While most of today’s trek was spent under the canopy of the woods, reaching Marie Lake changed everything. The “open vista” that greeted me there was spectacular—a perfect reward for a long day. I managed to cover 15 miles from VVR, but I’m feeling the weight of that distance tonight.
Today, I finally reached the 100-mile mark. I am now roughly at the midpoint of the entire journey. Part of me feels like it has gone by in a flash, while another part is acutely aware that half the trail still lies ahead. I suspect the true challenges and trials of this journey will begin from tomorrow onward.
I continue to encounter more PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) hikers than I expected. I’ve realized that due to the heavy snow this year, many are hiking Southbound (SOBO) rather than Northbound (NOBO) to bypass the late-season drifts. This explains why so many are passing through the JMT section right now.
Their gear tells the story—almost everyone is rocking a clear “ultralight” (UL) setup. As I watched them pass, I couldn’t help but wonder: what drives them to take on such an epic, long-distance thru-hike? I spent some time imagining the thoughts and philosophies that carry them across thousands of miles.
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