Why I Will Thru Hike The AT

[JJJ]

Pizza Plus is a buffet

I had repressed that.

[Red Beard]

Best of luck to you Johnson. I understand quite a bit of what you wrote. Hope to see you out on the trail. Happy hiking!

[OneTimeBigTime]

If I'm being honest...I personally don't think the AT is gonna do for you/give you what your looking for. To me it sounds like your trying to run from a problem that really lies within you. So though you may leave FL to thru hike the AT, your problem will follow you all of the 2178 miles unless you make peace with whatever your going through. I think your passion is great and inspiring but, really, it's misdirected. It's very evident when you read your post that your all over the place. Personally, I hope you find what your missing before you get on the trail so you don't set yourself up for failure.

[drastic_quench]

Don't hang all of melodrama and Very Serious Importance on your hike: just go hike it. There's too many things big and small that can end your hike, from shin splints, infected blisters, stress fractures, funds, and even big stuff off-trail like a death in your family. Just go have fun and do as much as you can, which is hopefully the whole thing, and leave the if-it-kills-me attitude behind.

[Spokes]

An idea for a screenplay maybe? Here's my version:

Blackness.......

Fade In- Shot of the crisp Spring sky.......

Cut To- A set of hiking poles.......

Pan Out- To reveal a hiker starting to walk down a lonesome path........

Begin- Traditional mountain music with banjo, fiddle, and doghouse bass...

EVERYTHING SPEEDS UP, the frame shaking like a madman suddenly grabbed hold of the camera.

Show Title.....

Welcome to the Appalachian Trail

[Lone Wolf]

walkin on a trail ain't a "calling". the priesthood is

[Hooch]

walkin on a trail ain't a "calling". the priesthood is

Or nursing.

[jesse]

Just remember the secret of life is that one thing.

[Hooch]

Just remember the secret of life is that one thing.

Booze?

[Lone Wolf]

Just remember the secret of life is that one thing.

sperm hittin the egg?

[HDMama]

I have a son who turned 21 in June. You are right in one thing...you have to discover yourself, by yourself. No one can do this for you. But, this process of self-discovery, self-awareness can be accomplished in many forms, not just the trail. "The Trail" does not care, nor will it have mercy on you. DO NOT burn any bridges on your departure because you may need their support in the future in the way of friendship, shelter, or employment even if it's only temporary. That being said, I hope to see you out there. Hike your own hike.

HDMama
NOBO March 2010

[JJJ]

..... I think your passion is great and inspiring but, really, it's misdirected. .....

But half the fun of being young is misdirected passion.
No matter how old you are.

walkin on a trail ain't a "calling". the priesthood is

You may be right, but doesn't thur walking the AT initiate you into the preisthood of walking?

[Lone Wolf]

but doesn't thur walking the AT initiate you into the preisthood of walking?

nah, cuz in the end it's just walkin'

[Jester2000]

Kind of overly dramatic for someone who didn't know what the approach trail was two days ago.

Good luck, though. Try to have some fun out there too.

[saimyoji]

Johnson,
This is not meant to be critical, but trying to be empathic. It sounds as though you were vacillating between self-pity, depression and anger as you wrote this.

You state you are 21, with 2 years in the military, have you recently separated? Vets go through a lot of depression and internal turmoil once they leave the excitement of the armed forces and come back home to end up with the same people and the same environment in a job that seems to go nowhere. Many of the friends and acquaintances at home simply don't understand.

I remember after a few years in Germany and UK, I finally got stateside and home. The first night I hit and old local bar and sure enough one of the regular drinkers made the comment - "Hey Man where you been the last couple of weeks - Ain't seen ya around?" that's when I realized I couldn't go back home and needed to go somewhere with much more excitement and adventure. Somewhere new.

I think the trail makes a great getaway if you have the mental fortitude to keep at it. Quite a few don't, but that's not a bad thing, I think many hit the trail looking to escape their 100 problems per day, but end up finding 100 new & different problems per day.

If this is hitting home, Reach out to your local VA and speak with them. I believe they provide counselors to assist you with transitions like this, provide advice and make recommendations.

If you make it to the trail - good. If you make it all the way - great. If you decide to get off and move on with your life - No worries either - you went through the experience,.
As LW always says. "It's only walking" (I'd like to add "and stinking pretty bad").
Cheers!!!

Hey Rick....where you been the last couple of weeks?

[ShelterLeopard]

Why am I reminded of Mr. Wonka on charley and the chocolate factory when he is trying to weed out the little heathens from possible inheritance. What does he say to those who will not listen and keep doing what they want to do? "No, stop, don't" in the weakest voice you ever heard.

The same scene went through my mind as well.
No. Wait. Stop.

Kind of overly dramatic for someone who didn't know what the approach trail was two days ago.

Good luck, though. Try to have some fun out there too.

Though you must admit, anyone who's first question is "is it a buffet"? has a hiker mindset.

[emerald]

Walkabouts may be a good thing, but through hiking doesn't answer the fundamental question everyone must answer. The answer comes from within.

Life is about commitment to a cause which benefits life on Earth because we can't live forever. It's about what you value and leave in your wake.

You may walk from Amicalola Falls to Baxter Peak, body willing, but the day will come when you need to get on with life. No one's going to pay you to walk the AT for the rest of your life.

Think as you walk about how you might leave behind a better place than you found for someone else.

[Spokes]

walkin on a trail ain't a "calling". the priesthood is

Don't forget radiator mechanics......

[Hooch]

Walkabouts may be a good thing, but through hiking doesn't answer the fundamental question everyone must answer. The answer comes from within.

Life is about commitment to a cause which benefits life on Earth because we can't live forever. It's about what you value and leave in your wake.

You may walk from Amicalola Falls to Baxter Peak, body willing, but the day will come when you need to get on with life. No one's going to pay you to walk the AT for the rest of your life.

Think as you walk about how you might leave behind a better place than you found for someone else.

Are you talkin' about trail maintenance? 'Cause that's Weary's job.

[Toolshed]

Hey Rick....where you been the last couple of weeks?

Grrrr. A funny thing happened not on the way to the SoRuck......