Joseph Rivera: Old Rag

There was one time when I was out on a hike with a group of individuals where I believe I experienced a sense of communitas as described in Turner’s Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture. I believe we were out to hike a mountain called Old Rag, and we set out to hike late at night so we would have to hike in the dead of the night. The reason for this was that people in the group needed to practice hiking in the night. I was just tagging along. I did find it very interesting to hike at night. For one thing it is interesting to see the different vegetation at night. Also since it is at night different animals are out to also experience. While hiking though I felt a bond grow between myself and the other hikers, and these were people I have never met before. I believe this is the communitas that Turner refers to. Also my father came on the hike too and I also felt this bond with him as well. This shows that communitas is a feeling of togetherness that is different from one that you would find in a community in the suburbs, and can only be experienced while out in the wilderness.