Mind Set Go

Appalachiantrail.org reports that of the 3,000 plus people who start a thru-hike each year, only around 1/4 finish what they started out to do.  That means that of three million visitors to the AT each year, 3,000 hope to complete the journey within one calendar year, becoming what is known as a thru-hiker.  Around 750 reach their goal.  I wonder: what happens to the other 2,250 people?  Where do they go?  How do they feel?  Will they ever attempt it again?  As usual, I have many more questions than answers.  I guess what I’m really feeling is empathy. 

It has been truly captivating watching thru-hikers’ vlogs from the Appalachian Trail on YouTube.  I love seeing Shaker Hikes, Taylor the Nahamsha Hiker, Stella Hikes and others.  Truly awesome!  Every time I see a shot of them walking by their cameras, I try to envision them backtracking to get back to the camera/phone to get on with an often 20-30 mile hike per day, carrying everything they need on their backs.  These vloggers not only document their hike, but share it all with us, the people off-trail: strangers, family members and friends and maybe even other hikers stopping for a “zero day” and catching up with hiking peers.  Many of us are dreamers and planners, and we can live vicariously through them.  Some of us live in different parts of the country and world and try to envision the lush landscape and frequent water sources on the roughly 2, 190 miles of the AT.

Today I watched a YouTube video about why one hiker recently decided to call it quits.  There seems to be a lot of mental anguish associated with quitting, and I use that term loosely.  You see, I do not believe that stopping something like this endeavor is quitting.  A journey doesn’t quit; it forks.  Journeys fork. 

Some people’s journeys fork without them being able to make that decision for themselves.  It just happens.  We don’t say, “You know what?  I think I’ll stop doing what I’m doing for a while and ‘get’ a diagnosis,” or, “… become paralyzed…” However, some individuals do have the option to leave the trail as a conscious choice for whatever reason.  Perhaps that choice is due to a challenge, physical and/or mental; or perhaps, a crisis at home.  Whatever the reason, I can assure you that most reasonable people view that choice as brave, courageous, personal, etc., and if any “followers” say otherwise, well… I suppose one should consider the source.

Another consideration is that journeys do not end, either.  I have wondered how it feels to reach Mount Katahdin, Maine on a northern bound thru-hike (No-bo) or Springer Mountain, Georgia, So-bo—or either end of the trail from a “flip flop” hike?  What happens if one’s mindset is that the journey is then over?  Where does one go from there?  Well, what if one didn’t view that as the end of a journey, but rather, as part of a continuum?   Might that feel different?

Most of us are very hard on ourselves.  Perhaps we are often not kind to ourselves because, deep down, we believe we are not worthy even though we most certainly are?  Or, perhaps we know no other way than to be hard on ourselves for we view the world with Self with a capital letter; our ego leads the way as if our worlds are driven from a self-perceived worldview—our paradigm. This paradigm is the way we envision “our world” from our mind’s view. 

Hiking the trail and stepping off is never a failed attempt.  It’s never a done deal.  Hiking the trail and stepping off is as much a beginning as an end.  If the goal is only to complete a designated number of miles, then perhaps there is such a thing as quitting before a goal is accomplished.  But, if the goal is to add the trail to your journey, each step is golden and the destination, unlimited.

I, for one, am lightening my load, literally and figuratively.  I’m losing weight and purchasing lighter gear.  I’m questioning my health status.  At this point it’s really a lot of thinking and not much doing.  I admire the thru-hikers, although I don’t envision ever being one; I think I will stay a section hiker.  But, hey, I can dream, wonder and watch from afar.   

The well-wishers who come to the trail with goodies to share, a ride into town or monetary donations for the hikers, and more, are known as providing Trail Magic.  While treasured and appreciated, there’s a lot more magic that occurs on the trail than that, of course.  Sunrises.  Sunsets.  Colorful flora and fauna.  Dreams and fresh air.  The magic available to everyone, hiker or not, is the magic that occurs within one’s mind—the kindnesses afforded to one’s self because we know we matter.  Now that’s truly Trail Magic.

I think I may have just created my own trail name.

Sign me,

Forkin’ Journier