Wild - Cheryl Strayed Flashcards
Eddie
Strayed’s stepfather. Although significantly younger than her mother, He took on an important role in Strayed’s life as a father figure. He loved Strayed and her siblings Karen and Leif as his own, and was the person who first took Strayed camping. After Bobbi’s death, however, he distanced himself and became like a stranger to Strayed.
Barbara (Bobbi)
Strayed’s mother, who died of lung cancer at the age of 45. She is important to the memoir not so much for her presence as her absence. Her death catapulted Strayed into a world of grief and confusion, and was one of the underlying reasons Strayed ended up on the Pacific Crest Trail in the first place.
Paul
Strayed’s ex-husband. They married at the age of 19 and finalized their divorce just months before Strayed began hiking the PCT. At the time of Strayed’s journey, He still had a huge influence on her life. He wrote her several times on the trail, and her memories of him were happy and sad at the same time.
Joe
A man Strayed was involved with in Portland the summer before she hiked the PCT. Strayed moved in with him, and he introduced her to Heroin. He also impregnated Strayed, though she decided to terminate the pregnancy. He sent Strayed several letters while she was hiking.
Lisa
Strayed’s good friend in Portland. She was the one charged with sending the resupply boxes that Strayed relied on so heavily throughout her trip.
Greg
The first person Strayed met on the PCT. A much more seasoned hiker, He lifted Strayed’s spirits and inspired her to keep going just as she was considering quitting. She met up with him at later points in the trail, and spent a night with him in Sierra City before they parted ways for good.
She lost her first toenail staying in Sierra City.
Stacy
One of the first and only other female hikers Strayed met over the course of her hike. She and her traveled together on parts of the trail and stayed at the same hostel in Ashland. Although Strayed realized she and Her were so different that they probably wouldn’t have been friends in the real world, on the trail they became close.
Doug and Tom
Two hikers around Strayed’s age who followed behind Strayed for a portion of the trip. They eventually caught up with her, and the three became friends.
one gave Strayed a lucky feather, which she carried with her for the remainder of her journey.
One died in a kite accident in New Zealand
(First man mentioned)
Carver and Bobbi
Cheryl’s kids
Jonathan
A handsome man Strayed met in Ashland at a club. She spent the night with him at an organic farm near Ashland and had sex with him on a beach the next day.
The Three Young Bucks
A handsome group of hikers in their early 20s: Rick, Richie, and Josh. Strayed befriended them in Oregon and found herself deeply attracted to Rick, although nothing ever happened between them. They became good friends, promising to keep in touch after the trail.
Leif
Cheryl’s younger 18-year-old brother
he had not visited his mother once since the diagnosis.
he was afraid of living without his mother
Karen
Cheryl’s older sister
Albert and Matt
a father-son duo from Georgia who got water sickness (giardia)
and had to end their hike
The father helped Cheryl lighten her pack.
Michener
An author Cheryl’s College professor said was not a “real” writer, but her mother loved him
Lady
Cheryl’s mother’s horse who had a star on her head. After Barbara’s death, they decided to put her down by themselves. Strayed called her brother Leif to help shoot the horse. Leif shot Lady right between the eyes, but she did not die instantly as they thought she would. Instead, Leif had to shoot her several times and Strayed became hysterical watching the horse suffer.
Monster
Cheryl’s backpack
REI
The company she bought her boots from and re ordered a larger pair from
A Book of a Common Language
A book of poetry by Adrienne Rich that serves as inspiration and encouragement for Cheryl along her journey.
Liked the poem “power”
Strayed tried to burn this book, but found herself unable to do it. Instead, she hugged the book to her chest.
PCT (Pacific Crest Trail)
The Trail Cheryl takes
along the Sierra Nevada mountain range Mexican border in California to just beyond the Canadian border
Traversing the entire length of the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, the PCT passes through national parks and wilderness areas as well as federal, tribal, and privately held lands; through deserts and mountains and rain forests; across rivers and highways.
Oregon Skyline Trail.
Cheryl hiked shortly on this trail and encountered two men who wanted water. Cheryl was afraid of one of the, and decided not to camp there. She ran.
Duluth, Minnesota
The family settled in here, where Strayed’s mother met her stepfather Eddie. They bought a stretch of property and Strayed spent her teen years living there and helping to build up their house.
Ashland
This was going to be her ending point originally before she decided to bypass the snow, and the resupply package she had waiting there contained traveler’s checks and a “real world” outfit to wear. She was going to have a “real world” weekend, in clothes and an atmosphere away from the trail.
Met Jonathan
Jerry Garcia death found out here
Whitehorse Campground
Cheryl was kicked out of here because she could not pay the couple who owned the campsite.
