| WHO ELSE IS GOING? |
| When people find out that I'm hiking the Appalachian Trail, one of the first things they ask is, "Are you going alone?" Most are adamant that such an undertaking is much too dangerous for a woman alone because "things happen out there." (Not one has ever volunteered to accompany me.) In the early planning stages I, too, was concerned and gave the matter considerable thought. Then one Sunday my pastor said the magic words. "Worry is simply lack of faith." Of course! So I explained the situation to God and asked if he would go with me. He said he wouldn't miss it for anything. So, no, I'm not going alone. I'll have plenty of people around me anyway. Thru-hikers who start out within a week of each other tend to form a close-knit community and watch out for each other. Even though they may not hike together during the day, they often congregate at the same shelter or campsite in the evening. If a hiker doesn't show up when expected, others will backtrack to see if help is needed. Besides thru-hikers, there will be day-hikers, weekenders, and section-hikers who can get messages to "the real world" if necessary. (Shelter registers and the Trail grapevine are quite efficient means of communication, too). Also, trail angels are always ready to help out in an emergency (See the Glossary). By the way, here's how to determine what kind of hiker is coming down the trail: Place an M&M in the middle of the trail and stand back to watch. The day-hiker will ignore it. The weekender will pause, then go on. The section-hiker will brush it off and eat it. The thru-hiker will eat it and start digging for more. (Thru-hikers are always hungry and obsessed with food!) |
| Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 |
| "If you judge safety to be the paramount consideration in life, you should never, under any circumstances, go for long hikes alone. Don't take any short hikes alone either...but you may discover, just before you die, that you have been dead for a long, long time." Colin Fletcher |
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