Jazz and New Jersey: A Thru Hiker's Tale of Freedom and Subculture
The author reflects on their thru hiking experience, specifically their time spent in New Jersey, and the unique experiences that come with it. They describe the freedom of having limited choices, such as the book they read during a rainstorm, and the joy of discovering new things along the way.
One of the most memorable experiences was visiting a jazz club in Delaware Water Gap. The author describes the feeling of being immersed in a specific subculture, where the trail feels like a portal that sucks you in and dunks your head completely under. They compare the experience to watching a professional wrestling match, where the audience sees the performance as almost impossible, but they don't know the skill and choreography behind the scenes.
The author also reflects on the emotional wave of leaving a state and moving onto the next, and how time keeps passing and they keep on walking. They express a sense of freedom and liberation from the constraints of everyday life, and how the trail allows them to analyze the world more intensely and extend their attention span.
Overall, the author's experience on the trail has been transformative, and they feel a sense of freedom and joy in their journey. They appreciate the simplicity of having limited choices and the joy of discovering new things along the way. The jazz club experience in New Jersey was a highlight of their journey, and they reflect on the feeling of being part of a specific subculture and the emotional liberation that comes with it.
