Date: 2017-01-11
To: Trail Fears
Miles today: 0.0

¢The woods were full of peril¢rattlesnakes and water moccasins and nests of copperheads; bobcats, bears, coyotes, wolves, and wild boar; loony hillbillies destabilized by gross quantities of impure corn liquor and generations of profoundly unbiblical sex; rabies-crazed skunks, raccoons, and squirrels; merciless fire ants and ravening blackfly; poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, and poison salamanders; even a scattering of moose lethally deranged by a parasitic worm that burrows a nest in their brains and befuddles them into chasing hapless hikers through remote, sunny meadows and into glacial lakes.¢ - Bill Bryson, A Walk in the WoodsAs I¢ve told more and more people about my trip, I get the inevitable questions about bear attacks, crazy ax murderers, and getting swept off the mountains by a freak gale. They are all genuine concerns, and I appreciate the concern and the thought that people want to look out for me. In reality, those things that seem to spell inevitable doom for any wishing to attempt a thru-hike as Bryson puts it, don¢t really worry me. Bears don¢t seem to bother people on the AT and I feel like I¢m as likely to get murdered anywhere else as on the trail. But, I thought I would take the opportunity to lay out some of my personal fears and concerns for the coming year.The one trail hazard that I do want to be vigilant about is the weather. Winds commonly knock trees over, you can be exposed to lightning on some of the ridges, and rainy/snowy conditions put you at risk for hypothermia if you¢re not careful. Not all of this can be avoided (last year a tree fell on a shelter), but with preparation and awareness, you can be smart and keep yourself out of harms way. I¢ll have a compass, clothes plenty warm enough, fire-starters, and a trail-guide all to keep me informed and on the trail safely. My health is also a big concern going into this trip. My age does not seem to reflect my body sometimes. I¢ve had minor issues with my knee since running a race late 2015. I¢ve been to the doctor, who didn¢t seemed to concerned and offered me some stretches and exercises to follow to keep it healthy, but the pain is there all the same. I¢ve not had any issues hiking on it so far, and I still have my full range of motion. That being said, I¢m afraid to see where I¢ll be at a few weeks in. My plan is to take it slow to start and keeping stretched out. I also have minor issues with my back and shoulders, but they seem to be non-factors when I¢m hiking.And like any good vagabond, one of my other concerns is money. It¢s no secret that I do not live a very profitable lifestyle travelling very often, and that means I¢m not going onto the trail with much wriggle room in my budget. On the flip side, I have a lot of practice living the ¢budget¢ lifestyle. I don¢t think I¢m too bad at it . I might not get to sleep at the nice hotels when I hit town all the time, but I feel confident I have enough to make it through the trail. All risks and concerns considered, I¢m still very optimistic about my time on the trail. My goal is to thru-hike the entire trail, but I know there are somethings that are out of my control. I am here chasing after one of my dreams, and that¢s what I care about. I¢m willing to take the risks knowing that failure is a very real possibility. If that happens, it happens. I¢ll reassess and try again or move onto something else. We¢ll hope I don¢t have to worry about that. Here¢s to a long and happy hike .