[at-l] Re: Icons, the ATC & LD Hikiking

[DaRedhead@xxxxxxx (DaRedhead@xxxxxxx)]

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In a message dated 4/9/2003 11:55:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
shane@theplacewithnoname.com writes:

> .  In reality, though, it wasn't that hard, and I don't talk about it much -
> mostly because of the reaction I get. Which is the reaction that I did
> something marvelous or unique.  Popycock! Anybody could do it.  All you
> need is a lot of time on your hands, a half dose of insanity, a good dose
> of leftover teenage angst, and a desire to see what's over the next hill.

I agreed with everything you wrote - almost :)  I take exception to the
above, though. Probably because while I have at *least* a half dose of
insanity, more leftover teenage angst than I would admit, and my desire to
see what is over the next hill is keen - that first condition keeps me bound
and stuck.

Not just that one, either, really.  I constantly have to weigh with myself
the Thru Hiking Papers and things like what you just said.  Time? Easy to
have when you're unemployed - and until recently, I had a lot of that.  But
supposing you have the time, but you have kids - you aren't able to do what
your feet and soul tell you to do every time you step on the AT, or even
drive by a white blaze.  Desire to hike the Trail, and the ability to do what
it takes - that might be easy for the set of folks either just graduating or
just retiring . . . but for those of us in between, there are other
considerations.

I'm thinking that those people who look upon thru hikers in wonder, respect
and admiration aren't doing it because someone managed to walk from GA to ME
- or are named Felix <g>.  They are looking at a thru hiker with a large
degree of awe (i.e. you just completed something I only dream about right
now).  They are looking at you more like - "Gee, I don't know how you worked
it out, but you did it - you left your life for 5 or 6 months and hiked. I'd
like to do that, but daycare gets mad if I pick the kid up after 6, let alone
after 6 months".

We look at thru hikers with respect because not only have they demonstrated
the physical ability to hike that far and for that long (regardless of how
"easy" that part is, according to some), but because they managed to arrange
their lives to make it happen.  I don't know about everyone on the list.  A
lot of you have thru hiked. I think it would be an interesting survey to find
out where you were in your life when you did.  Time on your hands probably
*only* applies to the recently graduated from high school and the recently
retired, OR the comfortably rich with no need to work.  Those folks who sell
their homes and quit their jobs to hike, who need to hike and do what it
takes to make it so - it isn't because they have "time on their hands".  It's
because they have to hike, and they'll do whatever it takes to make that
happen.

I think the rest of us fall into a different catagory - which makes "time"
and even responsibility a big question hard to answer, when you have the bug
to hike.

What a thru hiker does *is* a big deal, to a lot of hikers.  Why is another
question, and it changes with each person.  But don't denigrate those of us
who hold thru hikers in esteem - a lot of those on this list aren't wide
eye'd innocents without a clue who ask questions like "what do you eat and
how do you carry it for 6 months".  But we still put thru hikers up -
sometimes in our homes, sometimes on a pedestal . . . maybe because we wish
we were doing it, and maybe because we could but won't risk it, and maybe
just because we want to, badly, but can't, for whatever reason.

I don't think thru hikers are gods or anything.  But I *do* think that they
achieved something worthy of respect, and I don't think I like being told my
admiration is worthless because *anyone* can do it.

Maybe *anyone* can.  But since I haven't managed it yet, leave me with my
illusions. Thru hikers are special :)

The Redhead