I am always very impressed to read about the amazing feats of folks who can do 25 or 30 miles per day, in January, with a 10 pound pack. That's really something! But it also kind of seems to me, sometimes, like we get caught up in the superlatives and the technicalities. No matter how far or fast we hike, or how amazing our gear is, I hope that we all share a love of the outdoors and the trail that transcends what we are individually interested in or capable of doing.
In that spirit, I wanted to share with you some of the written comments I got from a group of middle and high school Girl Scouts who went out with me for a wet and challenging weekend a couple of weeks ago (all spelling and grammar from original):
"Even when I couldn't feel my toes because of the cold (and lack of insulation in my shoes) I had a blast. I got the most accomplished feeling when I scaled the Giant's Thumb and when I made it to the top of the mountain."
"We are very excited to keep hiking and planning new adventures... we are already arranging more trips."
"It's best to bring fleece insted of cotton, especially if the forcast is rain."
"I really enjoyed it and would do it again if I had a chance. I liked everything about the trip except the rain in our shoes."
"My favorite part was when we were just about at the campsite and we were walking down the rocks next to a waterfall."
"As we hiked on, my pack felt heavier and heavier especially as the incline was steeper and steeper. My heart was pounding in my chest and I felt so alive!"
"You are not kidding when you said the first sip of coffee was the best thing to ever touch your tastebuds!"
There is nothing like taking people (whether it's kids or adults, your own or someone else's) out for their first overnight to make you remember what you loved about doing this in the first place. It truly is a gift to get to see it all through new eyes. Of course, my agenda here is to inspire and empower, to help folks gain that confidence and enthusiasm to get out there again and again. If you feel like you're getting a little worn down with all the choices in gear, and all the worries about mileage and so forth, do give some thought to making it possible for others to start enjoying this experience we all love so much. I promise that you, too, will have new eyes!
Jane in CT