Finally – Why am I Hiking?

The Question

One week and counting. I am sitting here watching YouTube videos of those already on the trail. I am unpacking and repacking my gear because why not. Mentally, it still has not set in on the tremendous undertaking I am about to embark on. As I look back at my previous posts, there is one thing that is missing. I have been putting off writing about “Why am I Hiking”?

The question of “why” is one that every hiker must answer and one I have been struggling with for almost six months. Some of the answers that have come to mind are:

1. Because it’s there
2. It is challenging
3. I need to get away from society for awhile

The Answer

I think the answer for me comes back to a simple question: “Who am I”. This is a sidebar question I have been asking myself over the past year as I finished my 24 year career in the military. This question has come up daily over the past 12 months and is normally linked to people asking what’s next in life. Trying to marry up who I am and what I want to do has been on the mind for a while.

You would think at the mature age of 42, I would have answered the question of who I am by now. However, this is not the case. In the first 18 years of our lives, we are defined and shaped by our parents, family, and friends. Then, we spend the next 4-5 years in college or entering the workforce to refine and finalize who we are. For me, the military  told me who I would be for the next 24 years of my life.

It’s time to take the next 5-6 months to define who I am and who I want to be. Who knows if there will even be enough time to achieve this. However, it will be a good start.  Sorry this post is a short one. I promised in an earlier post to answer the “why” question and felt it was important to get it on paper before I leave.  As always, you can find me over on my Instagram page ( @chrisuscga01) with pictures from the trail.