Mark Twain Said It Better

“Never put off until tomorrow what may be done the day after tomorrow just as well.”― Mark Twain

Dear gentle readers, I am alive. But not hiking as much as I want nor as much as I should. There are reasons, but they often ring as excuses. Regardless, this year has been difficult for both Nightingale and myself in regards to health. I still make plans to hike the AT. But I was never going to be a full-fledged thru-hiker and now I am not sure if I can honestly call myself an AT section hiker. Each year I realize more and more that I probably will not complete the trail. Of course, then I read about Grey Beard completing the trail at 91 – for a second time and I imagine if I can just live until I am 92! I will still try to complete the trail as a section hiker, but I am nothing if not a realist. For now, I guess I am someone who just hikes the AT. I suppose I am a “SHAT” – Sometimes Hikes the Appalachian Trail!

For most of the first half of the year, both of my hips ached daily, often starting as soon as I woke up each morning. I could not day hike and could barely do regular yardwork. I pushed through the pain some days and other days, I didn’t want to move. By July, however, I was ready to take on our annual trip to San Francisco to visit our daughter, son-in-law, and our grand-kitty, Milo. Nightingale and I made a side quest to Lassen Volcanic National Park. And we hiked. We made a diversion to Mount Shasta and we hiked. I know we were near where the PCT passes under Interstate 5, but I passed on that opportunity this time.

The summer came and went, still without passing a White Blaze. Both of us have had various medical appointments and now it looks like we can still manage a short AT hike before the snow falls. I considered picking up where I left off on the Tye River, VA or in Duncannon, PA. However, my son, Matt asked about going along and bringing my grandson, Lucas, aka Treacherous, for his first AT hike. He got that trail name when he was about 6 or 7 because he always in his words wanted to take the “treacherous” part of the trail on day hikes; that is over the rocks and mud. He is now 12 and ready for a more authentic AT hike, overnight and staying in shelters.

I thought picking up at one of the sections that would give me new miles might be too “treacherous” for Treacherous. So, we are going to take it easy on him and repeat some of my miles in Maryland over a long weekend. We will start in Harper’s Ferry at the ATC Center to make it an “official” start to his AT section hiking. This is where both his father and I started our section hike in 2019; just seems like the best way for him to start. Nightingale will even spend a night camping with us  and of course, bringing along some family trail magic!

Thru-hiking or section hiking is like life… In Mark Twain’s words: “There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility. Inside of the dullest exterior there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy.” There has never been an uninteresting hike. There is always plenty of drama, a lot of comedy, and hopefully, only a bit of tragedy. So, here we go on another interesting  hike.