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Re: [at-l] Leaving the trail...alone...

On Sat, 7 Jun 1997, kahlena wrote:

> Hiya all..
> 
> In reading the journals and talking to hikers I have found that there
> seem to be many people who just plain get lonely when they're on the 
> trail and perhaps this is a major factor in their decision to leave.
> 
> Although there are usually people about, one hiker shared the 'tedium 
> of meeting new people all the time'. Now granted, I'm sure new people
> with new stories to tell can be an allure.  But what about someone you
> know well enough that you can 'relax' with or someone you _know_ you
> can count on to support you emotionally when the trail starts to get you 
> down? I think sharing the trail with someone would have to be a plus
> for me.  I'm not talking walking in lock step, but definitely agreeing
> to camp together and spending most of the time together.
>  For those couples on the list, and anyone else that traveled with a 
> partner, do you think you would have made it if you had done it solo? 
> 
> I'm surprised that I'm writing this since I do almost all of my hiking 
> without human companionship and like it that way.  But everyday, I'm
> learning just how different a thru hike is from what I'm used to doing.
> 						Kahley
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> 
Hi Kahley,

I hiked 1300 miles (from Katahdin to Waynesboro) in 1993 by myself.  While
I did hike with some people some of the time, most of it was by myself.  I
did get lonely sometimes (I ended up buying a walkman in MD) but I also
liked being by myself and being self-sufficient.  However, I am married
now and have been hiking with my wife for a year now.  I have to say that
I enjoy hiking with her much more than by myself.  I find that I take more
time with her around and we enjoy just being out there.  When I go by
myself, which I do every now and again, I realize that I don't really stop
and enjoy the journey as much.  I still love hiking and I would do it no
matter what my personal situation was.  But I prefer hiking with my best
friend.  In fact, we are off to do the rest of the Trail this summer!  700
miles or so left and we can't wait.  FWIW,

Jason

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