Caribbean Camouflage

Moose are totally color-blind.  Everything appears in shades of gray to them.  White-tailed deer see color in the blue spectrum, but cannot distinguish green, orange or red.    How different the forest must appear to these animals from what we observe in our woodland wanderings.

Coming from a family that enjoyed hunting, the fall brought a lot of opportunity to be in the woods.  Once while scouting potential deer locations, I was sitting on a log that fortunately was at the base of another tree and made for a wonderful seat to watch for the movement of wildlife.  I was wearing my favorite deep brown jacket at the time, but don’t recall what else I had on.  Anyway, a doe came down the ridge on my left and stood about 10 yards in front of me.  She was definitely aware that I was there and started snorting and stomping to get some sort of reaction from me, but I remained as still as I possibly could be. 

As she was trying to figure me out, I was trying to determine if it was her sense of sight or smell that was alerting her to my presence.  I was very amused by her bewilderment and imagined that she was thinking, “I know I smell something there and the shape of things doesn’t look right, but whatever it is, it’s not moving.”  It was almost like a game to see which one of us would flinch first.  She continued trying to get a rise out of me and I continued playing statute.  Finally, after several minutes of watching her antics and confusion, I decided to give us both a reprieve and lifted my hand just a small bit and she bolted off with her white flag of surrender flying behind her.   

I came away from that experience with a feeling of accomplishment.  I had used the things I had been taught about being still, being quiet and using color and camouflage to blend into the woods to successfully have a close encounter with a very alert and skittish wild animal.  To this day I don’t know how I actually appeared in the doe’s sight, but I speculate that she realized a difference in the arrangements of grays and blues that she was used to observing.  No matter what she actually saw, I was able to deceive her senses long enough to make a memory that would last a lifetime.  

Hikers are not like hunters though.  A hiker’s primary goal is not to conceal themselves from wildlife and they typically don’t worry about wearing any camouflaging patterns or colors as a result.  I would even venture to say that the average hiker doesn’t give a lot of consideration to the color of their gear as they are probably much more concerned about the function of the item than in making a fashion statement.  Color is probably the last item on their list when selecting a particular piece of gear.  Once they have decided on the item, then they may consider their color options, if any are available to them. On the other hand, I’m sure the marketing research people give great thought to color and this is why the majority of backpacks seem to be made with greens and blues accentuated with shades of gray.  These colors probably appeal most to individuals who love the green plant life, the blue of the sky, or the gray bark of trees.  This generally is true of the clothing that hikers wear as well.  The forest greens and deep blues are accompanied by a vast array of earthy tones; beiges, browns, grays and the ever present, black comprise the majority of clothing worn by hikers.  Is this to disguise the mud, dust and dirt acquired along the way?  Maybe so.

There are other colors represented in gear and clothing to be sure.  Red, orange and yellow make up the secondary set of colors most often seen on the back of a hiker.  If any thought at all is given during the selection process of gear and clothing, I would guess these colors are chosen most by those who are more safety conscious and are concerned about being easily spotted by rescue teams should some tragedy befall them. There’s nothing wrong with that idea.  And these colors can be just as easily considered as earthy colors of nature.  In spring, the blossoms of the flame azalea, columbine and jewel weed are fine examples of such color.  In fall, the blazing deciduous trees paint the mountain tops with the warm fire of these hues.

Oh, and let’s not forget white, our billowy-cloud-in-the-sky representative.  Although, I would suppose that white is a color worn more by day hikers than long distance trail hikers.  Any white article of clothing or gear will not remain white very long on the trails.  A long distance trail hiker’s life-style isn’t exactly the cleanliest of hobbies and the earth itself will soon draw any such article into its arms and change the item to a lovely brown by its embrace.

Now I am not a very fashion conscious individual at all.  I’m more of the give-me-a-pair-of-jeans-and-a-T-shirt kind of gal.  So when it comes to the gear that I have selected for my hike, I haven’t really thought a lot about the colors or ways that these colors may or may not go together—that is, until I chose my backpack this past weekend. 

I have decided on the ULA Catalyst backpack based on its size, weight and all the wonderful features that it offers.  The company normally offers this backpack in two color options, a forest green and black combination or a woodsy camouflage.  Since this is not a hunting trip, I immediately ruled out the camo option and on any other day, I probably would’ve placed my order for the green pack without a second thought.  But, I remembered that there were some comments on their website’s homepage about some other colors being offered for a limited time this fall.  The shade of green ULA uses is a favorite of mine, but I thought about the popularity of this backpack among hikers and how the possibility of a row of similar packs lined up outside of a shelter or resupply point could result in some temporary confusion of ownership.  Yes, it would be nice to own a pack that maybe had a more easily distinguished color amongst the piles of earth tones.  Wouldn’t a deep purple or maybe even a pink be nice?  So, I click over to the homepage to check out my options; red, navy blue, royal blue, khaki, black, yellow and olive drab.  No purple, no pink and even orange was missing from the usual palette of secondary colors.

Since I planned on emailing the company with a question concerning the shoulder straps and they welcome comments or suggestions, I decided to include a message stating that it might be nice to have purple or pink added to their special color options.  Their response was expeditious and a little surprising.  It turns out that they do offer purple, but were currently out of stock and wouldn’t be getting resupplied for 4-5 months.  (I’m leaving in a little over 5 months, so that’s too close for my comfort.)  They also offer a pink pack and if you order it, ULA donates 20% of the purchase price to breast cancer research.  There was a picture included in the email and it left no doubt in my mind that this pack will stand out in a crowd.  This is a deep, hot pink and black pack, not a subtle, soft cotton candy pink.  Still, how could I turn down an offer like that – a color that is outside the norm and a donation to a worthy cause – I was sold on the idea and placed my order.

Afterward, it occurs to me that maybe my initial assessment of the overwhelming amount of muted earth tones among hikers’ gear and apparel is wrong.  Or maybe it’s just me and my choices, but with my sea foam green shirt, beach beige pants, turquoise blue wind jacket, tangerine orange pack cover, sunshine yellow tent, bright blue sleeping bag and now, hot pink backpack on the way, my gear collection appears to resemble a Caribbean marketplace more than an Appalachian backwoods campsite. 

I could say that I’ve chosen these colors to emphasize the floral highlights of spring and thereby am concealing myself in the blooms of the season, but my suspicion is that my selections may be camouflaging the excitement of another upcoming trip that has nothing to do with hiking at all – a seven day eastern Caribbean cruise that my husband and I will be leaving for on Thursday in honor of our silver wedding anniversary.  Whatever the reasons for my color choices, I hope this gear will brighten up those gray, rainy days of spring in the Appalachians.  And maybe, just maybe, the bears, who see colors as well as any humans, will appreciate the added variety among the blossoms of spring.

Waiting & Weighing

Thirty years ago, on a humid Orlando, Florida morning, I was cinching up the opening to my Navy duffle bag after filling it with my new issue of uniform items.  This was the first time that I would be strapping a major amount of "stuff" to my back...stuff that amounted to my entire worldly possessions at the time, aside from a few clothes, a bicycle and a box or two of miscellaneous childhood memories in storage back home.  I do not know what the bag weighed, but my best guess would be at least 40-45 lbs.  I was young then...and proud to be where I was...serving my country and on my own...and I was going to "make it" no matter what. 

A smile sneaks across my face whenever I remember the cocky, or shall I say, extremely confident, young person I was at that time.  Have I really changed from those early years?  Yes, but something of that youngster remains alive inside.  Something, or someone inside, stills likes to say, "I'm going to make it, no matter what." 

So, here I am again, getting ready to strap onto my back what will amount to all my worldly possessions.  Ok, so in reality, it won't really be all I own, but it certainly will end up feeling that way at times, I'm sure.  The truth is, I will be carrying everything that I will need for survival on my back for 5-7 months.  The only changes in my possessions will be the resupplying of the consumable items; water, food, fuel; and probably some minor equipment or clothing exchanges along the way as conditions change.  This won't be just a short half mile march to the barracks to unload a duffel bag.  The weight of this "bag" matters much more.

If you spend a little time in the hiking forums, trail websites or any backpacking magazine, you quickly learn that pack weight is a very common discussion.  Minimizing the amount of load one carries without compromising safety or too much comfort is the ultimate goal of long distance hikers when it comes to backpack weight.  The belief being that the lighter the load, the more enjoyable the hike, but like most "comfort" and "necessities" issues, the opinions are as varied as the people giving them.  Of course, the basic necessities are agreed upon; food, clothing and shelter; but the amount, styles and weights of those items are what comes into play when dealing with the issue of pack weight. 

I'm not going to waste anyone's time by talking about all the little details and nuances or pros and cons of particular equipment.  If you're interested in those subjects, there are plenty of discussions in various forums and videos to view on the web at your leisure.  What I am going to say is that I have never spent so much time fussing over ounces as what I have with this endeavor.  Ask yourself, when is the last time you thought about how much your shoes or shirt weighed?  We might try on an article of clothing, especially something like a jacket or sweater, and say, "Oh, that's too heavy or bulky for my liking", but we don't ask the store clerk, "Excuse me, do you know how much this weighs?"  Nor do we take two different shirts that are fairly comparable and place them on a set of kitchen food scales to see which may be an ounce or two lighter than the other when we decide what we are going to wear.  This is not true of the long distance hiker. Every ounce matters, because all those little ounces end up being pounds off your pack weight. 

This obsession with the amount of weight being carried has produced a new brand of "nerd" called the "gram weenie."  Neither of these terms are intended to be derogatory to anyone.  It is a known fact, that nerds provide the world with tons of great inventions due to their intense focus on the "grams" of details in so many areas of life.  Without them, progress toward lighter and stronger materials would not be made.  Still, I wonder, does the average hiker need to obsess over every ounce or should that be reserved for those who intend to work on the development of the next great invention of lighter, stronger material or a better design of backpack, tent or shoe?

And there's also the question of what exactly is a "healthy" or safe back pack weight?  It is recommended that you not carry more than 20% of your body weight and of course, you must take into consideration your physical condition as well. The ladies I'm heading out with next spring aren't exactly in the group of twenty-somethings...no offense intended to my fellow hikers...but we're also not so far over the hill that we're driving scooters around the grocery store.  We have our share of aches and pains amongst us and hopefully, enough maturity to realize our limitations. 

One of those limitations seems to involve our "sleeping systems." This term is used to describe the type of items you use for sleeping, such as a hammock, or sleeping pad & bag.  It doesn't take a genius to realize that a good night's sleep is important for someone who will be spending 8-12 hours a day hiking up and down mountains.  And we certainly aren't children anymore who are capable of spending hours sleeping on the floor and then bounce off it like a super ball when they wake.  No, we're more like a piece of Play-doh that's been squished flat on the funny papers.  If we sleep on the floor, we have to be pealed off that surface to get up in the morning and often have impressions printed on our bodies from where we were laying.  But we certainly can't carry our Sealy or Tempurpedic mattress with us on this journey; they weigh too darn much and wouldn't fit in our backpacks anyway.

And what about the backpacks themselves?  It must be big enough to hold everything you are going to need, yet light enough to not increase your burden tremendously.  It absolutely must fit you properly.  I loved the conversation that took place a few days ago between a few of my fellow hikers.  They were discussing which backpack they each had chosen to use and why.  One gal remarked that her selection put most of the weight of the pack on her hip belt instead of on her shoulders.  Then she made a side remark that most women totally understand..."whoever thought they would want weight on their hips?"  Who indeed; we are definitely making decisions based on a different set of parameters now.

So, how does one achieve the comfort desired and still have the ability to haul the necessities on an aging frame?  You research.  You learn about new products and read reviews.  You make hard decisions between what you want and what you need.  You get creative and use one item for multiple uses.  For example, a salesman the other day relayed a story of backpackers that use a Frisbee for a dinner plate.  It's lightweight; wash it after dinner and you have your afternoon or evening recreation as well.  You count ounces and weigh everything twice, once in the balances between necessity and comfort; then again, between comfort and your ability to carry the load. 

Ultimately, every hiker must decide for themselves where the boundaries are going to be for weight, comfort and necessity.  Everyone hikes their own hike and what may be considered a "luxury" item or unnecessary by one hiker, may be considered a "must have" item by another.  Your mental health and enjoyment of this journey play as much a part in a successful completion as the most costly ultralight equipment, if not more so.  This trip may require every ounce of your strength, courage and determination at times, so why not allow yourself a little luxury and personal pleasure along the way?  I say, if you have the ability to carry an item and it's important to your enjoyment of this trip, then by all means, pack it.  You can always change your mind and send it home if you find it's too much for you or your opinion of the "necessity" changes. 

While waiting for spring, I'll be weighing everything "necessary" for my pack.  And if I make the wrong decisions, I may end up losing more than body weight on the way north.
 

The Loon's Nest

According to Wikipedia, loons need “a long distance to gain momentum for take-off.”  I’ve even read that loons can become stranded on small ponds that aren’t long enough for their needed “runway.”  As a fledgling hiker, I am exercising my wings in preparation for flight by testing and familiarizing myself with my equipment as well as the preparing of mind and body.  I do not want to find myself stranded by faulty equipment. 

The other day, my new tent arrived.  So after dinner, I anxiously went out in the backyard to set it up.  Generally speaking, setting up the modern day tent doesn’t require a lot of skill.  Still, each design varies somewhat and I was curious to see how much time it would take to pitch my tent and how much room my new ultra-light 2 person home was going to provide.  My mate was by my side to observe the building of my nest.

From previous experience, I automatically flipped the folded material so that the darker color was facing the ground assuming this to be the floor.  The instructions stated that the guy lines were set close to the ideal length with a pre-established loop to be attached to the notched stakes.  Eagerly, I stretched forth these 6 lines and hooked them to the stakes which I pressed into the ground.  The next step was to un-zip the door to insert the poles inside.  Uh oh, the door zipper was definitely going the wrong direction and that sunny yellow material that I thought was my ceiling is actually my floor.

Feeling slightly embarrassed in front of my witness, I proceed to disconnect the guy lines, flip the tent over and reconnect the lines again.  Un-zip the door, crawl inside and insert the support poles.  Ah, yes, that’s looking better.  All that is left to do is to tighten the guy lines so that all is taunt and anchored well to weather any storm. 

Oh, and there’s these vestibule flaps; something I’ve not had on any other tent I’ve owned, but also one of the features that I liked when researching this product.  The key features that my tent must have, in my mind, for a long distance hike were a light weight, ease in set up and as much room as possible to allow for some personal space and comfort.   These vestibule flaps provide an additional “porch” space outside of the sleeping area which I thought would be excellent for storing gear or even providing a somewhat protected space for cooking in inclement weather.   As this is considered a two person tent, I actually have a door and porch on each side of my tent and when ordering it, I must say, I felt like I was going to have some pretty deluxe accommodations on the trail.

Well, as I’m circling the tent and trying to adjust the guy line tensions, my husband remarks, “THIS is a two person tent?” I answer, “Yeah, now you understand why I ordered this instead of using the single tent.”  The single tent we own is barely long enough for my body and the support pole was right by my feet.  Knowing my sleeping habits, I easily envisioned myself kicking out the support pole during the night and having the tent collapse in on me.  Not what I have in mind for a restful night’s sleep, so I decided to go with something a little bit bigger.

I’m not exactly a small girl.  I’m 5’8” and a good 20” broad at the shoulder, not to mention the width of my lower regions.  My sleeping pad is also 20” wide and I’m sure I will roll off of it many times until I learn to stay more still at night.  Actually, I’m hoping I’ll be so tired from the day’s hiking that I will lay still from sheer exhaustion. 

The advertised width of my tent is 37” which does not allow for two 20” pads to lie side by side, yet this IS considered a two person tent.  The length of the tent is a more reasonable 87” or 7’ 3” for those who don’t want to do the math.  The illustrations included with the tent also show the two sleeping bags snuggled very closely and lying at angles that allow the legs and feet to taper into the narrowing point that is the foot end of the tent.  All this is done, of course, to conserve weight just as a mummy sleeping bag is tapered to conserve body heat. 

Also in the interest of conserving weight is the material of which the tent is made.  Let’s see, how should I describe this to you; oh, I know…can you imagine a plastic Wal-Mart shopping bag?  You know, that thin recycled plastic that tears the minute any semi-sharp object comes in contact with it.  Now, imagine it’s yellow and you have a good idea of what my tent material looks like.  I certainly hope that it holds up better than the shopping bag or those thunderstorms I expect to encounter are going to make for some interesting evenings.

As I continue to adjust lines and struggle with the sliding tension holds, which are of a design I’ve not encountered before, I am catching the subtle smirks that cross my husband’s face from the corner of my eye and I’m noticing the twinkle in his eye as he holds in the humor he is finding in my learning process.  I don’t mind; he’s a good man and he’s doing his absolute best to be supportive of this endeavor despite not quite comprehending why I would want to put myself through this extreme camping/hiking experience.  I have no doubt in my mind that he secretly suspects that I’ll quit before I get anywhere near Maine.  But, true to character for him, he will state that he believes in me and wishes me the best in my endeavors.  He is a good husband and I’m very thankful to have him.  We both know that the odds are against me, but we both also know that I have a stubborn streak that has carried me through more than one challenge in my life. 

While inspecting the fit of my proudly erected abode, I noticed that the guy line to the “back porch” wasn’t quite to my liking, so I crawled toward the door and was just beginning to adjust the tension on the line when the stake on the opposite side of the tent, which was not secured tightly but wedged into a crack in this Oklahoma red clay, came flying out of the ground from the increased pressure.  The sudden release caused the support pole to come down and suddenly, I find myself on all fours inside a half collapsed tent.

I crawled out the door to see my darling husband struggling to hold back his laughter.  As I walked around the tent to stand next to him, I tripped over one of the guy lines which became entangled in my flip-flop.  This proves to be too much for him and he tries to graciously excuse himself so that he won’t be laughing directly in my face, all the while doubling over with that silent, I-can’t-breath-and-am-turning-red-in-the-face laughter shaking every fiber of his body.

I stand there feeling somewhat embarrassed by my clumsiness and assess the situation.  I make a mental note to add some small pieces of reflective tape to the tops of the stakes and perhaps on the guy lines themselves.  Or maybe I’ll attach some small lengths of the bright, hunter orange poly cord to make the guy lines more visible.  I say to my husband, “Well, this is exactly why I’m testing everything out now.”  He jokingly responds, “And in 6 months’ time, you’ll be setting up like a pro.”  I certainly don’t blame my husband for laughing at my comedy of errors and I even join in with a few chuckles of my own.  Our own form of the loon tremolo which writer John McPhee called “the laugh of the deeply insane.”

Yes, loons are considered clumsy and have difficulty walking on land.  To land on water, they glide in on their bellies in an awkward manner, doing a modified belly flop, as it were, because their legs are placed too near the rear of the their bodies to land like other water birds. Yet the loons are excellent divers, swimmers and migrate 100s of miles every year, eventually reaching their goal despite what might be considered a handicap.  My migration begins in 183 days.  Looks like I’m going to need every bit of that runway to gain momentum, but how wonderful it will be to reach the goal.

Just for Fun

As we are getting to know each other and preparing for our thru-hike, my new hiking companions and I were sharing our previous hiking and Appalachian Trail experiences.  Several of the group have completed sections of the A.T. and as a little, fun tribute to all those who have set foot on a section of the trail, I created this little poem.  Thought I'd share it with you.

The A.T. Buffet
Ah, bits and pieces,
Tastes of the pie;
A slice here and there,
A treat to the eye.

But the pan is much bigger;
There's more to consume.
The belly's still hungry;
Now make much more room!

Time to indulge fully
In the sights, sounds and tastes;
The sensory buffet
Of the A.T. awaits. 

Changes

If you are the passenger on a long road trip, you often find yourself gazing out the window watching the scenery pass by in a blur after the conversation has hit a lull and the music has faded into the background.  This has an almost hypnotic effect on you and before long everything seems to be outside of some invisible bubble you’ve created and you’re alone in your own thoughts. 

 

While traveling home from a recent trip to Iowa I was alone in my thought bubble and was thinking about changes.  I had taken a picture of a tree that was changing into its fall wardrobe at a rest stop and it occurred to me that by this time next year, when the trees again begin to change their greens for reds, oranges and yellows, if successful, I will have already summited Mt. Katahdin in Maine and will be back home.  Would I see the beginning changes of the fall leaves in New England?  I’m sure I will have already felt the colder temperatures, but when exactly is the prime “New England in the fall” experience?  Will I have the opportunity to see the multi-colored quilt of color from the peaks of the Appalachian?  I made a mental note to research this matter and I thought about the other changes that will have taken place over the course of my journey.

There will be, beyond a doubt, physical changes.  You cannot hike 2,184 miles without having improved your muscular strength and endurance.  The weight loss that will occur varies for each individual based on the amount of calories an individual is able to consume in relation to the number of calories being expended, age, metabolism rates and other such factors.  It has been said that you will be in the best physical condition of your life after completing the trail.  The physical changes seem to be the first thing to come to one’s mind and they will probably be the most obvious, but what else will have changed?  What about the changes that don’t appear as visually obvious?

Over the course of 5-7 months of living a relatively primitive existence in the forest, there are bound to be some changes in your perspective of the things that are NEEDED and things that are WANTED in your life.  It is my opinion that the line between needs and wants is way too blurred in our current society.  Obviously, food, clothing and shelter are the minimal things needed for survival, but there are more than physical things needed for a healthy and good life.  Things like love, acceptance and social interaction are extremely important to one’s mental health and add tremendous value to life as well.  The majority of the time on the trail will be survival with the minimal physical elements and although there will be times of aloneness, and possibly even loneliness, there will be plenty of opportunity to have the social interactions that are required for good mental health as well.  Still, I assume that there will be two possible responses to living such an existence, either one will return to their former life and realize how much they own that they don’t really need and may even decide to reduce some household clutter or they will embrace all that they own as riches beyond measure and relish their luxuries with a new level of appreciation.  As for the social side of things, I’m sure that everyone who returns home from the trail will cherish the time with their loves ones even more and will have been enriched with the new friends and acquaintances they have made along the way.   So it’s probably safe to assume there will be changes in perceptions concerning physical belongings and new appreciations for the persons in our lives.

What about the people in our lives?  How will they view us after accomplishing such a feat?  Will their perceptions of who we are and what we are capable of doing change?  I think it is safe to assume that most people in our lives will have a positive view of our accomplishment.  Some may be awed, some inspired and some surprised.  Some may be jealous or envious.  Many will be congratulatory and give us kudos for a job well done even if they don’t understand why we did it and that’s ok too. 

So, yes, probably most people we know will have a slightly different view of us, maybe even more appreciation for us than before we hiked the trail, but more important than how others view who we are is how we view ourselves.  How will our perspective of who we are change after the summit at Mt. Katahdin?  We should have an enormous amount of confidence in ourselves when this trip is over; hopefully, not in an arrogant manner, because we certainly will not accomplish this journey on our own by any means.  Oh, we will be the ones to put one foot in front of the other, but we each will have a certain level of support from our home bases and others who assist us along the route.  However, I believe that we will come away with a healthy confidence and strength that comes naturally from facing and conquering the obstacles and trials in life.  Even as I am writing this, I have noticed how I transitioned from “I” statements, i.e. “will I see…” to “we” statements.  This trip is not a sole endeavor.  My fellow hikers, who I have yet to meet face-to-face, have already become a part of this journey and I find I cannot think about the trail without thinking about all the hikers, as if we were all one entity.  I have already begun to change.

So these all appear to be positive changes, better physical fitness and strength, new perspectives with regard to the luxuries and creature comforts of this life, a deeper appreciation for loved ones, new friends and acquaintances, a renewed sense of confidence, so is there anything negative that could come of this trip?  Are there negative changes that will or could occur while on the trail?

If you spend any time reading trail journals or blogs or books of the experiences that previous hikers have had on the Appalachian Trail, you will soon realize that every day is not going to be “sunshine and lollipops” with flowers blooming, birds chirping and Snow White skipping through the forest with all her little animal friends.  The trail slogan of “No pain, no rain, no Maine” alone makes you stop and take notice.  There are going to be difficulties and struggles.  There is going to be pain, sore muscles, joint aches, and the possibility of blisters, shin splints, sprains or even worst injuries.  There will be gnats, mosquitos, biting flies and possibly ticks or snakes that could bite you.  The weather can and will range from sub-freezing temperatures and snow to triple digit highs with booming thunderstorms and lightning.  You will have to protect your food from marauding bears and rodents.  You will have to protect your shoes or hiking boots from porcupines that like to chew the leather to obtain the salts that are dried on your shoe or hiking boot.  Salts and dissolved minerals that have been left behind after the shoe dried from the last stream crossing or from the sweat from your feet.  You will not have the daily convenience of a warm shower, a nice big bed to stretch out in, a refrigerator filled with your favorite beverages or food or easy access to most of your electronics.  There will be times that you will leave the trail or that it will go through town and you will have a temporary reprieve from the primitive life, but the majority of your time will be spent living in this other world of challenges and minimal conveniences. 

What about the world back home, the world outside of your primitive reality?  Life still goes on and time stops for no one.  There is the possibility of bad news reaching you while on the trail; a loved one is injured, sick or dies while you are “out there”.   Children and grandchildren will continue to grow and you may miss those first steps, first words or first lost tooth moments.  Some relationships may be strained by the absence of the partner; some may even break.  These are definitely things that must be considered before deciding to take on the Appalachian Trail or any long distance hike.  Yes, the possibilities of injuries, the daily survival challenges, the loss of conveniences and the strain of separation can all take a toll on the long distance hiker and their family; there could be negative changes.  One must consider this carefully and seriously before taking off on this adventure.  

 

So after weighing all these possibilities and changes in the balance, which way do the scales tip?   Are the struggles worth the rewards?  As I think about all these potential changes, I remember reading about the butterfly emerging from its cocoon.  The struggle the butterfly goes through to break free from the cocoon is what pumps the blood into the veins of its wings to allow it to fly.  Without the struggle to free itself, the wings will not unfurl and the butterfly will be doomed to starve to death or be readily picked off by a predator.  It is the struggle that enables the butterfly to flutter from flower to flower.  It is always the trials along the trail of life that enables us to grow and change.  There will be changes that occur in me as a result of hiking the Appalachian Trail and I believe that the positive changes far outweigh the possibility of the negatives.

The Heart & Soul of the Matter

Last evening over dinner, a friend made an astute observation.  While I was enthusiastically describing some of the sights and smells that I was looking forward to experiencing again while on the trail--things such as the mountain laurel in bloom, the smell of the wet leaves and earth, or perhaps even the taste of wild berries--she said, "It sounds like being in the mountains feeds your soul the way being at the beach feeds mine."  I believe my friend has hit upon a truth that I can't deny.  I don't know that there is anywhere that I feel as great a peace in my soul then as when I am in the mountains.  
In general, most everyone has an infinity in their nature for either the mountain or the sea.  I'm sure there's even been psychological studies done on why and what personality types tend to lean to each environment.  I have no real desire to delve into those topics right now.  All I know about myself and this desire is that my youth was filled with wonderful memories that revolve around my time spent in the Appalachian mountains and the valley fields and small towns lying at their feet .  The sights, sounds and smells have somehow become a part of me--a part of my heart and soul--and I can hardly wait until I can spend time there again.

Serious Prep Time

I have just started reading Appalachian Trials by Zach Davis to help in my mental preparation for this journey.  In the last several days I have been priviledge to meet several other women (most in my general age bracket) that are also planning to take on the trail this coming spring.  Some are obviously very experienced hikerd.  Some have attempted this trail before and for reasons I have not discovered yet did not complete it.  Some are first-timers like myself.  I am very happy to meet these women who are physically scattered all across this country but who are already beginning to bond into a sisterhood of sorts.  We are sharing in the planning, preparing, dreaming and excitement of our future adventure.  It will be an exciting day when we meet together on the trail.
This sisterhood of hikers has also enabled me to make a change in my original plans and provided me with the buddy system I needed to become a single-season thru-hiker.  Now that my husband knows I'm not hiking alone, he is feeling a little better about the trip.  I am planning on taking a little time off in PA while hiking through my hometown areas and visiting with family.  That area of PA is also about the physical 1/2 way mark and I hope that my husband will meet me there during my down time.

So, now it all has become very real to me mentally.  The gear is arriving, connections are being made between fellow hikers, meals and supply stops and drops are being planned, physical and mental preparation has begun.  Somehow it still seems a bit surreal and probably will continue to seem so until several steps have been taken from Springer Mountain, but the excitement that is brewing inside thinking of taking that first step of the 5 million steps that are needed to complete the trail is almost too much to contain.  Again, I am very thankful for my new hiking companions who are able to understand and are sharing in this obssession.