[at-l] Introduction (Read at own risk)

[AThiker at smithville.net (Felix)]

Shane wrote:

>David brought up something I'd like to ask to all of you.  If you had to
>point to one pivotal experience, a milestone, that turned you on to the
>outdoors and backpacking in particular, what was it?
>

Sometime about 30 years ago I was in the parking lot at Clingman's Dome. 
It was a typical Clingman's Dome day...foggy, windy, drizzly and 
chilly.  There were three people filling their water bottles at a water 
fountain. They put their packs on and walked into that soup and out of 
sight. That was soooo fugging kewl. Later that same week we were camping 
somewhere along the Parkway or Skyline drive where the AT runs near a 
campsite (I suspect it was Big Meadow) and my mom swears (and, momma 
don't tell no lie) that I said "Someday I'm gonna hike that trail"... 
(footnote to newbies and inexperienced hikers...this does not mean that 
your mom's have to tell you that you told them you were gonna hike that 
trail when you were 12)