">
I see blazes…everywhere!
Blazes and obsession
Since realizing sometime during the summer of 2014 that my thru hike (which has been on my “bucket list” for over 12 years) could become a reality, I have been somewhat obsessed. My Amazon recommendations list reads like a gear checklist, and I have acquired almost as many books about the trail as I have cookbooks (this is huge if you’ve seen my cookbook collection). Not generally a planner, I have found myself looking at mail drop options, meal plans, and food prep.
I have also been “chasing blazes”…
Recently, while on a road trip, I realized that the route I was taking by car was following the trail and the town I was visiting was 40 minutes from Clingman’s Dome. Of course, I took the drive out to the trailhead, passing NOC and snapped what is now my profile photo.
My “blaze chasing” continued last week, when I noticed something painted on a tree, in a park, in Budapest! The “blaze” was guiding the way through the park to a summit where the Liberty Statue overlooked the Danube and the Pest side of the city. Even across an ocean, I am finding blazes, thus cementing in my mind that this journey is as much about the mindset as the route itself…
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 1
When I saw that blaze I immediately thought of Europe…looks like the blazes I followed in Slovakia when hiking with my friends. They were like “you haven’t been here before– how do you know where you’re going?” “I”m following the blazes!”
I don’t remember seeing blazes like this in Budapest, though. Gellert Hill?