Mike and are I are
nearly done with our preparation and will be heading to Dahlonega, Ga.
on Friday the 11th for a start on the 14th. It’s been an interesting
journey just to get to this point. There have been lots of decisions to make on
gear and clothing, trying to decide when and how to get to Springer Mt.,
and most importantly, trying to figure out why we’re doing this at all.
To the last point
let me say, I… don’t… know. The idea of thru hiking the AT was never on my mind
until after “The Failed Inheritance Hike of 2011.” For those of you who don’t
know, the FIH was conceived and plotted by my sons Joe and Mike. It was an
attempt to wrest the fortune I have amassed, by getting their hands on my Will.
They figured I would surely expire on the still snowy slopes of Mt. Washington
in New Hampshire’s White
Mountains, June 4th, 2011. But, their plans went awry.
Not only did I survive the grueling climb and descent, I liked it. Oh, there
were tears and swears, bruised egos and rears, but I did make it back to Pinkham
Notch where it was suggested I buy a souvenir shirt that said, “I cried Mt.
Washington.” There were none. Fortunately, my wife Amy is a resourceful woman
and she made me shirts and coffee mugs with that sentiment printed on them. The
days following the FIH were like the days following childbirth, or so I’ve been
told; when the pain is forgotten and the joy and beauty of the event are all
that can be recalled.
Many day hikes
later, the idea of an AT thru hike crept deeper into my thoughts. I read, “A
Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson (as had everyone else) and though he didn’t
finish his hike, I thought, why not? He was, after all, in bad shape, a desk
jockey. I had been working construction for 33 years and was in, all right, I
was in so-so shape but, I learned that people from 8 to 80, male, female, physically
challenged and whole, had completed thru hikes; so why not me?
It looked like a
cool adventure. I’d hike 2,185 miles in quiet contemplation, ahh. I decided I
make a solo attempt at an AT thru. As I read more, I learned that while
thousands attempt the thru every year, only hundreds finish. It didn’t seem to
matter if you were a novice or a pro as much as it did if you were lucky. A
good attitude was more important than good gear.
Doubts began to swirl
in the narrow corners of my head. “Can I do this? Should I even try? My gear
sucks, my attitude sucks, and I don’t feel lucky. Do I really want to go it
alone?” Fear of failure is a tenacious beast.
Luckily for me, my son Mike started asking
questions about the AT. As he became more interested, I became a little less
apprehensive. I don’t remember exactly when he decided he was going with me
but, I’m glad he did. Unless of course this is a “Games of Thrones” move to
finish what he started on Mt.
Washington.
As our departure
got closer I came to an important realization; I had to make starting just as
important as finishing. Taking my first step up Springer
Mt. will be a success, each step
beyond will add to that success and touching the sign on Mt.
Katahdin will cap an already successful adventure.
Well, this is way
more than I wanted to burden you with but, it’s done. The next post will be
from Dahlonega. They’re predicting rain for our start date, YAY!!!
P.S.
I don’t know how
much Mike will be willing to contribute to this page but, he’ll be forced into
helping his analog Dad through this digital world.
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| I Cried Mt. Washington; all six thousand, two hundred and eighty-eight feet of it |
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