[at-l] Gear Demons

[shane at theplacewithnoname.com (Shane)]

> Tibetan Monks currently cross their border and the Himalayan range to
> escape Chinese oppression.  They carry not more than a daypack, and
> often wear only tennis shoes.  (Nine days into their passage to India,
they
> walk through a pass skirting Mt. Everest, where mountaineers are hard at
> play; their rendition of a thru-hike.)

Good point.  One gentleman I met claims to have done that 'escape' barefoot.
Better men (and women) than I...

> Many of us will never start a thru-hike.  Most of us, who begin to
> thru-hike, will never complete even one.  Few who succeed will do more
> than one.  The people who cannot stop thru-hiking are amazing.  When
> you learn to do something well, why continue to do it?  Learn something
> else.  Go to Pamplona.  Be an idiot, and run with the bulls.

I took that advice.  I didn't run with the bulls, I did something much
crazier.  I got married, bought a house, and had a child.

It isn't about DOING, in my estimation, it's about BEING.  I think that's a
major 'problem' with some wannabe thruhikers.  They set out to accomplish
something.  To conquer something.  Those that fail, fail for that reason.
Sometimes it's a failure of the body, of time, or of money, but more often
it's a failure of the heart.

> Even if this site is only idle fantasy for some of us, so what?  It helps
us
> get through the day, the week, all the way to retirement without climbing
to > the roof, dragging that rifle and all that ammo.  We hike for our
enjoyment, > or thru-hike to see if we can meet that challenge.

I agree completely.  I myself am on this list looking forward to the day
when I'm free to wander again.  A little camaraderie keeps the heart glad.

I didn't say that gear was bad, or totally unimportant.  What I said was
that it's one of the least important issues.  Yes, discussing and learning
about gear is part of the process.  While you're at it, though, learn
everything else too.  Trail history and appreciation like RnR wants,
conservation like Weary espouses, and Philosophy from Felix.  Don't be
concerned only with equipping your body.  Equip your mind and your heart as
well.  Failure in this will cause other failures.

> Bob has his own demons.  Don't saddle him with more.

(For clarification, we aren't talking about Weary (Bob Cummins), we're
talking about my friend 'Coach'.)

It wasn't my intentions to saddle anyone with demons, but to make a point in
a personal way.  Bob isn't a bad person for not making it.  What he was
reaching for just wasn't who he was.  I'm glad he discovered that, and he is
too.

Shane