Sunday, March 4, 2012


Preparing for - and Dreaming about - an AT Thru-hike
(A Look Back)

 

Rethinker's 2008
Appalachian Trail Journal



Saturday, March 08, 2008
Destination:
Starting Location:
Today's Miles: 0.00
Trip Miles:
0.00

I'm looking out the window at a blowing, wet snow here in Johnson City, TN and wondering about the hikers just a few miles away on the AT. Even though my hike begins from Springer on Mar. 18, I'm well aware that late Mar./early April weather includes these kinds of days.
Still looking forward to it!
Thanks to all the hikers who are journaling as they journey along the trail. Their tips and experiences are helping us who are preparing for the hike. One of my "projects" while on the trail is to begin a book, "Pilgrims of the Appalachian Trail". The theme of the writing will be an exploration of the "Why did you come to the trail? What are you looking to find?" questions.
Of course it will be the hikers who I meet along the way who provide words for the book. I'll simply record it. Again, looking forward to the experience.
Good luck to all those trudging along on this snow day. Hope some trail magic is waiting for you.

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
Henry David Thoreau
-Rethinker


********************


Such were my thoughts and musings four years ago.  Many are now preparing for an AT thru-hike with great anticipation and a degree of anxiety. What will it be like? Will I reach Katahdin?


Recently I published that book, but it’s title is different than planned: Rethinking Life on the Appalachian Trail: The 2008 Thru-hike of Rethinker. Yet, the questions asked are the ones mentioned – and so many more.


To those nearing the start date – Happy trails! I’ll be following you on journals and blogs.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/128008  All formats

http://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Life-Appalachian-Trail-ebook/dp/B0073UODPI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330878043&sr=8-1  Kindle format

Rethinking Life on the Appalachian Trail: The 2008 Thru-hike of "Rethinker"

Cover for 'Rethinking Life on the Appalachian Trail: The 2008 Thru-hike of "Rethinker"'

By Gary Bond
$4.99       
    Published: Jan. 30, 2012
Words: 61872 (approximate)
Language: English


Short description

Dreams of an AT thru-hike lay dormant for 30 years. After a period of rethinking life's course, Gary (trailname, "Rethinker") turned his dreams into a quest. Pages of the 2175-mile journey provide insight both into Nature's often disagreeable companionship and lessons learned from other partners of the trail. Walk along in this life-changing experience and discover the unexpected at journey's end.

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