Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl Strayed' memoir "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" reveals her extraordinary experience regarding her trek through the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) when she was twenty-six years old. All this was to rediscover herself from the self-destructive life that had tormented her for four years, since her mother dead. The journey of over one thousand miles was arduous because the trail passes "through deserts and mountains and rain forests; across rivers and highways" (Strayed, 4). PCT is a treacherous footpath that connects Mexico and Canada and goes through the mountain ranges of Cascade and mountain rim of Sierra Nevada. Though, usually, well preparation should be a critical key that determined the success of the hard journey, Cheryl was not prepared well. However, she survived the harsh and adverse condition of the PCT wild. In fact, Cheryl's unpreparedness, such as taking PCT lightly, lack of basic training and drill, and lack of funds, turned out to be advantageous for the success in the journey. In addition, the journey helped her to complete the self-reconstruction and piercing back her life that seemed to have melted down.
Without hesitation, Cheryl made the decision for a great journey through the Pacific Crest Trail. This fact was the first evidence that Cheryl took an advantage of unpreparedness. According to her narration, the hiking on PCT was a "flip decision to do it" without careful research and consideration (Strayed, 9).
[...] Firstly, she was very willing to overcome the pains and hardships. She stated that decided I was safe. I was strong. I was brave. Nothing could vanquish (Strayed, 51). Secondly, her physical strength was increased and accepted the pains and hardships gradually. Cheryl described her change as “Bearing Monster's weight had changed me too on the outside. My legs had become as hard as boulders, their muscles seemingly capable of anything, rippling beneath my thinning flesh in ways they never (Strayed, 190). [...]
[...] The lack of funds was a clear indication of unpreparedness for the hiking that she undertook. Because of the financial issue, Cheryl could not have a decent journey. Though she consumed cheap and dehydrated foodstuffs, and chose the cheapest place when she had to sleep in a town, Cheryl had been embarrassed for the shortage of finances. Sometimes she could not afford some most common beverage and food such as her favorite Snapple Lemonade, cheeseburger and fries. There was a vivid illustration about how Cheryl was kicked out from the campground at a midnight due to she did not have twelve dollars to pay. [...]
[...] Work Cited Garner, Dwight. "‘Wild' by Cheryl Strayed, a Walkabout of Reinvention." New York Times Mar Web Oct Strayed, Cheryl. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. New York: Alfred A. Knopf Print. [...]
[...] Cheryl was not prepared at all for the task that was before her. However, the unpreparedness did not deter her from the hiking on the PCT. It provided her with significant opportunities to gain great promotion both physically and mentally. By taking the PCT lightly, she was able to make a firm decision without any hesitation. Her lack of basic training and drill compelled her to have greater changes to overcome the challenges. Her lack of funds enabled her to exercise self-control over her desires, and made her appreciate the life she had had. [...]
APA Style reference
For your bibliographyOnline reading
with our online readerContent validated
by our reading committee
