[at-l] Bob

[gadog430@xxxxxxxxxxx (Ga. Dawg)]

Up down, up down. Repeat as necessary.
Turn corner, up down.

Dawg

-----Original Message-----
From: at-l-admin@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:at-l-admin@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Shane Steinkamp
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 12:51 AM
To: Orange Bug
Cc: AT-List
Subject: RE: [at-l] Bob


All of this is good advice, and I'll print it up for him.  It helps to
have people who understand the terrain and the milestones.  I am
unfamiliar with the terrain...

> A good mentor sometimes needs to cut the cord. If he gets
> too accustomed to seeking relief and reassurance, I don't think he
> will be able to deal with the mundanes and the rocks. Perhaps he is to

> become another section hiker, skulking the trail like Gollum,
> following the thru-hikers, seeking the chance to glimpse his
> "precious." There are worse things in life, but he had set his goals
> so much higher.

I am playing a 'dangerous game' with him on two fronts.  Bob's only
character flaw is low self-confidence.  It's very strange in a man with
his skills and his background...  If I'm NOT available, then he might
not go at all.  If I'm TOO available, then he'll keep running back to me
over and over.  I have mostly been able to fix this.

The fault this time was mine, because when Easy1 said that Bob needed to
come home and fix himself up, I agreed because Easy1 is experienced, and
was closer to the situation than I.  I should have taken a few seconds
to think about it...  Next time I will not be making that mistake...
Once I had, Bob was coming home...  Damn it...  (The other problem is
that he wants me to tell him what to do.  When I don't he gets
aggravated.  When I do, he only listens to me half the time.  But, what
can I say, I love him.)

> One idea he might consider - start all over at Springer.

I will propose that.

> I think he needs to recall the first few times he fell off his
> bicycle. Momma didn't take it back to the store. She washed his
> skinned up hands and knees and shipped him back to the driveway to try

> it some more. Dad just checked to see if he hurt the bike and told him

> to get back on.

Yeah, but some kids are scarier than others.  I was the kind that
crashed my bike because I thought it was fun.  Bob's the kind that
crashes the bike and tries to figure out why before he'll try it again.

> He has some poor gear choices, and his feet are sore. He ought to hear

> about Sloetoe's troubles.

I've told him about mine.  I guess he never believed it until now.

To be honest, I'll never take this job again.  I'll be glad to introduce
new folks into the outdoors, and I love doing that, but NO WAY am I ever
going to 'train' another long distance hiker.  It's just not fair.  Bob
watched me and saw how easy everything that I did was, and thought that
because it looked so easy that he could do it too.  It ain't so.  I
didn't think about it in the beginning because I've been doing it for so
long.  I should have made it LOOK harder...

> He has a terrific gear shop at Neel's Gap. Dust off, pay
> the $75 to Delta and postpone that ticket home.

He didn't like Mountain Crossing for some reason.  Our conversation on
the point was brief, so I'll find out more later.  In the end, my goal
is to 'slingshot' him back onto the trail in four or five days.
Shouldn't be a problem...

> (Don't tell him about the rain and wind we expect this weekend, nor
> the cold front Tuesday.)

Too late.  He knows...

> Bill...
> <sneaking away to bed, very quiet and Gollum like. Where
> is my precioussss?>

Yeah, me too...

Shane

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