The Appalachian Trail is 2,189 miles long, winds through 14 states, and will take 5-7 months to hike.
That's 5-7 months away from our friends and families, our incomes, and good coffee.
Why this hike? Why now?
why and what it will mean
Many of the through-hiking blogs that we've stalked in recent months encourage writing a list of Why and Meaning to reference as the going gets tough. Here are Sweet Pea's thoughts:
why hike the at now?
- To live the belief that life is about connections and experiences, not about things.
- To live the belief that waiting until retirement is not my accepted lifestyle.
- To reconnect with my country after this election by witnessing beauty and humanity in people and places that I wouldn't normally expose myself to.
- To deepen and evolve my connection with Chris through open communication, sharing vulnerability, and (self-)compassion.
- To know that I can have less to do more.
what will it mean to finish?
- That I persevered, even when cold and tired and hungry and wanting to go home.
- That I was physically and emotionally resourceful.
- That I can coexist in the world with insects.
what will it mean to not finish?
- That I was smart enough to know when to stop. I've learned from my running group that it takes more strength to DNF than to finish.
- That I trust myself to know when I'm stopping for the right reasons.
