Sunday, September 25, 2016

Chapter 16 Quotations

"It was August 28. Her birthday. She'd have been fifty that day, if she'd lived." "She didn't live. She didn't get to be fifty. She would never be fifty." - Chapter 16 please p.g 264

1. Does the quotation characterize Cheryl, Paul, her mother, or another character? If so, in what way does it characterize?

This quotation characterizes Cheryl's mother. Cheryl's mother died at the age of forty five. Cheryl's mother died of lung cancer, forty nine days after she was diagnosed with it. After the doctor at the Mayo Clinic got results back from there tests, they told Cheryl that she would be lucky to live a year. The doctor also explained that it was common to find lung cancer that late, and that the only thing he could offer was radiation to reduce the size of the tumors. This quotation characterizes Cheryl's mother by showing that she was sick. Cheryl's mother had reached a point of no return because the cancer was found so late.

2. Does the quotation indicate a conflict? If so, what conflict?

This quotation indicates internal conflict with Cheryl herself. Cheryl's mom died of lung cancer at the age of forty five. The doctors gave her at least a year to live, but she only lived forty nine days after she was diagnosed. Cheryl's was very close to her mom and after she died it really broke the family apart. While hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl thought about several memories with her mom. Cheryl then began to blame herself as part of the reason the family fell apart. In chapter 16 Cheryl stated "Dying at forty five had only been the worst thing she done wrong". Cheryl then began to make a list of all of her mother wrong doings to make herself feel better. Cheryl's stated that her mother failed. The conflict about this is Cheryl fought herself all of these years over the death of her mother, but out of nowhere begins to blame her mother for all of the things she didn't teach her.

"She was optimistic to an annoying degree, given to saying those stupid things: We're not poor because we're rich in love! Or when one door closes another one opens up!" - Chapter 16 p.g 266

1. Does the quotation relate to a theme? If so, which theme and how does it relate?

This quotation relates to the theme of this story in many ways. One theme of this story is to fight through perseverance. Cheryl ran into many problems while hiking on the trail. One of the problems were her boots. The boots Cheryl had were too small and blistered her feet severely. While hiking on the trail one day one of Cheryl boots fell over a cliff. So she had to make due with what she had until she reached her next destination. Also Cheryl's backpack "Monster" relates to the theme. When Cheryl begin hiking the PCT she couldn't even lift the backpack of the ground. She always made a way to get it on her back and keep going. Cheryl continued to push on through all the aches and pain because she had a goal to accomplish.

2.Does the quotation characterize Cheryl, Paul, her mother, or another character? If so, in what way does it characterize?

This quotation characterizes how optimistic Cheryl's mother was in her lifetime. Cheryl's mother always looked at the positive side of things. When her mother states "When one door closes another one opens up" It shows that she felt like no matter what happens she still would make it. Even though Cheryl blamed her mother for being overly optimistic Cheryl used some of these same traits while on the trail. In tough to situations Cheryl would tell herself things like "I'm not afraid", and " I'd like to push on if there's a way". Overall Cheryl's mother being optimistic taught Cheryl to think about the positive side and less about the negative side.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Chapter 8 Quotation- Blog post assignment 4

"It's not safe for you to go alone" Doug said. "Neither one us would go alone", said Tom. " But it's not safe for any of us to go into the snow. Together or alone", I said. " We want to try it" said Tom. "Thank you," I said. "I'm touched you'd offer but I can't." "Why cant you". Doug asked. "Because the point of my trip is that I'm out here to do it alone." - Chapter 8, page 122

1. Does the quotation relate to the theme ? If so which theme, and how does it relate?

In my opinion this quote relates to the theme of this story. The theme of this story is no matter what happens or what you may go through to still push through. Even when Cheryl was going through drug addiction she still knew she wasn't really that person. Cheryl knew she had to overcome the things that hurt her. For example, when Cheryl lost her mom she knew she had do some of the things her mom taught her in order to preserve her legacy. When Cheryl stated "Because the point of my trip is that I'm out here to do it alone" she portrays the message that she is capable of doing the unthinkable. Cheryl knew the dangers of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail alone but she knew she could do it. Even on days she wanted to quit she told herself things like " I am not afraid", and she still pushed through. Cheryl also portrays self determination. Cheryl didn't want help from others, she was determined to do it alone.

2. Does this quotation characterize Cheryl, Paul, her mother, or another character? If so in what ways does it characterize?

The quotation "Because the point of my trip is that I'm out here to do it alone", characterizes Cheryl in number of ways. Firstly, it shows how fearless of a person Cheryl was. Even though Cheryl was scared about some things on the trail such as wild animals, she still told herself "I am not afraid". Cheryl understood she was a female, and that not many women hike the trail alone. Additionally, the quote characterizes Cheryl by showing determination. Cheryl was determined to finish the hike, even in some cases when she decided she would quit. Finally, the quote characterizes Cheryl by showing she was committed. Even though she was a woman, and was hiking the trail alone she was committed to finish the hike.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

"Never too late for that first long distance hike" : http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjd4ubBhvzOAhUhJ8AKHWagBu0QFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcta.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F10%2FNeverTooLateApril2010.pdf%3F884c9e&usg=AFQjCNEEr16RsgQQO6ficUOnU_unyeDbRg&sig2=or-nV2nbeLgXnauvkSHMcg

"Never too late for that first long distance hike"
3 Interesting Things:
1. Along the PCT there is a place called "Hikerstown" where hikers can shower, restock on water, and get other necessities needed for the hike.
2. "Waterbill" Moore hiked the trail with inspiration from his dads favorite quote which states "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step".
3. "Waterbill" Moore and his two friends completed section E of the Pacific Coast Trail which was one hundred and nine miles long.

2 Facts:
1. Read Miller, Glen Van Peski, and Bill "Waterbill" Moore found themselves in the middle of a fifty mile marathon of about one hundred and twenty runners.
2. "Waterbill" Moore lives in Vista, California where he recently retired from engineering. His hobbies include traveling, gardening, hiking, and helping to maintain the water source for PCT hikers at Barrell Springs.

1 Question:
Before completing the one hundred and nine mile hike what was the longest you had hiked before?

Objective Summary:
  Bill "Waterbill" Moore set out on his first long hike in 2005 with his partner Read Miller. The hike was an one hundred and nine mile journey of the infamous Mojave section of the PCT. The hike began on March 9th, 2005. They hiked through the Tehachapi Mountains, Gamble Springs Canyon, and the Cottonwood Canyon. When the reached "Hikertown" a place where hikers can rest, shower, and replenish on necessities "Waterbill" Moore had to suspend his journey due to sand causing blisters on his foot. Five weeks later there were back on the trail with an additional friend named Glenn Van Peski, a seasoned hiker. While on the hike they found themselves in the middle of an ultramarathon of about one hundred and twenty runners. They were given food, ice cream, and many more supplies to complete the journey. The last day of the hike was through dusty chapparral. Their hike ended in Agua Dulce with a cool shower in the Hiker facilities. "Waterbill's" dad gave him the quote that "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step". "Waterbill" Moore and his friends completed Section E of the Pacific Coast Trail which was an one hundred and nine mile journey.