Date: 2014-02-04
To: Why Am I Hiking?
Miles today: 0.0

Compared to many of the individuals that have posted on forums and blogs, I am probably one of the worst prepared physically to be attempting this enormous challenge. While some have been planning for months or even years and preparing themselves for the rigors, I only decided six weeks ago that I was going to do make this journey that stretches over 2,000 miles through 14 states.    Over the Christmas holiday, an old friend had traveled home to North Carolina from Oregon. We had not seen each other in years. When he had last seen me, I was back home after having spent a few months "off-grid" in the mountains of northern California recovering from what can be called extreme stress in the workplace or as we refer to it in the helping professions, "burnout". At that time I was in great health. I had lost weight in the mountains, my blood-pressure was in check, and I felt great. Unfortunately, the man my friend last saw was not the man he found this past Christmas. The man he found is extremely over-weight, having lost his personal vitality, his drive to pursue living. It is one thing to be alive, but it is yet another to LIVE!   After lunch, we just walked a couple miles with his girlfriend to stretch our legs. As I climbed over rocks and breathed in that crisp mountain air, I looked out over the horizon to the beauty of creation and some of the other mountains I had climbed in the distance and realized that I didn't just want to be alive anymore...I wanted to live again! I knew it was time for me to recharge, rejuvenate, revitalize, reinvigorate and to do that I would need to return... to the mountains.   Hiking the Appalachian Trail had been something I had talked about years ago, but the timing was never right. I either didn't have enough money saved, or I would be tied down to working and paying bills. This time everything just seemed to be falling into place. A 60 day notice with my employer and landlord would have me clearing up most of my responsibilities for an early March departure and a northbound hike... just the way I had always envisioned it. Also, I had some money saved up for a rainy day. In case you are wondering, when a man losing that "fire", as some would say the "will to live"... then everyday is a rainy day.   As I began to research I came across a website: http://www.hikeformentalhealth.org As a mental health professional, I got excited about the idea that a hike intended for my own personal physical and mental health might also be a catalyst to raise money for mental health research and treatment, so I volunteered. All donations are tax deductible, with 80% going to mental health research and treatment and 20% going to the preservation of wilderness trails. If you would like to help me reach my fundraising goal of $1,000 for mental health and trail preservation visit my link by copy and paste https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/hike/campaign.jsp?campaign=23&fundraiser=1592&team=243& For all the other thru hikers out there, I hope you will consider signing up at hikeformentalhealth.org so you too can be a fundraiser.   Everyone has their reason's for taking to the trail. For me, it was "the bucket list", the call of the mountains, the need to drastically lose weight and change my lifestyle, the need to gain perspective for my personal mental health, the desire to continue doing for others by raising money for causes I believe in through my hike, and a desire to walk closer to God spiritually. The other day I read a hikers blog expressing her desire to get others to follow her example of getting off the couch and losing weight. Whatever your reasons may be, I hope something you read from this blog inspires you unplug, get outside, immerse yourself in nature( even for a short while), improve your health, get closer to God, and live!