[at-l] Re: to hike or not to hike

[dlc <dlc@nrtw.org>]

At 05:00 PM 1/10/00 -0600, you
wrote:

Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 11:03:49 PST

From: "Mara Factor" <m_factor@hotmail.com>

Subject: Re: [at-l] Should I listen to the signs?!?

For the most part, I too agree with Paddler and Tom.

I am, however, one of those poeple who was not absolutely committed to

hiking the AT before I left.  I was hiking because I caught the bug when

friend asked if I would hike with him.  Before I committed to the hike, he

realized that he couldn't hike this past year.  I decided to go ahead and do

it because the timing was right and I could (and I thought I wanted to but

wasn't sure.)  I had significant backpacking experience before starting my

hike and had known of the AT for years.  I had never had the desire to hike

it though.

This is, of course, a decision only Kristen can make.  But I like
the idea of flipping a coin and then going with whatever you feel you
want to do regardless.  The important thing (I think) is to think
about how you'll feel if you don't go.  I got to really experience
that this year.  I was going to go north this spring and things
didn't work out with the timing I wanted (I'd just switched jobs
recently, there were family things going on, etc.), so I thought I wasn't
going to get to go.  I was SO depressed by the middle of April, when
I knew it was too late, that I decided to go south, something I had
previously not considered.  Of course, by the time I wrapped things
up at work and got going, it was later than I should have started for my
pace, so I'll be finishing this spring instead of going straight
through.  BUT - at least I don't have to spend another 2 years
(which is the next time I'd have a chance for a full through) feeling the
way I felt last April.  So think about that - this is obviously
something you've wanted to do for a long time. How would you feel if you
decided to simply not do it?  Would you be okay with that -okay with
putting it off indefinitely?  Because if so, maybe you should
consider that option.  But if not...  :)

Sometime
ME->VA '99
GA->VA '00?