How did it change your life

imported
#1

what impact did thru-hiking have on your life? how, if at all, did thru-hiking change you, your perspective, character, values, life in general, etc?

hephzibah

#2

I’m much more light hearted. I don’t sweat the small things. I believe that the key to success is adaptability. Those who can adapt to the situation at hand will succeed the best. I enjoy food more and now grunt and moan when I eat a good hamburger.
TurkeyBacon

TurkeyBacon

#3

I definitely appreciate things that I used to take forgranted like potable water and a microwave! I also feel an almost uncontrollable urge to go back on the trail when I look in the storage closet and see my backpack.

Superfeet

#4

I have to agree with Turkybacon and Superfeet. A lot of little things that used to bother me, no longer do. Also you do appreciate simple things you used to take for granted. Chairs will always be very special things to me. On the down side, I never liked being chained to tons of steel in the past. Now, I truly hate being owned by a car. You either have to live in a dump near a place to make money, or allow yourself to be a gasoline slave. The ritual of selling it before I go on a long hike is truly satisfying.

Blue Jay

#5

Meeting all the great people along the trail, including the people in small towns certainly influenced my life. I think that if you ever loose your faith in mankind, go and hike the trail.

Peaks

#6

she used to think I was all she wanted in bed. Now after I left her for 6 months to do the trail, she knows she has options.

cuckold

#7

My son thru hiked - it changed me. Made me rethink what I do and why, what a money and time pit a house is, how big city life justs drains the joy out of me. Have quit my job, we’ve sold our business, bought a truck camper and will take off to the mountains out west to get these
aging bodies in shape to “someday” long distance hike. You’re all a tremendous inspiration. “and the children shall lead them”

Skirty GA-ME 2000 Mom

#8

Changed or ruined??? :slight_smile: Depends on who’s perspective you look at. For me, I’m no longer satisfied by the work-a-day corporate world. I’ve been spending the last 18 months in a little Dilbertville and it’s driving me nuts. Used to not bother me that much. These days all I can think of is getting back to Springer and heading North. Nothing else seems to matter as much. I don’t think I’ll ever again be satisfied with the things or situations I had before my first hike. Did the trail change me… or did I change myself? We could debate that for hours.

Moose

#9

Moose, you are not supposed to let that secret out. Yes, you become like the dog who knows where the hole in the fence is and no amount of money can make you forget that hole is there. On a positive note it also is liberating, you are always very close to freedom, and nothing could stop you.

Blue Jay

#10

I’m with Turkeybacon and Superfeet – there isn’t a day I don’t think about it and I am having a tough time now reading about those are just starting out. I SHOULD BE WITH THEM.

Blaze

#11

don’t know about me, though. now she knows she can get the satisfaction she wants anytime, and better than before, whether i’m there or not. may as well hit the trail again …
:frowning:

cuckold

#12

Ditto to most of what you guys have said. Flame and I have a problem with stuff now. We got so use to doing without, we found out we don’t need all of this stuff we’ve collected over the years. We both walk different. I still have some of the “hiker shuffle” and Flame has a limp! Our friends and family tell us we are far more relaxed than we were before the hike. One of the studies that was done on ex-thru-hikers indicated that over 25% change their profession. Moose maybe you need to start working at an outfitter (that was the most common change). The trail will change you! I would say for the better. Happy Trails

Papa Smurf

#13

My tale would echo Moose’s. I fell in love with the long distance lifestyle – living simply, spending all day every day in the mountains, having the goal of hiking to Canada or Mexico or Katahdin, being part of the trail community, etc. I desperately want to go back to the trail, any trail. I have no desire to conform to the expectations of the corporate world, to have a career or make a lot of money. I mostly do what I need to do to save money for the next hike and resent the time I am wasting sitting in an office staring at a computer. I am not happy at the knowledge that it will be a few years before we can go again, but I am happy at the knowledge that we WILL go back on the trail again, when the time is right. Some would say that I am wasting my life – I prefer to think that when I am hiking I am more fully alive than at any other time in my life. I’ve been lucky enough to get four chances to go on long hikes, so far. I pray I’m lucky to have another dozen long hikes. And yes, I’ve been called crazy a time or two.

Spirit Walker

#14

Every time I look at a well manicured lawn, I think “what a great spot to tent”.
I began the trail as a 40+ year old, overweight, corporate professional (drone). For the first 4 weeks, I felt like a fraud as a “thru-hiker” . Six months later, I returned to my old life with a huge house with six TV’s, 4 computers, etc. and I feel like a fraud as a “corporate professional”. And the first thought re-entering my house was “why do I need all this crap, just spend six months carrying everyting I owned and had more fun than in the last 20 years”. So, extensive downsizing has begun.

Double Stuff

#15

I’m more mellow than I was before if that was possible. And the trail did restore my faith in other people. I miss the people more than anything. I have Springer Fever right now too.

Time on the trail is just so peaceful.

Two Scoops

#16

I found out how little I needed. How time slows down. But when I returned home and got back to my out of the woods world, I started racing down the interstate again and thinking about how I wish there was more wilderness.The trail, Ilove it I hate it,all at the same time. LOL

Virginian

#17

:girl I feel like I am passing time every year until I can return to the trail. Mostly the AT, but I’m happy out on any trail. Simple, quiet, goal oriented… ie; What to do today? HIKE, usually alone, get from point A to point B.
Stop-relax-eat-relax-sleep. Next day do it again.

Why can’t I live this way in the real world? Too much distraction. Hammock Hanger;)

Hammock Hanger

#18

that I went out for another 6-month walk. She’s getting an attitude and would really like to sleep in at her guy “friend’s” place that she met when I was away, stead of rushing home to heat me supper. Like when I was away.
:x

cuckold

#19

y’all changed way before stepping foot on the trail. planning was the confirmation.

Lone Wolf

#20

Interesting posts. I think that the biggest challenge of thru-hiking is carrying forth with what you have experienced into your day to day life when you return. True change is that which lasts and without that element then our walks are nothing more than extended vacations. As we all know, urban or suburban settings are more a “wilderness” than walking in the woods. The world longs for people that are young at heart, happy, and relaxed despite whatever stressful situations may occur. What greater gift can we offer to those around us than to lift them up with true caring, kindness, and gentleness? The more we live in love I think the less concerned we become with the world feeling like a “machine.” For me, my life feels like a machine when I do not focus on the people around me and concentrating on loving them. If you fill your heart with Godly love then you can look at the “machine” and feel no threat. Love is greater than the machine.

Again, just my unsolicited 2 cents worth. :slight_smile:

Israel