[at-l] Appalachian Trail success!

[camojack at comcast.net (camojack@comcast.net)]

I would be inclined to say "You GO, boy!"...but apparently, you already did. Congrats!!!
-"Camo"

-------------- Original message -------------- 
> Dear Friends, 
> 
> I am writing to share the proud news that I summited Mount Katahdin on 
> July 27th, completing my thru-hike (end-to-end walk) of the 2,175-mile 
> Appalachian Trail. As many of you know, I started my hike on April 3rd 
> after thru-hiking the Florida Trail. I walked northbound, starting at 
> the southern terminus: Springer Mountain in Georgia. It took me 3 
> months and 24 days in total, with 17 zero days (rest days). 
> 
> Thank you all so very much for your support, nurturing, and love. All 
> of you helped me along the way and for that I am extremely grateful. 
> My hike was the adventure of a lifetime, a trip that I will reflect on 
> as an older man with pride and joy. The probability low and the 
> challenge great, I was never sure I would actually complete the 
> journey until I actually arrived at the summit of Katahdin and touched 
> the famous sign marking the finish. My hike was one of the most 
> challenging feats in my entire life - physically, mentally, and 
> spiritually. 
> 
> After hiking a total of more than 3,200 miles since January I said 
> "enough!" at the summit of Katahdin. I got what I came for and I have 
> grown a great deal on the trail. I am satisfied, joyful, proud of 
> myself, grateful for the opportunity and to all of you, and absolutely 
> exhausted. 
> 
> I have been keeping an online journal throughout the course of my 
> thru-hikes of the Appalachian and Florida Trails. My summit picture is 
> up and new pictures of the final section of my AT hike will be added 
> shortly. If you'd like to read about my walk or see some pictures, 
> visit the sites below. Blessings. 
> 
> AT: www.trailjournals.com/wanderingbull 
> FT: www.trailjournals.com/djessop 
> 
> Thank you all. 
> 
> The Wandering Bull 
> David Jessop 
> 
> Appalachian Trail (GA->ME) April 3 - July 27 2005 
> Florida Trail January 9 - March 29 2005 
> _______________________________________________ 
> at-l mailing list 
> at-l@backcountry.net 
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l From jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com  Sun Jul 31 18:52:33 2005
From: jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)
Date: Sun Jul 31 19:54:03 2005
Subject: [at-l] Cell phones VS Nature - An attempt to clarify - LONG
In-Reply-To: <20050731175528.640560374.ellen@clinic.net>
References: <IDEMKMNHCOAAOJDBMFAMMEMGNCAA.shane@theplacewithnoname.com>
	<20050731161553.2082386819.ellen@clinic.net>
	<IDEMKMNHCOAAOJDBMFAMMEMGNCAA.shane@theplacewithnoname.com>
Message-ID: <5.0.2.1.2.20050731202239.02fa86b8@pop-server>

At 05:55 PM 7/31/2005 -0400, Bob C wrote:

>This particular child of a single Mom had lived much of his life in the 
>company of multiple females. His presence contributed a bit to the 
>wildness on that 283 mile walk. But as I said, this was primarily a trip 
>to introduce him to the woods and moutains. I was more concerned with his 
>experience than with mine. Though as it turned out those 30 days were the 
>closest thing to the experience that Jim O. was describing as I've ever 
>had, which provides further evidence that Jim is right on in his analysis.
>
>Certainly, those 30 days in 1991 with only two brief town stops far 
>exceeded any sense of wilderness that I experienced on my 1993 walk north 
>from Springer to Katahdin, when town stops occurred every 3-6 days usually.

As I think back over all my hikes, both day hikes and backpacking trips, I 
can think of a few that had their wilderness quality "deteriorated". In 
every single incidence it was due to people, not things. In fact, although 
I remember those hikes clearly (sadly, more clearly than most average 
hikes), I cannot tell you what I was carrying in my pack at the time. And 
the most "deteriorated" experiences all involved someone who was berating 
others for not doing it RIGHT (meaning their way).

In fairness I have to say that some of my best wilderness experiences were 
with people, non-judgmental sorts who often didn't say much at all but 
shared the joy of the experience. Ultimately though I experience wilderness 
most intimately when I am stark alone even though that counters the advice 
given in all the guidebooks. Like Shane, the presence of others, even 
compatible others, detracts from the intimacy of the experience for me.