The leaves are starting to turn. Fewer thru-hikers are celebrating at the summit of Katahdin. The primary hiking season is ending. I managed to squeeze in a very short day hike on the AT earlier in September, but that looks to be the last of the year. It’s looking more and more like I won’t even take the boat out again this season. So, what do prospective thru-hikers do in the off-season? In the “dreaming” phase – or even the planning phase – there are many trail journals to read. There are now fewer active adventures to read vicariously. The AT class of 2020 is starting to limber up their fingers with pre-hike journal entries and a few of those will be interesting. And I suppose there will be gear review wrap-ups of what was popular this past year or previews of new gear coming out for next year. But to be honest, gear research is getting mundane. Nevertheless, I will refine my gear prospectus. This also should be a time to reflect on the reasons I want to thru-hike the AT. I have a list already, but I am not sure I am ready to share that list. So, my conclusion at this point in time, is that this point in time is tricky. The initial joy of starting this journal and even hiking a few miles on the AT has passed. An actual thru-hike attempt is still years away. In metaphorical terms, I made it to Neel Gap. Neel Gap is around the 31-mile point from Springer Mountain. I have hiked 25.7 miles on the AT this year. Many hikers get a “gear shakedown” at Mountain Crossings at Neel Gap. I will scrub my 2019 gear prospectus. I am not staring physically in the face of the 2000 miles left to go; so, it’s easy to say, let’s push onward. But it does seem daunting to still wait several years. So much can happen in six to seven more years. A lot of potentially negative things, especially health-wise. I haven’t really thought about my age being an issue. Because it isn’t right now. But in a few years, that could all change. The window is closing. What I don’t know is how big is the window. The things holding me back now seem out of my control. The irony is that is one reason I want to thru-hike: to get back control of my life. The “golden years” are supposed to be happier, less stressful. I seem to be at times the unhappiest I have ever been in my life and stress seems to keep mounting. Maybe a thru-hike isn’t the remedy. Maybe it’s the equivalent to a child’s wish to run away and join the circus. The warm summer south winds are giving way to the cold winter west winds here in Maryland. But the answer my friend, may not be blowin’ in the wind.
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Quiet Man
I don't have a bucket list. At 61 years old, I have already had the adventures of a lifetime, especially after a 30-year Army career, five years of teaching high school, and a 37 year marriage still going strong. But I still have this deep desire to complete the Appalachian Trial. Archives
February 2022
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