I have been listening to Wild by Cheryl Strayed, a book about her three-month, 1,100-mile hike by herself on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington state. At twenty-two, she thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her 45-year-old mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike.
Strayed was at the very lowest point in her life when she began her journey. With the coronavirus crisis, some of us feel as though we are at the very lowest point in our lives. We have embarked on a journey where unknown danger lurks around every corner. Some of us throw up our hands in dismay. Others muddle through trying to make the best of a bad situation. Still others fully embrace the journey and possibility of conquering our invisible menace.
On the trail, Strayed has multiple encounters with unknown enemies, not to mention tragic consequences of short-sighted decisions. The size and weight of her backpack is so gargantuan (ranging from 50 to 70 pounds) that she affectionately names it “Monster.” She meets people of questionable integrity and makes errors in judgement.
Her hiking boots — sold to her by an overzealous but seemingly knowledgeable REI salesman — are too small, causing multiple bruises and constant, wrenching pain. She loses nine of her toenails during the hike. After removing a boot to remove a loose toenail, one of her boots accidentally falls down an inaccessibly deep slope, forcing her to continue the journey wearing only flimsy sandals reinforced with duct tape.
Another time on the trail, Strayed is out of water and desperately licks the dew off her tent. Dehydrated and near exhaustion, she siphons water from a pond filled with sludge. While she waits for her water to disinfect, two hunters approach, one making suggestive remarks that leave her feeling threatened and vulnerable. She quickly leaves and runs away.
Ultimately, the physical rigors of the hike heal her spirit, making her stronger. Despite being a novice backpacker, with no radio, no phone, no credit cards and very little money, she survived. We — the hikers of the COVID-19 trail — will do the same. If Cheryl did it, so can we.
Cheryl Strayed at Crater Lake near the PCT
Below is a video about Wild by Cheryl Strayed:
The book was made into a movie in 2014 starring Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern. They were both nominated for Academy Awards. Below is a trailer for the movie:
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