Epilogue

Beyond the Hike

I thought of the seven lessons the trail had taught me. This pilgrimage was important, yet I had learned not to take it too seriously. I had learned to take care of my body and to heed trail lore. I had learned to hike with passion, but not rush to the summit. I was surprised to learn how important performing trail magic is to achieving true happiness. And above all, I learned to hike my own hike.

I did it. I said I’ll do it, and I’ve done it.—Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, after climbing Katahdin at age 67 and becoming the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail

I wrote this book for many reasons, but there’s one reason I certainly did not write it for, and that’s to encourage people to thru-hike the CDT! Sadly, some will slam this book down and declare, “Alright! That’s it darlin’! We’re gonna hike that damn CDT and git ourselves some wisdom!”

I can only imagine all the angry emails telling me how thru-hiking sucks. People would wonder, “How did you manage to think any deep thoughts when you’re working your ass off all day long?”

The point is: don’t walk away from this book concluding that you should hike the AT. It’s a long hard trail that most people find insurmountable. On the other hand, the magnificent moments are phenomenal.

I do know that this has been the most amazing thing that I have ever done, and I have learned more than all my years of schooling in the past 143 days.—Windex, a solo female AT Nobo 2001

In many ways, a thru-hike is a microcosm of life. Its ups and downs are a metaphor for the emotional highs and lows of a lifetime. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the wisdom that one can accumulate over a lifetime is condensed into this intense multi-month odyssey. The advantage thru-hiking has over a lifetime is that you’re not dead at the end of the journey (unless a grizzly pounced you), so you can apply the wisdom you acquired on the thru-hike in your future journeys. The best way to get wisdom is to sink your teeth deeply into life.

Age doesn’t always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone.—Anonymous

Part of me was expecting that at the end of my pilgrimage there would be a big neon sign telling me everything I needed to know. However, the end itself did not offer any insights. Instead, all my lessons were scattered throughout my trek. Although I deliberately searched for the Principles on getting the most out of life, I discovered them in unexpected ways. Many pilgrims, on the other hand, had no specific quest or objective in mind. Yet they always learned something. Thru-hiking is exceedingly generous: no pilgrim leaves empty handed.

As I walked I would frequently talk to myself, constantly playing devil’s advocate to sharpen my thinking. Also, my babbling would reinforce the stereotype that most thru-hikers have a few loose screws upstairs.

You may have come across one or more chapters that had you saying, “But that’s obvious! Why don’t you tell me something I don’t know?” However, this book isn’t about inventing wacky new “principles.” It’s about reminding us of the fundamental Principles that already exist and stuffing them all in one book. As I wrote in the beginning, the Principles are not new, they have been with us over the ages.

All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.—Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

Moreover, if these Principles are so obvious, then why are there so many unhappy and unfulfilled people in the world? Knowing the Principles is one thing, figuring out practical ways of following them is another. Although thru-hiking inspired me to come up with many concrete steps on how to do that, there are certainly more ways. I hope to learn them and so that’s why I’m still hiking.

Also, abiding by these Principles is clearly not easy; otherwise, we would all be doing it. Part of the problem is that sometimes we get caught up with our day-to-day obligations and we forget to get perspective in life. This book is meant to reawaken us, to recalibrate our perspective. It’s that swift kick in the pants that sometimes we need to remind ourselves what we stand for.

Lastly, I expect some people to disagree with one or more of these Principles. Others will resist the whole book because they feel it’s too “prescriptive” or “packaged.” Nearly everyone will find something to quibble about somewhere in these pages. That’s why I stress to hike your own hike, including when it comes to using this book! Hiking your own hike doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t listen to other people’s advice. Countless hikers have advised me on what shoes I should wear, how often I should take a break, why it’s no fun hiking more than 25 miles a day, and where I should go to take a shower ASAP. I listened with an open mind, considered their advice deeply, incorporated some of their ideas, and then hiked my own hike. I encourage you to do the same. Therefore, if you’d rather just grab the ideas you like and toss the rest of this book into the campfire, then that’s your way of hiking your own hike and I respect that. However, instead of burning this book, consider doing something more constructive with it: use it as a handy doorstop.

From the moment I picked your book up until I laid it down, I convulsed with laughter. Someday I intend reading it.— Groucho Marx

A multi-month odyssey is an amazing experience, and should be carefully placed in the river of your life. These journeys are like high bridges along the river. They are parts where you get off the rapids, and observe the river of your life from above. You’ll gain a unique perspective that is almost impossible to see in your everyday life.

I believe that all humans can use something like a thru-hike every five to 10 years. It doesn’t have to be a thru-hike. It could be a six month sabbatical in Asia, or a three month break in the Caribbean, or backpacking through Europe for two months. It doesn’t really matter what you do, except that you get away to experience something you’ve never experienced before, and do it for at least one month. Go wander and learn.

All action begins in rest.—Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism

It’s not healthy to do the same thing all the time for 40 years. We all could use a break; and not just a two week vacation, but a two month vacation. The more time off, the better. Many say they can’t afford it, but can you afford not to? It costs less than you think. Our four month trek cost less than $5,000. That’s less than most couples spend on a two week vacation in Greece or a cruise. Granted, we weren’t exactly staying at the Ritz, but there are inexpensive lodging options throughout the world. It’s understandable why most of us don’t realize this since 80 percent of Americans still don’t have a passport. Get one and go.

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.—W. M. Lewis

Most adults have major responsibilities that impede them from taking time off. You probably have a job, a mortgage, a spouse, kids, and a mother-in-law. There are a few solutions.

First, solve the housing issue. Selling your property is an easy way to take care of your mortgage. Perhaps you’ve been looking for an excuse to sell your property and move to another neighborhood or even another country. Perhaps you’ve discovered that your passion is theatre or financial services, so you need to move to New York City. Or you’re fond of scuba diving or rainforest preservation, so you move to Borneo and live like royalty. However, most of us don’t want to leave our home permanently, so that’s when renting it for a few months can solve the mortgage issue. Although your rental income may not cover your entire mortgage, it probably can help so that your adventure is not so costly. There are housing exchange programs, where you can swap houses for the summer with a family in Europe, for example. For those who rent, sublet your place. If you can’t, then consider moving out and putting your stuff in storage. When you return, you can try a new neighborhood. Change is good.

A common reason for not taking two or more months off is that kids make it impossible. Yet, kids show us every year that it is possible! They take about three months off from their studies every year. I’ve met a few father and son hiking teams. Maybe you can section hike the CDT over two summers.

I never knew a man go for an honest day’s walk for whatever distance, great or small, and not have his reward in the repossession of his soul.—George Macaulay Trevelyan, British historian, 1876—1962

Of course, the CDT is only one adventure. You might want to kayak the Missouri River and relive the journey of Lewis and Clark. Some would rather bike around Europe. Perhaps sailing around the world appeals to you; or staying in a cheap bungalow in the South Pacific; or simply moving somewhere remote for the winter like that psycho in the Shining.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in the sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.—Mark Twain

You can always come up with excuses as to why you can’t do what you’ve always dreamed. People do this all their lives, and then, near the end of their lives, they are filled with regret. I don’t want to suffer this fate, and I hope my walk has inspired you to take action now. Create an Inflection Point in your life today.

God bless all who inspired me. To those that followed this trip, please find a journey for yourself and start immediately to follow your dream.—Tumbleweed, AT Nobo 2001 Thru-hiker’s final journal entry

If you follow the Seven Principles, you will immediately begin getting the most out of life. You won’t have to wait long to feel the benefits—you’ll feel them today. I’ve seen friends go through therapy, and one of my frustrations is to see how long it takes. I feel like the shrink is telling them the Samuel Goldwyn line: “Give me a couple of years and I’ll make you an overnight success.”

We can’t afford to wait a couple of years. You must start squeezing the most out of life today. Squeeze it as hard as you can so you can drink every drop.

Those are my principles. If you don’t like them, I have others.—Groucho Marx

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