Telling the Boss

I’m excited. I’ve been refining gear, pouring over maps, planning out potential stops and maildrops, BUT telling the boss or the school board in my case is hanging out there. I don’t want to do it. Not at all.

I’ve been a teacher and a principal/superintendent in the same small rural school district for 21 years. It’s going to be tough telling those school board members, “I’m resigning at the end of the school year.” School superintendents don’t resign to thru-hike the Continental Divide Trail; they resign to move up to a larger or more affluent school district.

My personal qualities of loyalty, perseverance, and determination have served me well as I struggled through the ups and downs of leading a school district. Getting up and grinding through the next day is a given. It’s just what you have to do.

It is time to tell the board. I’m at a trail crossing in my life. My path is too sedentary, too stressful, too consuming. I don’t desire to kill myself with my current job, so it’s time to get out and clear my head.

Between two pine trees

Between two pine trees

It’s time to spend my days walking and being consumed thinking about what I’m going to eat and where I’m going to sleep. Time to stand in the sun, the wind, and the rain and wonder at the glory.

 

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Comments 10

  • BunnyHikes : Oct 9th

    I get it …. totally get it.

    Best of luck giving them the news that your path has changed.

    Can’t wait to follow your CDT adventures!

    Reply
  • BunnyHikes : Oct 9th

    and I’m looking forward to seeing what else makes it onto your gear list.

    Reply
    • Michael Sweet : Oct 9th

      Working on the gear list! I’ll be adding more in the upcoming days.

      Reply
  • Linda Vance : Oct 10th

    Why southbound? I live/work in Montana now and used to work in SW Colorado. Southbound on the CDT strikes me as a guarantee of challenging weather, with difficult snow conditions and high water in N. Montana and afternoon thunderstorms all through Colorado. Is it because you will be getting a “late” start because of the school year?

    Reply
    • Michael Sweet : Oct 10th

      Yep. I understand all that. It’s all because of my job. School ends on June 9th, and I’m hoping to make it to Glacier and the trail by June 16th. I’m planning on starting from Chief Mountain to avoid issues with the Highline Trail. Yogi’s CDT guidebook has the tales of a couple southbounders that I’ve been reading, and I’ve found a few more online. It is a guaranteed cold walk. The days will be growing shorter instead of longer and the elevation will get higher. If I don’t make the San Juans before the snow, I’ll take the Creede Cut-off and come back later.

      I’d love to make it in a continuous hike, but if I don’t it’s okay.

      Reply
  • Peg Leg : Oct 10th

    Good for you and best wishes “telling the “boss”. I am jealous! Keep us posted how it goes!

    Reply
    • Michael Sweet : Oct 11th

      Thanks, Peg Leg! I will keep you posted. You can connect directly to my blog, so you never miss a post!

      Reply
  • sharkbytes : Oct 24th

    you have the fever- I can tell

    Reply
  • sharkbytes : Oct 24th

    PS- I want a personal tour of your pack

    Reply
    • Michael Sweet : Oct 25th

      I’m tuning it in, and I’d love to give you a personal tour of it. If we can’t get a hike in before the Michigan guns begin blazing, for sure we need to have a spring one. I’ll be trying out a few pieces before making final decisions. (Of course, I’ll have Michelle on stand-by to mail me anything I leave behind.)

      And yeah, I have the fever.
      Forever wander. Welcome back home.

      Reply

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