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Re: [at-l] Thoughts for the Class of '99
"omeletn" you all know I'se got myself a new hikin' dog. It is a Great
Pyrennes. I adopted it from a lady that stole it from her ex-husband ;-0
Her name is Lacey, age 5. Wanted for wandering off. The only one she
won't bit is me and my clan.
The Highlander
Is that close enough to "the word of the day" Felix?
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> From: Paul A Magnanti <pmags@juno.com>
> To: at-l@backcountry.net
> Subject: [at-l] Thoughts for the Class of '99
> Date: Monday, January 18, 1999 3:41 PM
>
> One of the advantages of having a head cold is that I have more time to
> read, write, and to think. It dawned on me that is now almost the end
> of January, and many Class of'99 thru-hikers are gearing up (ooooh! a
> pun!) for their upcoming adventure. Here is a little essay I wrote. As
> it has been said before, take it for what it is worth. Since it is free,
> guess it ain't worth too much.. :D
>
>
> *************************************************************************
>
>
> "The wildest dream is the beginning of reality"
> -Norman Cousins
>
>
> Anyone who is a Class of '99 thru-hiker has a dream, a
> dream to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. By
> daring to have this dream, you will be creating a reality
> that involves happiness, fustration, sadness, excitement,
> anger, and joy. It is an experience you will not forget, and
> one that will have an effect on you long after Springer or
> Katahdin is reached.
> The key to a successful thru-hike is not what boots
> you wear, how many ounces you shave off your pack, what stove
> you use, or what brand of socks you use. No, the key to a
> successful thru-hike is making use of the most important
> piece of equipment: the gray matter, the ole noggin, the
> brain.
> A thru-hike is more of a mental challenge than a
> physical one. After thirteen days of rain, do you still have
> the urge to hike? Can you stomach the umpteenth dinner of
> Ramen noodles? Are you ready to have your body go through
> something that will leave it aching for rest, wanting to
> stop? If you can say yes to that, then you can also see a
> moose wading in a pond around sunset, hear the shriek of an
> owl at night, smell pine needles on a sunny day. Enjoy the
> trip, revel in everything that happens. All these experiences
> make an Appalachian Trail thru-hike memorable. If you are
> feeling low, ask yourself this: "What is the alternative?".
> You could be working in the office again, filling out yet
> another memo. Instead you are on the trail, experiencing
> nature, in all its raw beauty . Again, an experience that
> will have an affect on you long after the journey is
> completed.
> If you feel that your journey is complete, and Katahdin
> or Springer has not been reached, don't feel that you have
> failed. There are no real failures on the trail. Daring to
> dream is a rarity in itself. Daring to live out your dream is
> something that many people are afraid to do. If you do not
> reach Katahdin or Springer, you will still have an experience
> that most people would not even bother to dream about. It
> does not take a thru-hike to learn the lessons of the trail.
> The lessons come from trying, your Katahdin might come at
> Harper's Ferry, Damascus, or earlier. IF you know in your
> heart that you have pushed yourself to your physical, mental,
> and emotional limit, then you have done more than most people
> have even attempted.
> The Appalachian Trail is a special experience. Hard to
> describe unless you have attempted it. All I can say is savor
> every moment of the trail. No matter how little or long of a
> time you take to hike the trail, it will be over before you
> know it. It will never be far from your thoughts, and it will
> be something you will have warm memories about. In between
> Springer and Katahdin are some wonderful memories, savor
> every one of them.
>
> Magaroni
> LT97
> AT98 GA-ME
>
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