Wild Essay Questions

Why does Cheryl often question herself while on the trail?

Although Cheryl starts off her hike feeling confident, she is not actually an experienced hiker and she has never been backpacking before. She quickly realizes that she has not fully considered how challenging the trail is, nor how long it will take her to adjust. Because Cheryl has some early challenges, like being unable to lift her pack to put it on and not meeting her expected pace of hiking, she questions whether she should be hiking the trail. She also tends to compare herself to other hikers, who seem more competent and prepared in her eyes.

What are some reasons why Cheryl has an unusually close relationship with her mother?

Cheryl grows up with a single mother who left an abusive relationship, and she does not have a relationship with her father. Bobbi is a very loving mother who becomes the center of her children's world. Because Bobbi is quite young when her children are born, she also does not seem to be so far removed from their stage of life. In fact, Cheryl and Bobbi go through college together at the same time, and this experience bonds them and helps them to feel closer. Bobbi always encourages her daughter to think for herself and to live according to her own rules.

How are Cheryl's relationships with men affected by her grief?

After her mother's death, Cheryl's grief pushes her away from her husband, Paul. He has lots of hopes and dreams, but she finds it hard to think about the future. Cheryl quickly begins being unfaithful to Paul, first confining herself to kissing and then eventually having sex with other men. She knows this behavior is hurtful and will destroy her marriage, but she can't make herself stop. Later, Cheryl becomes involved with Joe, a man who is likely to be a bad influence on her. Because she is so grief-stricken after her mother's death, Cheryl uses her sexuality to numb the pain of loss.

What role does physical pain play in Cheryl's experience on the trail?

Cheryl is initially unprepared for how physically painful her hike will be. Her muscles ache from the exertion of hiking, and her ill-fitting boots cause intense pain in her feet. The physical pain is so consuming that, much to Cheryl's surprise, she actually does not spend much time reflecting on her life and her feelings. She is consumed instead with the physical realities of the present moment. Over time, Cheryl realizes that enduring the physical pain is making her stronger and more resilient, and that it also puts her emotional suffering in perspective. Rather than dwelling on the past all the time, she has to be fully present.

What role does solitude play in Cheryl's journey?

Solitude is part of what attracts Cheryl to the idea of hiking the PCT. She hopes that being alone will give her time to reflect and become more independent and self-reliant. As she progresses on her journey, Cheryl sometimes feels proud of being one of few hikers to go alone, something that is even rarer for a woman to do. At the same time, she often finds herself very lonely and eager to be around others. Although she is grateful for the companionship she finds on the trail, she is certain that she wants to hike the final stretch of the trail alone so that she can end her journey the same way she began it.