I just noticed that a hiker I briefly met in April 2008 will be speaking at a showing of a National Geographics film on the AT. I had had a conversation with Zero-Zero at a shelter we were camping, and did not know he was blind until someone told me the following day. The article below says that Zero-Zero also hiked the Pacific Crest Trail.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/19/3605510/blind-hiker-plans-next-big-challenge.html
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
ATC Office Photo
A current thru hiker just sent me a copy of my photo from 2008 when I stopped in at the ATC office in Harpers Ferry. This was one of the toughest days on the trail. I had a sore throat and a broken backpack frame. I had almost completely lost my voice. My friend's uncle-in-law (Al) offered to drive most of my stuff into Harpers Ferry while I slack packed from Bear's Den hostel. Even with little weight, I arrived in Harpers Ferry under very intense pain. With a broken pack frame, all of the weight was on my shoulders and none was supported on my hips. This photo was probably taken shortly after I arrived in Harpers Ferry.
When Al arrived with my stuff, he offered to take me to the outfitter to buy a new pack. When he heard me asking about a local clinic, he offered to take me to the hospital where he worked. I got antibiotics there, and then rested a day at Al's house before returning to Harpers Ferry and zeroing another day. The kindness of strangers was one of the things I appreciated most while on the trail. None of us could make it to Katahdin without some help from strangers.
I think the red 313 means I was the 313th hiker to be photographed that year by the ATC.
When Al arrived with my stuff, he offered to take me to the outfitter to buy a new pack. When he heard me asking about a local clinic, he offered to take me to the hospital where he worked. I got antibiotics there, and then rested a day at Al's house before returning to Harpers Ferry and zeroing another day. The kindness of strangers was one of the things I appreciated most while on the trail. None of us could make it to Katahdin without some help from strangers.
I think the red 313 means I was the 313th hiker to be photographed that year by the ATC.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Spiritual Journey
It has been nearly four years since I began my walk on the trail. I remember reading blogs and books about the trail experience before starting, and everyone seemed to indicate the trail was a life changing spiritual journey. However, no one could explain very well how the trail experience changed them. I also remember discussing the trail experience with several others during the Hundred Mile Wilderness at the end of the trail. We all seemed to have a sense that the trail was a life changing experience, but none of us could explain that change very well.
In the nearly four years since beginning my walk, I've found that I no longer worry about much. Maybe living with so little for so long gave me the knowledge that material things have little value. I'm not sure. Maybe it was the experience of never knowing what to expect next. Of course, none of us ever know what to expect next, but on the trail, this experience is more intense. With many people leaving with injuries, you never knew if an unexpected injury would suddenly end your journey. We also never knew where we would be sleeping at the end of the day or who we might meet along the way. Maybe it was just the endurance of the constant trail pains or the sense of accomplishment. I don't know.
The trail experience was good. I loved the people. There was a sense that we were all on a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Katahdin. That experience obliterated social classifications and boundaries. Young and old, wealth, and work meant nothing. I found it very easy to talk to anyone about just about anything. I miss this part of the trail experience most. Although, I would like to think I've retained some of this experience even now.
In a few weeks, I will be starting a new adventure. This time it will be an attempted 740 mile thru paddle of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. However, I expect this to be mostly a solitary experience. I would never have even contemplated such a journey had I not already experienced life on the AT.
In the nearly four years since beginning my walk, I've found that I no longer worry about much. Maybe living with so little for so long gave me the knowledge that material things have little value. I'm not sure. Maybe it was the experience of never knowing what to expect next. Of course, none of us ever know what to expect next, but on the trail, this experience is more intense. With many people leaving with injuries, you never knew if an unexpected injury would suddenly end your journey. We also never knew where we would be sleeping at the end of the day or who we might meet along the way. Maybe it was just the endurance of the constant trail pains or the sense of accomplishment. I don't know.
The trail experience was good. I loved the people. There was a sense that we were all on a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Katahdin. That experience obliterated social classifications and boundaries. Young and old, wealth, and work meant nothing. I found it very easy to talk to anyone about just about anything. I miss this part of the trail experience most. Although, I would like to think I've retained some of this experience even now.
In a few weeks, I will be starting a new adventure. This time it will be an attempted 740 mile thru paddle of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. However, I expect this to be mostly a solitary experience. I would never have even contemplated such a journey had I not already experienced life on the AT.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
