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quwerty forbes.

Starting somewhere

"It's the trip that's never started that takes longest to finish." -- Sam Gamgee

I've wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail since I learned of its existence -- and the possibility of through-hiking it -- after moving East more than 20 years ago. A walk in the woods, going up and down mountains, crossing streams, encountering (some kinds of) animals, is one of the best ways I can think of to spend any day. Doing it for weeks on end seems like nirvana, and one of the few physical challenges that appeals to this mostly cerebral type.

But the various circumstances of life, including holding a federal job, then marrying and becoming a father, meant that there was no chance to just spend six months hiking.

So, a few years into my second half-century, I've decided that I'm just going to start. I'll do what I can when I can. I'll be taking the concept of section hiking (traversing all of the AT in discrete trips, as opposed to through-hiking the whole thing in one trek) down to a microscopic level. The trail is 2,180 miles long. Right now my max is 10-12 miles in one day, so I'd be lucky to do it in 200 hiking days, and I'd be lucky to get 10 hiking days a year, so . . . well, math is depressing.

As I said, I'll do what I can when I can. I've no doubt the vast majority will still be waiting for me after I retire in 12 or 13 years. In the meantime, here I go . . .