[at-l] Convincing myself to go . . .

[pmags@yahoo.com (Paul Magnanti)]

>>significant others that embarking on such a great
>>journey is the right thing to do?

It is always a good idea to make the
family/friends/Significant other part of the trip.
Give them all a map of the AT. The small strp map,
that can be purchased from the ATC is a good way for
family and friends to follow along on the hike.

Show them a book or two on the AT. Picture books are
always great to grab their attention and to show the
beauty and mystique of the AT. I suggest " A Sojourn
in the Wilderness" by Ken Wadnesss  or "The Applachian
Trail: Return to the Hills", picture by Bart Smith,
text by Earl Shaffer.  Between your enthusiasm and the
gorgeous pictures, how can someone not see how much
this trip means to you? Worked for me (except the book
I used is no longer in print).

If the friends/family/S.O. want a deeper understanding
of the trail, some books I suggest are:

"On the Beaten Path" by Robert Rubin. A much better
book about the a thru-hike on the trail than the other
book we talk about from time to time. :)

"Season on teh Applachian Trail" by Lynn Setzer Is
also a good book for reading about the thru-hiking
experience. Where  the previous book has one voice,
this book has several. 

>>who is not too keen on the idea of me hiking that
>>far . . . 

Fears come out of lack of knoweledge. Show how much
much the trip means to you, what the the AT is all
about, and involve them in some way, and they will
come around.

The family did for me four years ago.

 


=====
************************************************************
The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Movies - coverage of the 74th Academy Awards®
http://movies.yahoo.com/