Two Halves of a Whole Idiot

Bryson said it best “hiking was a tiring, dirty, pointless slog between distantly spaced comfort zones.” And I found it’s much harder to find someone to thru hike than I thought. I spent a while actively searching for somone to join me on a “small walk, through 14 states, for 2190+ miles.” Turns out when you put it that way, not many get very gung-ho about the idea of it. Who knew?

Over the summer my dad was actively looking for a companion for me, despite my insistence that it wasn’t needed. My exact words “I’m almost 30. No, I will not take a gun. I can take care of myself. I don’t need a bathroom buddy to hold my hand.” ” His ideas: 1) a goof that had no plans whatsoever of hiking anywhere and 2) a freewheeling, gun wielding, ex-cop, hippie older woman. Um, thanks, Dad, but i’ll have to take a pass.

NO, Dad. Just no.

NO, Dad. Just no.

My mindset on a partner, despite everyone’s demanding that I have one, was that if the trail wanted me to have a partner it would provide one for me. Call it romanticism, blind faith, whatever you want. I didn’t just say it but firmly believed it. You cannot will or want a person to thru hike. It has to be something they feel, like a stirring, like the flutter of hummingbird’s wings in their chest.

When my best friend chose to join me for a week on the trail, I accepted with gusto. I knew she would need, more or less, the same gear for a short stint as I would need for the long haul. And that slowly transformed into a month, a few months, into “We are going all the way. Together.”

Here’s the thing about a lifelong best friend. They are like a good bra: supportive, they lift you up, they make you feel good about yourself, they hold things together.

Not like this,just fyi.

Not like this,just fyi.

Another thing: a best friend will never let you do anything alone.

0f9fba60a388a63e8aa62a0c2d104b3c

If someone had told us then the rollercoaster of emotions that such a choice can cause, I wonder would we still have decided to undertake such a journey? Or maybe the journey chose us long before we knew. It’s safe to say that even though we have yet to set foot on the trail together that we are already riding the wave of feelings that come with it all. It’s an ebb and flow, a crest and then a break. Washing us in before pulling us back out beyond safety. Cursing the slowness of the calendar then begging it to slow down so that we can catch our breath if only for a moment.

Basically.

Basically.

A week may find one of us totally sure of herself while the other is doubting her decisions, doubled over anxious. We’ve learned to accept this and let the emotions teach us what to expect about the rollercoaster of emotion that lies in wait for us. It may the hardest thing we ever do, but it will be but a blink, a moment in time, if only we can choose to remember that.

There have been questions. “What if she doesn’t go? What if she backs out? Will you go it alone?” Identical on both ends. Worries, that are well intentioned, but still sting. I knew how I was answering but I couldn’t say the same for her until a few nights ago when it came up in conversation. Our answers, coming from two halves of the same brain, “Of course I would go alone. But we are in this together.” Worries abated.

Where at first this trip was about an adventure and a once in a lifetime journey it has started to sink in that this is more than just going to be wild girls in the woods. The only people we will have to rely on is each other. We both know and don’t know what lies ahead, we just know that this is a trip we were meant to make together. The highs, the lows, the breathtaking, the heart stopping, the smiles, the tears, the warts, bumps, and all.

“Do you think there will be a moment we don’t hike together?” She asked me. I expect there to be moments where we may drift apart, just stay in our own thoughts, our own space, our own world. Do I see myself finishing without her? I can say this: If for some reason she had to quit I know she would want me to keep going and vice versa but there has never been a moment where I doubted her presence until the end.

This trip has become something of a tale of endurance. Our friendship survived playgrounds & monkey bars, elementary school and awkward stages, adult life and life in two different states. What is 6 months, some mountains, and a lot of long miles in comparison? If Bryson & Katz can survive together on nothing but good humor and smart-assery we’ve got this one in the bag.

Dibs on being Katz.

Dibs on being Katz.

Affiliate Disclosure

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

Comments 18

  • Jeremy Morris : Dec 1st

    Great post! Inspirational! I think you two will fair much better than Bryson and Katz. Can’t wait to see you out there somewhere between MA and VA!

    Also. Great last name. A surname of true nobility.

    Reply
    • Kimmy Morris : Dec 1st

      Thank you! Hoping we do better than Bryson & Katz! I don’t plan to do any driving!

      Reply
  • xxx : Dec 1st

    Right here is the perfect site for anyone who would
    like to understand this topic. You know so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really will need to…HaHa).
    You definitely put a new spin on a subject which has been written about for years.
    Wonderful stuff, just wonderful!

    Reply
  • RavenWhale : Dec 4th

    Great job on your blog! I really like your writing style. I will be on the trail a couple of weeks ahead of you. I am stepping off on Feb 25th. Keep up with the preparations, training and blogging. Take care and I will see you down the trail. ~ RavenWhale ~

    Reply
  • คลิปโป้ : Jan 11th

    What’s up, just wanted to say, I enjoyed this blog post.
    It was funny. Keep on posting!

    Reply
  • ดูหนังโป๊ : Jan 11th

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts about คลิปหลุด.
    Regards

    Reply
  • xxx : Jan 22nd

    excellent put up, very informative. I wonder why the
    other specialists of this sector don’t realize this. You should continue your writing.

    I’m sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!

    Reply
  • free movies : May 7th

    Wοw, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    үou madе ƅlogging look easy. The overalⅼ looҝ of your wеƅ site is
    excellent, as well as the content!

    Reply
  • porn video : May 20th

    Hi theгe just wanted to give yߋu a quick hеads up.

    Thе text in yοᥙr post seem to be running off the
    screen in Chrome. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with web browѕer compatibilіty but I figured I’d post to let you know.
    The design loοk great thօugh! Hope you get the issue solved
    soon. Thanks

    Reply
  • free porn : May 21st

    Fantastіc website you have here but I was wonderіng if you knew of any message Ьoards that cover thе same topics
    tɑlked abοut here? I’d really ⅼⲟve to be a part of community where I can get advice from other experienceɗ indiviԀuals tһat share the sɑme interest.
    If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Bless you!

    Reply
  • ดูคลิปโป๊ : May 23rd

    Tһis piece of writing gives clear idea designed for
    the new people of bloǥgіng, tɦat truly how
    to do running a blog.

    Reply
  • xxx : May 24th

    Very shοrtly this site will be famous amiⅾ all blogging people,
    duᥱ to it’s nice articles

    Reply
  • คลิปโป : May 26th

    I truly love ʏour blog.. Pleasant colors & theme.
    Diԁ you ɗeveⅼop this web site yourself? Please replʏ back as I’m trying to
    create my own personal blog and would lіke to find out where you got
    tɦis frоm or just what the theme is called.
    Many tɦanks!

    Reply
  • ดูคลิปโป๊ : May 28th

    Hellо, all the timе i used to check website posts here in the early hours in tһe morning, since i enjoy to learn more and more.

    Reply
  • คลิปโป : May 29th

    Ꮋi there would you mіnd letting me know
    whiсh webhost you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different
    web browsers ɑnd I must saу this blog loads a
    lot faster then moѕt. Can you sᥙggest a good hoѕting provider at a
    reasonable price? Cheers, I appreciate it!

    Reply
  • คลิปโป้ : May 31st

    Ꭲhere’s certainlу a lot to find out about thiѕ issᥙe.
    I really like all of thе points yօu made.

    Reply
  • porn movies : May 31st

    Ѕomebody necessɑrily help to make critically articles I’d ѕtate.
    That is the very first time I frequented your web page and so far?
    I surpriѕed with the analysis you made to create this actual pubⅼish incredible.
    Fantastic actіvity!

    Reply
  • คลิปโป : Jun 13th

    I know this website provides quality depending aгticles
    or reviews and otheг data, is there any other site whiϲh provides these things in quality?

    Reply

What Do You Think?