Why hike 2650 miles, and why this trail? These are the questions we ask ourselves on a daily basis, and try to answer other people as they ask these same questions. The last question is relatively easy! Just look at the pictures. Who couldn't resist spending 5 months out in these varied and beautiful surroundings if given half a chance.
The first question is not so easy to explain. Not only are we going to hike 2650 miles, but a lot of the trip involves pain, tears and some really scary moments interspersed with the absolute thrill of scaling awesome heights and soaring with the eagles.
We think the best way to help people understand is to relate our journey to the Olympics. We will never have the talent to train and compete in an Olypmpic sport, so for us, this trail is as close as it gets. Completing a thru hike is certainly within our sphere of possibilites, especially with the proper training and equipment. This will push us to our limits and beyond, and as we keep our eyes on the prize (the Northern Terminus and the Gold Finishing Medal) we have a good chance of finishing despite the fatigue, hunger, and pain. We are searching for the deep down feeling of a great accomplishment well earned.
The other more personal reason is that we are feeling a bit foggy within ourselves. Pocahontas likes to refer to this feeling as a brain fog. It is not something we have ever strived for, it is just there. We go through our days working and making a good living for ourselves, and having fun along the way, but overall hangs this fogginess over our lives. We noticed this phenomenom in '99, just before hitting the trail, we were alive, yet not totally. After about 2 weeks on the trail, that fog had definately lifted. We felt so much more alive and aware of our surroundings then we ever had before in our lives. Now the fog is back again, and has been for a while.
Yet another reason for this trip is the sense of community we get out of being with like minded individuals all striving for the same or similar goal. Out on the trail, people come up to us, truly wanting to know how our hike is going, how they can help us, and they aren't phony, but genuine. We in turn help our fellow hikers, by sharing a camp space, helping someone who is injured, lost, or simply listening to someone pour out their longings, dreams and frustrations as we hike alongside them and help the time pass by faster. We so long for this traveling community again, we can hardly bear waiting another month and a half. It is truly something that has to be experienced to fully understand and appreciate. And the cool thing about it is that we get to do it again!
The best thing we hope to immerse ourselves in is a spiritual renewal in the greatest Cathedral of all time: the wilderness. Here lies a greater understanding and gratefulness of God's blessings and what we long for most of all, a renewal of our hearts toward God and His creation. As we ask for His guidance and wisdom, we will come away from this experience much better able to serve others and become a blessing towards those He has put in our path, and not such a hinderance as we currently can be.
The biggest question still remains to be answered, can or will we be able to take this experience and acheive our ultimate goal, shake the fog, come away refreshed again, bring it all back with us, and maintain that freshness in our everyday lives? Plus bring home the Gold! This is the $64,000 dollar question.
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| San Bernardino Mountains |
The first question is not so easy to explain. Not only are we going to hike 2650 miles, but a lot of the trip involves pain, tears and some really scary moments interspersed with the absolute thrill of scaling awesome heights and soaring with the eagles.
We think the best way to help people understand is to relate our journey to the Olympics. We will never have the talent to train and compete in an Olypmpic sport, so for us, this trail is as close as it gets. Completing a thru hike is certainly within our sphere of possibilites, especially with the proper training and equipment. This will push us to our limits and beyond, and as we keep our eyes on the prize (the Northern Terminus and the Gold Finishing Medal) we have a good chance of finishing despite the fatigue, hunger, and pain. We are searching for the deep down feeling of a great accomplishment well earned.
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| Columbia River Gorge |
Yet another reason for this trip is the sense of community we get out of being with like minded individuals all striving for the same or similar goal. Out on the trail, people come up to us, truly wanting to know how our hike is going, how they can help us, and they aren't phony, but genuine. We in turn help our fellow hikers, by sharing a camp space, helping someone who is injured, lost, or simply listening to someone pour out their longings, dreams and frustrations as we hike alongside them and help the time pass by faster. We so long for this traveling community again, we can hardly bear waiting another month and a half. It is truly something that has to be experienced to fully understand and appreciate. And the cool thing about it is that we get to do it again!
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| Close to Warner Springs |
The biggest question still remains to be answered, can or will we be able to take this experience and acheive our ultimate goal, shake the fog, come away refreshed again, bring it all back with us, and maintain that freshness in our everyday lives? Plus bring home the Gold! This is the $64,000 dollar question.
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