The Appalachian Trail
So my new obsession is the Appalachian Trail. So far I’ve read several books and scads of stuff online. I’m currently reading two more books on the subject (I often read more than one book at a time, I don’t know why), including one about a blind dude who thru-hikes the trail with his guide dog (can you say WOW?). So, yeah, I want to thru-hike the trail (which means hike the whole 2100 mile stretch from George to Maine all at one time).
Unfortunately, nobody I know wants to do it and everyone I know thinks it is dangerous and kooky. My mom physically shudders when I dare speaketh of the trail-that-shouldn’t-be-named. She’s sure I’d be raped, trampled by a moose, struck by lightning, bitten by a snake, tossed off a cliff, and eaten by a bear. Her fears aren’t total unwarranted, as whackjob Gary Hilton killed Meredith Emerson after meeting her on the trail, and the story is about as horrifying as it gets. There have been other deaths on the trail, some women, some men, and not all caused by whackjob killers. Mother Nature can be deadly and hypothermia, lightning, rattlesnakes, bears, etc. are all a threat. But from what I’ve found only about 8 people have died on the trail, though many more in the woods surrounding the trail so I think saying only 8 is probably putting too fine a point on it.
I would never hike it alone, that’s for certain — even though it totally pisses me off to say that. If I were a man I’d have no such worries about hiking alone, which is so unfair. But that’s reality. My husband would hike it with me (he’s hiked for months in the Himalayas of Nepal, the AT probably wouldn’t even be as much of a challenge) but it isn’t practical for him to take off four months from work when he is our breadwinner. Maybe when we are both retired it will be something we can tackle, if our knees are still good by then!
Anyway, that’s what I’ve been doing with my time. Reading and running, running and reading. And painting hurricane shutters (blech).
Today’s Weight: 140.2.
Mood: Pensive.
Miscellaneous: Why must the frogs crap all over my glass door, huh? They sure do have some nasty crap.
OK, get a book on the Columbia Gorge and I’ll hike it with you. 2100 miles is a bit too much for me, hello, but the Gorge, dude, so beautiful!
The AT runs through my territory, I will throw in some miles with ya. Now, you just have to find a couple of hundred more people to do the same.
We have an organization of people here who help with maintenance on the trail and they do group hikes and all. I am sure you could find something like that and maybe find some trustworthy people to go with.
Hey Josephine,
Have you read Bill Bryson’s book “A Walk in the Woods”? He did a lot of research for that book. I’ve wanted to hike the trail for years, but never more so than when I read that book!
Darby — Yes! That was the first book I read about the AT (thanks to a friend’s suggestion). Fantastic book. In fact, when I was done and returned it to the library I realized that I should have taken notes while reading it and now I need to read it again!
That does sound like a lot of fun.
i’m hiking a portion of it (mt leconte) in march 09. come join me!
I wanna go. Thinking of Southbounding. Maybe 2010? I’m not sure if you ever get over it if you get bit by the AT bug. =) Delita