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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