Is the Why really that important?

‘Let me get this straight.

You’re planning on flying halfway round the world and upon landing you’re going to just…walk?

Every single day you’ll cover a half marathon in distance while gaining (and losing) 1000m in elevation?’ 

The next question that invariably follows is, I think, obvious to us all. It is, why the fuck would you do that?

Simon Sinek does a much better job than I ever could in explaining the importance of ‘why’. Simply put, humans have an intrinsic need to understand why things are the way they are. Once we can grasp the purpose of something, our brains are then ready, willing and able to get on board with what is to follow.

My Why

I’ve read so many great blogs on this site and have always been impressed by the strong drivers that people have for taking on a long distance trail. To prepare everyone tuning in, my own reasons for wandering are less glorious or powerful than most.

I’ve spent most of my life wandering in the woods. My father introduced me to hiking at a very young age, and before I reached double figures, I had a pack on my back, ready to spend the night out in nature with only a thin piece of material between us and the elements. These early forays into the wild gave me the impression that it was entirely normal to leave your comfortable home, get driven out to the end of some dirt road, many hours from civilisation, and then walk for kilometres until reaching a clearing where you could put up a tent and eat whatever food you carried out with you (and desperately hoping Dad had not forgotten the chocolate).

This wandering continued throughout my teenage years, and as I grew, the hikes became longer (sure, let’s go out for a week, sounds great!), tougher terrains were introduced (climb up this mountain covered in ankle deep mud, what fun!), and the challenge of varied weather became more commonplace (winter hiking, what could be better!).

Moving into my 20’s, leaving home did not diminish my now very well entrenched urge to explore wherever I was on two feet. I spent a lot of time travelling the world after university (avoiding the transition to the most dreaded of all the four letter words…work), and was always keen to find hikes to do wherever I landed.

So you could safely say that the patterns were now well established, and my childhood enjoyment of hiking had been solidified into a lifelong desire to spend time in the wilderness.

OK, so Why Thru-Hike? 

Of course, while this jaunt down memory lane gives some context to why I enjoy being outside, it doesn’t really answer why you would want to spend months roughing it on tough trails, does it?

We all have primary motivators. Deep seeded values, drivers of behaviour, what makes us tick. My motivatiors are to feel free and to be happy. Both of these ideals are very subjective, and what makes me feel free and happy will be entirely different to others.

When I am out on a long distance trail, both of my primary motivators are met and my cup is full. I feel completely free and unencumbered, and I am able to find happiness in the simplest of things. It could be an amazing view, a beautiful tree, spotting wildlife, falling water, the list is endless. 

I absolutely love arriving at the campsite after a day of hiking. I thoroughly enjoy setting up my tent, making my bed (well, blowing up an inflatable mattress and pillow while decompressing my down quilt), cooking my entirely inadequate meal both in terms of caloric count and nutritional value, and stretching my broken body. All while convincing myself that the various injuries I’m nursing, the hunger that I’m feeling, and the falling temperatures I’m experiencing are all great life lessons with deep philosophical meaning. 

I enjoy the planning and research that I do while on trail. Staring at my tiny phone screen, studying the map, reading whatever app/pdf/downloaded website I have that gives me an idea of where I will sleep the next day, where food will next be found, and what I might expect to enjoy in regard to views, waterfalls and so on. 

And the stats. Give me all your stats for the day! Garmin, tell me how I’ve done. Was my cadence on point? Did I crack a new elevation gain record? I did how many kilometres in hour 3? Is your heart rate meant to be able to get that high at my age? The gamification of hiking is a wonderful addition to the craziness of long distance hiking, distracting from the screaming pain of my quads.

Now You Know

So, as you were warned, my why is not one that rivals the amazing drivers that many other hikers have. I just really enjoy being out in nature, feeling free and smiling at various things that happen throughout the day. 

I am a month away from hopping on a large metal tube that will hurtle though the air over an ocean at great speed. Looking forward to sharing the journey with you all on The Trek!