Sorry to ramble and take up forum space but I have a lot of emotion. Taking a big hike from August to November. I am quitting my job. Long story there but was wondering if any of you out there ever made this kind of life change. I guess I am hoping the trail will give me some answers. Any words of wisdom? Peace Oz
bctoOz
Dear B+:
The massive physical exercise element of long distance hiking will tend to calm you down and remove stress.
Now, let me ask, in all serious, what issues are you dealing with and what sort of answers are you looking for?
Conan.
Conan
I took my first and longest trip when I was a few years out of college. I was fed up with the job I was doing, was very depressed and needed a change. I considered a couple of options, including a bushwack through the Brooks Range with a former PCT thruhiker. I decided that, although I trusted him, It would not be smart to take off on that extreme of trip depending on someone else to have the knowlege needed. I would be up S%#@s creek if something happened to him.
The alternative was to join Hikanation, a cross-country backpacking trip sponsored by AHS and the Department of Interior. It turned out to be the absolutely best decision of my life! I have never regretted it and I still consider many of the hikers I met on that trip to be family. That was 25 years ago. Many of us still get together every few years for various sized reunions.
An extended trip like that gives you plenty of time to yourself, to think, examine your own motivations and the reactions you have had to people in the past. It also gives you a magnificent feeling of confidence and sense of well-being when you learn first-hand how little you need in the way of material possesions in order to be truely happy.
This was perhaps the best lesson of all, at least it has been for me. Yes, I have bought a house, have accumulated all kinds of “things” in my life, but I still know - for a fact - that I don’t NEED any of them. In fact, I’m starting to seriously consider the possibility of selling everything again, and taking off while I’m still young enough to do it with relative ease.
Hikanation also taught me that everyone can hike if they have the desire, it was amazing to see the diversity of people who came together that year!
All I can say is, if you have the desire to do this, THEN DO IT! I believe you will never regret it. You can always go back to your old life whenever the trail looses it’s majic for you.
Sincerely - Best of Luck.
Lyle
Lyle
Hi bctoOz, from what you say, it sounds like we’re both going through a similar experience. I am hoping/planning on thru-hiking the AT for 6-7 months next year, and my goal is to NOT have expectations/deadlines/routines, other than just going back to the basics of allowing nature to engulf me and experience what I believe to be the true essence of life…to “be,” to eat, to sleep, to walk, to breathe and to allow my brain/mind/soul the time to catch up to the ridiculous pace I’ve been living for so long.
I find that even now when I go out for a short 4 mile hike in the a.m., I’m lost in my thoughts, feeling peaceful, and wish I never had to arrive back at my truck. The time alone with yourself will be some of the best time spent. I say do it. I wish you luck.
–Michele
Michele
If you haven’t read this trail account, it might be a good one for you. I’m about half way through it now. The author found himself in a life crisis and took to the trail to sort things out.
Lyle
WEll, about the trip… I have been wanting to hike the AT since I was 14. Our youngest son leaves for college in August and then off we go. right now we will do a little less than half of the trail. I am going to quit my job and prob. never go back. Maybe a mid life crisis:D All I know is that I love hiking and lately I have not been really digging my job. I guess I am hoping to, as you said, Lyle, “sort things out” Thanks for all your responses… It’s good to know I am not alone. OZ
bctoOz
Lyle, for your Brooks Range trip were you going to go with Foxtrot? I met him on the AT and talked about going up there with him last summer. It seems he really know his stuff up there…
zach attack
No, this trip was to be in the late 70’s, early 80’s. Was a guy I worked with at Arby’s Restaurant in E. Lansing while going to college. His name was Brian, we spent hours looking at over 1600 slides he had of his PCT trip and listening to his stories. That was before the days of Trail Names.
Lyle