Three Questions and some thoughts from Anza-Borrego State Park

What is the purpose of the giant sequoia tree? The purpose of the giant sequoia tree is to provide shade for the tiny titmouse. ~ Edward Abbey

As many of you know I’ve quit my job, sold my house and am traveling across the United States towards my appointed start date of February 26th to do a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT) from Springer Mountain, GA to Mount Katahdin, ME (2189 miles). ~ Rev Kane

So I camped for several days in Anza-Borrego and it was good practice for my three questions exercise I’ll be doing on the Appalachian Trail, so here we go:

12/23

The most beautiful thing I saw today was my first ever desert oasis

What made me happy today was just the pure joy of being outside on an 80 degree winter day, really should have been hiking in shorts today!

What I learned today was to be more careful on descents with tricky footing, the trail was covered in cantaloupe sized rocks, easy to land wrong and tweek an ankle or a knee, both of which I did today.

12/24

The most beautiful thing I saw today was the smile I got from a beautiful woman when we passed each other on the trail today.

What made me happy today was talking to my mom and hearing her sound clear and strong after being in the hospital for a couple of days

What I learned today was that when my batteries are dying on my boombox losing FM is the first sign.

12/25

The most beautiful thing I saw today was the view over the valley from the top of the hike I did today.

What made me happy today was a lot, a great hike, talking to family, seeing two bighorn sheep on a ridgeline, all in all a really happy day.

I’m sure I learned something today but it escapes me.

My thoughts after the hike on the 25th from my journal:

Today I felt a bit like Edward Abbey as I spent five hours on the trail in the desert alone with nothing but the aloe plants, the ocotillo, little lizards scrambling away and big horn sheep fleeing over the ridge line. Out there like that I feel more alive than at any other time. You cease to be out in nature, an observer, and you start to integrate and feel part of the landscape around you. Most likely it’s coincidence but whenever this mode kicks in I always seem to see more wildlife. Perhaps the lack of otherness makes them a little more comfortable with you in their environment. There was an absolute sense of joy dancing down the slope, rock hopping with 40 pounds on my back beginning, just beginning to feel like a thru-hiker. Bliss!

On the road again, several days of driving, have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane