Confirmations for "The Thing"

Most people will likely think in life - hey, if I want to do something, I'll go do it. But I am a big believer in confirmations. That is, having people agree and support my endeavors, especially the BIG ones in life. And for me, thru hiking something as huge and wild as the AT required confirmation and support from my husband, family, and friends - all pointing to the final comfirmation - "Is this okay with you, God?"

At first my husband was against it. He didn't like me gone for so long. He didn't like the idea of me cutting my hair even for the journey or being out there without him. Of course at first I was devastated. I know some women would think - humph. So what? You are a liberated female, do it anyway. But I don't see it that way. I believe that I need the support of my husband so that I could have the freedom and the peace I need to make this awesome journey. So I waited. We did some section hikes together on the AT. He discovered the trail community and really liked it. And from that moment on, he said yes. Since then he has bought me gear. An AT wall map. An AT sticker for our van. AT bandana maps. He has supported me. Going over logistics when he can join me. And even what he will do while we are seperated.

The next confirmation was more spiritual. I had shared with the wife of the pastor at our church about my dream. She listened but didn't say much one way or the other about it. But one Sunday I came to church, kind of depressed. I was very anxious the evening before, saying to myself it was silly to even consider a thru hike, think of the dangers, the troubles, the pain, no comfy bed, my bad ankle, the logistics, my writing, how I can possibly do this for six months??? Anyway, I arrived at church and the pastor's wife came over and said, "Guess what, we have a visitor here and she had just finished hiking the entire Appalachian Trail! I couldn't believe it. What are the odds of this - a 2,000 miler and a gal no less, visiting the church that Sunday and especially with the doubts I had the night before? I immediately cornered the gal, talked to her a bit, got her e-mail address. She has not been back to church since that Sunday, but I believe it was a huge confirmation and yes, a calming influence as well on my multitude of fears.

The next confirmation came in the form of my family. My brother left an encouraging note on my guest book once saying - If anyone can do it, you can. Then I had my mom and dad here for Christmas. I got my great tarp tent then from my husband and a bandana that says "Hiker to Town." My parents have known, of course, of my desire to do this since I was little. I kind of broke down then after getting all these great gifts. I told them this hike is something I wanted to do for so long and I wanted to do it next year. And they said - well, go for it! Do it now, while you can. You never know what can come up later. I was amazed.

And then today. I had a surprise pre-birthday breakfast thrown for me by my great friends. One friend there knew about my dream - which she called "The Thing" and had given me money to buy what I needed for my thing. Everyone there, of course, wanted to know what that thing was. And so I told them my plans for thru hiking in 2007. And everyone was interested. One of the women even gave me a great book about living as though you are dying. That is, get out there and do it! And she had no idea I was even going to do this hike.

Wow, what can I say? I have received some wonderful confirmations for a very lofty goal. But most of all - these confirmations point to the fact that God says - Hey, it's okay to do this. This "thing."

And with God's help, I will.

Work and the AT

Today I am concerned how my work as a writer will mesh with my goal of thru hiking the AT in 2007. I know I've heard how many agonize over jobs and taking six months away to do something like this. Being a writer, I do have some flexibility - especially right now when I have no pending writing contracts. But that doesn't solve the problem of writing projects that are currently in house (more than ten) awaiting approval or rejection. So now comes the time of informing my "employers" i.e. - editors, about this lofty goal of mine and how I will be out of commission for six months. Not certain how I will break the news. I wonder too if it will affect my career. If I will have writing assignments when I get back. What will happen if they ask for something or I need to edit something and I'm in the middle of the Smokies, far from a computer. Etc. Etc.

Yes, there are many factors when planning something of this magnitude. Not just gear. Physical prep. Money. But life. A writer's life. A list of unknowns. But isn't that the AT anyway? Not knowing what will really happen on this journey?

How Do You Train for This?

I was reading a flier today on how one trains for running races. 4 km. Ten Miler. Marathon. They set up certain distances to run. They do it a few times a week. They stick to a schedule.

How then does one train for the AT? Albeit the WHOLE THING?

I was considering that coming back from a .7 mile jog today. Wow, I would love to hike each and every day with a pack on my back. But that just isn't feasible. So right now I am at least working on the cardiovascular part. Getting the bod moving. Doing some jogging. Doing stretches. Working with these stretchy rope thingies I bought at Wally world to build up muscle. Telling my husband I'll be glad to help carry some boxes up and down stairs. All the while waiting patiently for the free weekend when I CAN put that backpack on my back and do the real thing - like hiking a trail.

Every little bit helps.

Is This an Obsession?

I was just asked if this was an obsession. This draw of the Appalachian Trail. The desire to read books about it, two, three, ten times over, even more at times than the stack of fiction novels I have on the shelf. (!)

I looked up the word obsession. My dictionary says an obsession is- "a persistant, disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling."

So is this desire to hike the AT an obsession? It is persistant, yes. Has been for over thirty years. I can get preoccupied with it, yes. Especially when I would rather look for backpacking gear or scan the forums on White Blaze - a web site for AT enthusiasts, rather than my work. Is this disturbing? For someone who can't fathom the idea of spending six months in the woods hiking 2,000 plus miles, sure it is. For me, no. Is it unreasonable? For some, sure it is. Even walking down the street can be unreasonable to some! For me, no.

So is this an obsession?

No.

It's a dream. A goal. And as a Christian, I believe it's a dream that God has nurtured over the years. And with His help and guidance, it will come to pass.

Fascination with AT Reading

My fascination with books about the Appalachian Trail began about as soon as the dream hit me - right around age 14. I was on the look out for some books about the infamous trail that had begun to dominate my thoughts and dreams. I began by making my first purchase from the then Appalachian Trail Conference (now known as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) - a small data book, with my hard earned babysitting money. Why I bought it, I'm not sure. Maybe to have something hands-on from an official organization. I considered even joining the ATC back then, but with limited funds and my need to buy postage stamps to write letters to some forty penpals I had back then (none of them were hikers), I decided against it.

But my next big purchase was on a family outing to Shenandoah National Park. I should write a blog about my odyssey as a young person to Shenandoah. I credit those trips to that national park with feeding my fascination for the AT more than anything else. But that is another blog. At the Big Meadows Visitor Center, my beady little eyes found my book of books - Ed Garvey's original book about his first hike on the trail - Appalachian Hiker, Adventure of a Lifetime, copyright 1971. I have read that book at least 20 times. Still do, once a year. Amazing that the cover is still on it. But I love that book.

Other books about the trail that I have read and enjoyed -

Blind Courage by Bill Irwin - the story about the blind hiker who completed the AT with his guide dog, Orient, back in the early nineties. If you have physical limitations, read this man's story. You will be inspired in body and in soul.

There Are Mountains to Climb by Jean Deeds - a great journal by a thru hiker writing of her adventures

White Blaze Fever by William Schuette - a journal coupled with helpful hints makes this an interesting read

The Appalachian Trail - A Journey to Discovery by Jan Curran - this author tells it like it is with more description about his personal quest on the trail. This book covers the first part of the journey, and I need to read the others.

And, of course, I have scanned trail data books as well- Thru Hiker's Companion, Dan "Wingfoot's" data book, ATC trail guides to name a few.

A Lifelong Dream

Ever had a lifelong dream? One you had as a kid but wonder as an adult if it's ever gonna come true?

Well, here is mine. My dream is to thru hike the Appalachian Trail.

What is thru hiking? Doing the entire trail in one long, continuous hike. Over 2,000 miles. Six months. Carrying your house on your back. Hiking every day. A back breaking, knee buckling adventure.

WHY???

Am I insane?

Some think so. My family did when I was a teenager. I'd make them stop at every trail crossing so I could walk down this narrow footpath and gaze at white blazes painted on the trees. I sent away for literature. I stared at road maps to see where the trail meandered. I eagerly looked out the car window for trail crossings. I thought about it ALL THE TIME and without ever putting a backpack on my back. And now, 30 years later, I think about it as I backpack or sit quietly in my home. It is still a dream. But a dream that is getting ever closer to reality.

Do you have a dream? A dream thirty years old? Hey, it may yet come true.