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! 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.¿