[at-l] Edward Abbey

[daveh@xxxxxxxxxx (Dave Hicks)]

Great quote.

At the risk of offending some, I suggest that, with some, the problem is
that they are not the reluctant enthusiasts... the part time crusaders, the
half-hearted fanatics. They don't save the other half of themselves and
their lives for pleasure and adventure. Rather than experience and enjoy the
land, the outdoors, while they can they fight for the it to the exclusion of
the all important enjoyment of it.

And, IMHO, all to often, they get focused on one aspect of one narrow
segment -- e.g., the AT, alone, or even only "pure thru" hiking of the AT.
Such, narrowing has to be a sure Rx to burn yourself out, lose prospective,
and lost opportunities for true adventure and growth.

The Abbeys, the Fletchers, the Leopolds, the Muirs, etc. got out there and
mess around with their friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests,
encounter the grizz, and climb the mountains. They ran the rivers, breathed
deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sat quietly for a while and
contemplate the precious stillness, that lovely, mysterious and awesome
space.  It is the mountains, the deserts, the lakes, the rivers, the swamps,
the woods, the prairie, enjoyed that provides the sweet victory -- not
narrow success of a pre-determined goal.

If all one does is what one sets out to do, the one has lost opportunities
of true adventure and growth.

As always YMMV.

Chainsaw


----- Original Message -----
From: "t." <tfort@jam.rr.com>
To: "ATL" <AT-L@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 11:53 AM
Subject: Re: [at-l] Edward Abbey


well, I was wrong about the quote topic.  I think.  I found a reference to a
web site.  I found this


"One final paragraph of advice: Do not burn yourself out. Be as I am-a
reluctant enthusiast... a part time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save
the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It
is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it.
While you can. While it is still there. So get out there and mess around
with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, encounter the
grizz, climb the mountains. Run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet
and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious
stillness, that lovely, mysterious and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep
your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to your body, the body
active and alive, and I promise you this much: I promise you this one sweet
victory over our enemies, over those deskbound people with their hearts in a
safe deposit box and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise
you this: you will outlive the bastards."



----- Original Message -----
From: "t." <tfort@jam.rr.com>
To: "ATL" <AT-L@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 10:32 AM
Subject: [at-l] Edward Abbey


This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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ok, gang.

Sometime, a while ago,  there was an Edward Abbey quote posted.  Something
about "why I hike".  about 5-10 sentences.  I've had it on my desk for yrs
now.  It has disappeared!   I know it's not much to go on, but, maybe
someone knows it.  I'm going to search the archives, now.


t.
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