff Schaffer, for permitting the use of the guidebooks as the basis for the creation of the Data Book. Thank you also to the PCTA for all they do for the trail, Ray Jardine for publishing his ideas on long-distance hiking, Cindy Ross for sharing her journal, Matt Maxon for re-measuring much of the Southern California section mileages, various trail users and maintainers who provided feedback on this book, and to Ada Leung for production assistance on this book. Send any changes or comments to Ben: [email protected].

      FROM THE AUTHOR: THE JOURNEY

      The future begins with a dream …. And what a wonderful dream it was! I thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 1996; to this day, memories of that life continue to make me smile. The sweet innocence of the unknown, the lessons still to be learned. How I yearn to feel those moments! I started on the PCT not fully knowing what to expect. It was the most challenging journey I had ever attempted.

      The long expanse of the desert, the refreshing High Sierra, and the beautiful Cascade Mountains—nature became my home. Every night, I slept in different places, sometimes on a hill, in a valley, or on top of a mountain. I found myself seeking and finding special places, and treasuring the times when I could feel deeply. In nature, I saw more moments that in my mind could not be possible, and yet they happened. I remember the uncertainty, the not knowing of what would be. But, at the same time, as my knowledge increased and gave power, it also limited me. Knowledge created a boundary that at times became the border of my life. It was only by questioning what I knew and in doing difficult things that I could grow. Here I learned my four treasured lessons:

      Take care of those whom you love.

      Take care of your health.

      Do not limit yourself to what you know. Try and learn.

      Share your life. We are not meant to be alone.

      I am glad that many continue to protect this most beautiful treasure.

      To the future!

      —Ben “Gentle Ben” Go, June 2013

      A note about my trail name: When I started on the PCT, I met many Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, most of whom had trail names. For two months, I hiked across Southern California with the veteran AT hikers pondering what my trail name should be. We finally reached Kennedy Meadows and saw the movie Grizzly Adams. Next thing I knew, my trail name Gentle Ben came into being, bestowed by the one and only “Rude Dog.”

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