Date: 2014-04-18
From: muskrat shelter

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 12.5

Started out this morning from vicinity of Muskrat Shelter. Weather was supposed to be nice at last check (60s and sun). That changed fast by mid-morning. Cloudy and cold most of the day. Inbound hiker began telling about large rain system on the way, due about 3pm. Still had to get over 5400 ft Standing Indian Mountain at three miles beyond that to get to campsite. Picked up the pace and got to camp, got set up just as the rain arrived about 3:45. Covered 12.5 miles altogether in 6.5 hours.People are out here for many reasons. No Rush, a professional painter by trade, is out here to decide if he is going to continue painting new condos or pivot to something different. He's thinking about it on the walk. Met a professional musician, "Stumblelina" (see video). She has played around the world, including Madison. She is walking to spur creative side for her next album.People seem to fall into a few categories. There are those going through some sort of transition: leaving a job, a relationship, retired recently, or changing occupation. Then there are those who are trying to find themselves. These folks are usually in their early to mid-20s. Some are here to beat the trail. They move fast. You see them then they are gone, or you see them blistered or injured a few miles down the trail. Harvard professors Ron Heifitz and Marty Linsky have written several books on adaptive leadership. The AT is an interesting social system where many of the concepts come to life. Ron and Marty posit there are two types of problems in the world: technical problems and adaptive challenges. We only have answers to technical problems. We apply known techniques and repertoires to the issue and we can solve it. We don't have the answers to an adaptive challenges, we have to learn them. Successfully addressing adaptive challenges requires reflecting, rethinking and relearning new ways of doing things and being in the world. It requires reassessing values, challenging default assumptions, and learning ways to adapt to changing realities. The AT presents both adaptive challenges and technical problems.You can't solve an adaptive challenge with a technical solution. On the AT, technical solutions (gear) is only half the battle. Just as with any endeavor in life there are attitudinal, physical, mental, and emotional capacity challenges people have to derstand and learn the responses to. Many are finding that out, especially in these couple days of snotty weather events (high wind, rain, and upper thirties at the moment). There some hardy folks up here. Most all are really nice too (offering food to those running out, getting water for those with bad blisters, etc. It's an interesting social system. All have the same goal, but going at it in their own way. It is a collaborative network with a diverse array of skills that becomes interdependent as nobody has all the answers. Some know how to make in the woods, some the are doctors, physical therapists, some know the hostels, some are funny, some serious who provide discipline to the unstructured types. Many people here are working on adaptive challenges in their lives. Everyone is working on both technical problems (gear)and adaptive challenges (attitude, rethinking assumptions about hiking in the south, finding out what worked them in the past is not working for them now. etc on the trail. Some come here with a repertoire that has worked for them before. What I have seen is the mountain always wins if you don't adapt to changing conditions. The best gear does matter if you don't use it smart. Those who find their pace and discipline themselves to adhere to it do the best. Middle age and older folks are a bit slower, but always make the miles. I see younger folks pushing it an nursing blisters a few days.