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[at-l] re: [AT-L] Handicapped Access

 Actually, I almost qualify as handicapped, but to a lesser degree.
 I have had 2 knee surguries, my back has been broken, I have bulging disks,
 missing pieces of vertabrae, pinched nerves.  My wife also feels that I am
 handicapped for being a man, but that's another thread...
 Did I mention  that I also ran a marathon in 1990?  I guess that blows my 
 chance of  getting away with using llamas on my thruhike....

 Anyway, lately my back is giving me so much trouble that I can not run at all.
 Neither can  I carry much of any weight on my back (yet),  But I still look 
 forward to a thruhike someday, on my terms, whatever they are at the time.  
 I just want to "walk from Georgia to Maine" on the AT. 
 Due to my physicall limitations I can't carry a 60-70 lb pack, I have to 
 carry much less weight.  Since I won't  fit into the purist definition of a 
 thruhiker, does that mean I am less of  a thruhiker than some musclebound 
 young guy/gal who carries a 90 lb pack the whole way?  I think  not, my load 
 will be far heavier to bear, not knowing if  my body will make it all  the 
 way to Maine.

 Does that mean that my thuhike is any less of a challenge, does that make me 
 any less  of a thruhiker, because I will carry less weight?  Here I am sure 
 the opinions will vary, but I don't care.  I will be doing this hike for 
 myself, not to please the rest of the world (is there a world beyond the ATL 
 & ATML?).  So if it fits my definition of a thruhike, then that is all that 
 matters.
 
 Remember, don't load yourself down with more purist baggage than your
 body will let you carry. 

 Hike your own hike.

 Walk Gently (the joints grind less),

 Russ

 PS Do Lekis make a good substitute for a cane? <VBG>
 TrailAt@aol.com
 rld@cartoon.lc.lucent.com

  >There have been many people who would "qualify" as handicapped (remember
  > the Orient Express hike?) who have done long-distance or even through
  > hikes.  There are probably hundreds of such folks who have done their
  > hiking more quietly, not attracting any attention at all except the
  > admiration of those who have met them.  The trail stands as it is (maybe
  > only for now) and I feel if you have the determination to challenge it, it
  > would be up to you to conform yourself to its customs, laws (written and
  > otherwise) etc and give it your best shot.  No one would argue that ANYONE
  > can do a through hike in the same way that anyone can walk into a federal
  > building, or anyone can pull their camper up to the hook-ups at the KOA.
  > Nature decides how accessible the wilderness is, for all of us.
  >
  > Give me a minute to get my flame-proof gear on....
  >
  > OK, ready.
  >
  > Sharon
  >
  > Sharon Sharpe
  > Head Athletic Trainer
  > Wellesley College
  > Wellesley, MA
  > ssharpe@wellesley.edu
  >
  >
  >



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