Jazz and New Jersey: A Thru Hiker's Tale of Freedom and Subculture
The author, a thru hiker, reflects on their journey through Pennsylvania and the liberating experience of hiking. They describe the joy of watching Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, the bliss of having limited entertainment options, and the freedom of trading possessions for a new book. The author's journal entry highlights the appeal of a lack of choices and the excitement of discovering a 1950s Sci Fi novel.
The narrative takes an unexpected turn when the author discovers a jazz club in Delaware Water Gap, New Jersey, free of cover charges on Thursdays. They describe the experience as a night of wine and jazz, observing the musicians' dedication and the intricate dance of their performance. The author's fascination with the musicians' craft and the idea of people gathered to witness a carefully executed performance is reminiscent of a professional wrestling match in Pottsville.
The author draws a parallel between hiking and the skill and choreography behind professional wrestling. They suggest that hiking might be easier than it appears to non-backpackers, who marvel at the things that feel second nature to hikers. The author reflects on the sense of immersion in a specific subculture, where activities like hitchhiking, manual water filtration, and sleeping on the ground are not normal. They speculate that hiking might be freeing up their brain to analyze the world more intensely and extending their attention span.
The final section of the article mentions the emotional wave of leaving Pennsylvania and moving into New Jersey, with the author singing jazz songs as they walk across the Delaware Water Gap bridge. The article concludes with a personal reflection on the liberating nature of hiking and the author's desire to continue exploring and writing about their experiences.
