WOW!!! there is alot of great insight, I thought I was just crazy, LOL. I have always wondered about people who drove 2 blocks to the Gym to workout.
But really most people fear the unknone, we crave it.
use to be YANG
Venting some frustration
system
#22
It’s hard to convince non-hikers and especially those that have not hiked the AT that what you’re doing is a great thing. All I do and all anybody can do is convince them that you’re doing safe things (telling someone your route…hiking with someone maybe…proper equipment and food…etc…etc.) I just think people get too hyped up about
urban legend" stuff such as mass murderers like Eric Rudolph stalking AT hikers or other crazy stuff. People that worry about me calm down when they see how excited I get about my trips and the stories that I bring back. I’ve met some of the greatest people in thw world on the AT and I’m only a section hiker. Good luck. Doc
Doc Holiday
system
#23
1: To meet more people like me and to avoid more people like you.
and the old classic
2: If you have to ask then you’ll never understand.
Arthur
system
#24
Maybe you should point out to these people how truly selfish the are being by trying to crush your dreams.
Then ask them to explain to you “why in the world” they wouldn’t want to hike the AT.
That may shut them up.
nobody
system
#25
What a great forum topic Jonna and some great responses:cheers
My 81 year old mother was quite concerned when I announced I was retiring from a good paying job to do the Trail. Although I never really knew why I was so driven to do it, I tried to express it in my pre-hike entries in Trailjournals. Then I emailed my parents,; gave them my Trailjournals address and had them read it and other journals. Once they realized that I wasn’t the only one with this obsession my Mom really came around. My folks couldn’t wait for my daily journal entries to be updated and followed my hike on Trailjournals. They even drove to Maine and met me on my way down from Katahdin.
Just like Trailjournals is helping you prepare and talk with other hikers, it can help “outsiders” understand.
Skeemer
system
#27
I found the same responses in the initial planning for the A.T. but most folks began to come around when they realized how happy I was as I hiked the Appalachian Trail. Funny thing is I am getting the same responses as I begin to articulate that I am Hiking the PCT next! People who care about you will come around as they feel your happiness along the trail. The people that dont come around…well are you losing that much by not being on great terms with individuals that cant or wont support your dreams?
Yo-Yo
system
#28
I’ve been very lucky - my family and friends have all supported me entirely when I told them I was hiking the AT in 2004. Not one of them asked “why.” As for myself, I made the decision to hike after saying, “I’ll hike the Trail someday” over and over, and realising that “someday” was “today.”
Haiku.
Haiku
system
#29
Jonna:
first, let me applaud you for putting up with the “dis-co
uraging words”, etc.,etc.
Most people would tell the family & friends to s…y… & go on…
I always try to think of the positives…like the "life expereince that will be your reward when you hike the trail (A.T.,P.C.T.,L.T.,C.D.T. or any other trail)
Like someone else said…just like your own life path…you have to choose to take certain steps in your life…you’ve chosen to “hike YOUR hike”…they have to hike theirs.
Jaybird
Jaybird