Friday, July 13, 2012

Appalachian Trial - Preparation includes: Mental Prep.


Greetings from Dreamer,

My hiking partners: Terri & Charlie
It occurred to me while updating my gear list that I have been consistently overlooking a huge part of our trail preparation for 2013.  Ok, ok, I know it is more fun to get myself in shape physically, talk about gear and all the pros and cons of this and that, weighing everything to ensure a sub #30 pack, considering all the logistics of mail drops, jump boxes, motels and hostels that will allow us to bring in Charlie and on & on. 

However, there is one issue that is not as much fun to consider, but is equally, if not more important than other issues…  It is my opinion that as many if not more AT thru-hike attempts are scuttled because hikers struggle mentally.  Before you read on, please do so with full knowledge that I am not about to cast the magic spell on this and provide anything profound.  I am asking for help!  How do hikers prepare for a thru-hike mentally?  I have to believe there is a common denominator with all those thru-hikers in the past who have succeeded in achieving their goal of standing on top of Katahdin knowing, they’ve done it!  I believe this list would be far more valuable than a Gear List.

But what are those common denominators that are common among successful hikers?  There was a time when every thru-hiker was faced with: incessant cold, hot, rain, mud, bugs, hills, loneliness, day in and day out 15 mile days week after week, month after month, hiker murk, no TV, no sports, no politics, no lazy-boy, hurting somewhere every minute of every day.  And on & on…  And yet some, if not few made it, while others, or should I say most did not.

For those that made it, how did they do it?  For those that didn’t, what are the commonalities that started the dominos falling in such a way that led to leaving the trail and their dreams?  I have read more than 25 books on hiking the AT.  I have attended presentations and spoken with many hikers who have successfully completed the journey they set out to finish.  Most of them cannot point to a formula they followed that contributed to their success.  They say things like:  Enjoy as much as you can, but know, it will be your job every day to move forward, know that hiking for 4 – 6 months is not a hike, but a serious challenge, you can not fight the trail, but you must embrace the difficulty and continue moving forward, this too will change, never make a decision in the rain or while hiking up hill, do not expect to be comfortable (like at home) but know that most of the time you will be cold, hot, wet, tired, running from bugs, etc., the trail can not change, you must change, the trail is a trial, far better to be a smart hiker, rather than a strong hiker.

If only 1 in 5 hikers with the dream of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail make it, what was common among those successful attempts?  What was common among those who left the trail apart from those who were injured or but for no cause of their own had to leave the trail?  I am interested because it is my dream to complete this upcoming attempt and I wish to do all I can to increase my chances of success.  I firmly believe that mental preparation will be as important as any other facet of my work between now and March 1st, 2013.

Your comments and suggestions would be much appreciated, especially from those of you that are following this Blog from “White Blaze & Trail Journals”.

Sincerely,

~Dreamer

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