One Legacy Begets Another
By Roger Carpenter and Cindy Kleinegger
Roger Carpenter and his wife, Cindy Kleinegger
In 1995, a day before arriving at Kennedy Meadows on an attempted Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, I never expected that a chance encounter with a young, aspiring author, Cheryl Strayed, would forever seal my connection with the trail. If you've read her book Wild you've already met me as "Greg," the first hiker Cheryl met. These days my trail name is "Greg in Wild."
I have been visiting and hiking the PCT for more than 30 years. To me and my wife, Cindy, the trail is not only a sacred place but also a pathway to our relationship with nature and the environment.
As much as I am honored to have been included in Cheryl's remarkable story, Cindy and I wanted to do more for the trail, something of substance to help preserve the trail for future generations. We made the decision to include the Pacific Crest Trail Association in our estate plan. In these turbulent times, that knowledge brings us a lot of peace and comfort.
In recent years, Cindy and I have become increasingly aware of the ecological significance of the lands through which the PCT passes. These are some of the most sensitive and wild lands in the American West. We want to help protect them and ensure that the life-changing experiences, personal growth and environmental awareness the PCT has given us will also be available to those who tread in our footsteps after we have passed.
The PCTA is the one organization dedicated to protecting and maintaining the PCT. We've included the PCTA in our wills, happy in the knowledge that we will be helping to secure the future of the trail and the land it traverses. They will be around a lot longer than Cindy and me.
You can join Roger and Cindy in preserving the PCT for future generations when you include the PCTA in your will or other estate plan. Contact Angie Williamson at 916-285-1849 or awilliamson@pcta.org to get started.
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