Why?

Today is Monday. Saturday is rapidly approaching at a snail’s pace. Saturday is the day I take my first steps on an attempted thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, or the A.T.  2,175 miles, or approximately 5,000,000 footsteps connect my trailhead, Mt. Springer in Georgia, with the terminus, Mt. Katahdin in Maine.

 I’ve been saying when people ask my plans, “I’m going to hike the A.T.” But nothing about this excursion is guaranteed–from crazies abducting hikers to blisters to broken bones, a mound of deterring possibilities lies between saying, “I’m gonna hike the A.T.” and doing it.  I expect from previous trips, though, that the most likely reason I won’t finish the trail is a lack of mental strength.  When you’re low on food, missing friends and loved ones, and walking in 35 degrees while rain pours on you with blisters on both feet, packing up and heading home becomes more than a viable option–it becomes a desirable one.

 So what motivates me to push me through moments of pain and discomfort? Why am I spending 5 months of my life walking through a forest? Perhaps it’s the opportunity for a solitude not found anywhere else. Maybe it’s the simplicity of life–the escape from daily bills, obligations, and stresses. Quizas it’s the engaging in an activity with a well-defined beginning and end and the ensuing sense of accomplishment upon completion. Tal vez it’s the chance to jump hurdles higher than I’ve ever tried, or the opportunity to face and overcome physical challenges. It could be the balance and peace that only nature’s reverberations provide.

 I suppose there are many good reasons for hiking The Green Tunnel, but honestly, none of them are sufficient.  The reasons for “Why?” when dealing with life-changing experiences seem to be (to me, at least) unknown until the experience is experienced. It’s a Faith of sorts.

Ultimately, I’m hiking the Trail to discover why I hiked the Trail.