mere smoke of opinion

My journal and I have mulled many nights over reasons why people hike the trail, why I hike the trail, and, if I’m feeling ambitious, over a sense of purpose out here. Some want to find out about God, some want to preach about God, but you don’t have to be out here to do that.

Some want to find out about nature, some want to promote outdoor activity, but you don’t have to be out here to do that either. Most of the time, the AT is equal in “wilderness experience” to your local park, sidewalk, and creek bed. I don’t mean to disappoint; my imagination has spent more years content playing in a creek bed than anywhere else on Earth. Backyards offer many stones to turn over, and the Smokies and Shenandoah are two of America’s most visited, yes, parks. I’m all about advocating the outdoors, but most hikers have pretty bold opinions and advice about what the trail should be, anyway.

Some want to see the vistas. You’d be better suited in a car, hitting 35 overlooks in one day on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Some want to see animals. You’d be better suited sitting still instead of blundering loudly through the woods. The deer and bear in Shenandoah are no longer afraid of humans, as they encircle picnic areas and would probably eat from a hand if (when) given the chance. Is that your expectation of wildlife? Whatever satisfies…

Some people want to live cheap. This can be done, relatively well, but at the cost of hikers’ reputation in many towns as freeloaders. Some want beer and no gut. These “thru-drinkers” can also accomplish their goal, but with a similar downside.

I don’t believe any of these reasons are wrong. The number of hikers grows each year, as people are attracted to discovering wildlife, scenic vistas, faith in a Creator, adventure, purpose, and cheap food and drink. But none of these are exclusive to the trail, and no one seems to acknowledge that fact. 

There are, however, a few reasons I can think of that truly fit yet rarely get mentioned. love of walking. It makes sense to hike the trail if you enjoy the experience of walking from dawn to dusk. I had a NOBO ask me, “what’s up with all the SOBO’s still enjoying the walking part?” I don’t know, but I love it, and for me, that’s part of the wonderful mystery of both my body and the trail.

The other part is engaging in a lifestyle that many people don’t believe is an option. They wouldn’t otherwise know it is possible. By being off the radar, I hope to add to other people’s radar a kind of path previously absent. I suppose this logic is similar to Thoreau’s in Walden: “When we consider what, to use the words of the catechism, is the chief end of man, and what are the true necessaries and means of life, it appears as if men had deliberately chosen the common mode of living because they preferred it to any other. Yet they honestly think there is no choice left. But alert and healthy natures remember that the sun rose clear. It is never too late to give up our prejudices. No way of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof. What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true today may turn out to be falsehood tomorrow, mere smoke of opinion, which some had trusted for a cloud that would sprinkle fertilizing rain on their fields.”

I certainly have learned to see some “solid facts” and “only ways to do something” as mere smoke of opinion. I wonder if I fit Thoreau’s notion of “an alert and healthy nature?” If not, then add that to the list of reasons.

 

next addresses:

Michael Short // c/o General Delivery // Daleville VA 24083 // please hold for hiker // ETA Sept. 18th

NOTE: you’ll have to send that ASAP for it to reach me. if not, use this one:

Pearisburg VA 24134 // ETA Sept 22nd

Best to all,

-MKS

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