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[at-l] Death in GA

WF wrote:
A death has occurred on the AT near Hot Springs. A man died of ill
health
about two weeks ago. It is suspected that he purposefully went to the AT
to
die,

A sad story on the human level,
but not anything that should affect our attitude about AT hiking.--WF


Almost everyday, I hike in a small park that is basically 88acres with
three trails and a closed road to the top of a cliff.  One day, the road

was filled with police and corner vehicles and I was told that a body
had been found.  My family freaked because they were sure there
was a murderer stalking the park.  It turns out that the death was
self inflicted.  The man also hiked that hill everyday.  When he learned

that he was terminally ill, and would no longer have the strength to
have
the life he wanted, he made one last trip up that hill to die.
At first I was haunted.
He'd been there for five days.  And I had walked just yards from his
body each day.  After awhile, I came to understand him.  He loved
to walk up that hill as much as I do.  He loved the view of the river
and the towns and the fields.  He loved watching the resident hawk
fly by at eye level.  And when he learned he'd no longer have the
strength to do it, he decided it was time to die.
So maybe the man in GAdid have something to tell us about the AT.
Maybe he felt it was a fine place to die.

Last year I posted a prayer and I'll repost it now.

        Lord, if it is your will that I die on this trail,
                let it be on a mountain top.

        Let me drop to my knees and cast my eyes skyward
                for one last view of your heaven from this heaven.

        And then let me lay with my face to the ground
                so that the sweet sweet smell of the earth
                is the last thing I know.


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