something to think about... Fwd: [at-l] Impact of Hiking?

[brian_j_schweikert@icpphil.navy.mil (Brian J Schweikert)]

Impatient and intolerant with others who don't suck it up. This is right
on. Unless I am on an outing with someone who I refer to as "really" being
in the groove, I am for whatever reason bothered by it.

I love to introduce others into the hiking world. I am associated with more
than a couple groups that I volunteer to teach others about  things like
LNT and beginning backpacking. I am good at this and am in that frame of
mind when I do it.
However when I for instance want to do a week say on the Florida trail or
the NCT. I really want the hike to be MINE. I have caused a friendship or
two to become distanced from making the mistake of inviting those friends
on MY hikes.

The reason, well one thing I was probably a little selfish in the fact I
went forward too much when I should of dropped back and  I chose not to
converse alot once we got out there. There's things we come to appreciate
when we do a long distance trail NO other can know unless they've done it.
You become so self sufficient that others, novices, weekend warriors, etc
think your in your own world and look at you differently from then on when
really all they are seeing is you in your element. Hiking "out there" is a
form of church for me.

This goes way beyond putting one foot in front of the other or being able
to pound out consecutive 20 miles days while going through the
roller-coaster. You become entwined in the whole magic of it- if you let it
have you. That's why for so many of us the trail terminus is the trial
beginning. It begins a question of "OK, now what" which (for some of us) is
followed in the moments or weeks afterwards with the question "OK- which
one should I do now".

As a cliche I guess you could put it that its in your blood.


HIKER7s




                    Sloetoe
                    <sloetoe@yahoo.com>            To:     at-l@backcountry.net
                    Sent by:                       cc:
                    at-l-admin@mailman.backc       Subject:     something to think about... Fwd:
                    ountry.net                      [at-l] Impact of Hiking?


                    10/24/02 02:30 PM






### Just cleaning up my mailbag, is all....


--- Lynn Setzer <hikester@mindspring.com> wrote:
> From: "Lynn Setzer" <hikester@mindspring.com>
> To: <at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Subject: [at-l] Impact of Hiking?
> Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 16:29:30 -0500
>
> Hi everyone!
>
> I've been dealing/thinking/wrestling with lots of stuff lately
> -- the flotsam and jetsam of life -- and am curious to know if
any of you have discovered that being a hiker has fundamentally
changed your point of view about life.  Not just about
environmental things, but things like your patience level and
your ability to put your head down and just muscle through
'stuff.'
>
> I know that over the last couple of years, I've become deeply
> impressed with how apt hiking is as a metaphor for life.  I
mean, sometimes it's all uphill and you ain't sure you're ever
going to reach the top of it.  But I've learned to muscle
through, which I think is a good thing. I've also learned to
whine a lot less, which I also think is a good thing; at least
the planet is a little less noisy.  But I've also become
somewhat intolerant and impatient with others who don't suck it
up.  This I take as a bad thing.
>
> So, I'm kinda curious to know how my experience stacks up with
> yours. Anybody care to comment?
>
> Lynn

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