Sunday, August 14, 2016

Pain, Rain and Maine.


No Pain, No Rain, No Maine.
–Appalachian Trail saying. 
 
Talking with those AT thru hikers that pass through this region in early spring, there are days they wake up to knee-deep snow or weeks when the rain just won't stop. Still the hardy and determined (and possibly insane) trudge on, though the weather will thin their ranks. I appreciate what they do and admire them, but I like my comfy bed and hot shower too much to ever do what they do. Six months is a long time to sleep out of doors. And 2,180 miles is a lot of miles to walk. I often ask them why they're out there. It seems you can put the thru-hikers into two camps: those who say they do it for the bucket-list-worthy, physical challenge of the trek and those who've come to clear their minds and get back in touch with nature. For both groups the pain and rain on the way to Maine is an essential part of this challenging and cleansing experience.

Above: The Appalachian Trail as it crosses the summit of Unaka Mountain in eastern Tennessee. 

1 comment:

  1. Mark, The bogs with log-paths were quite a challenge in 1980. Long stretches of nothing but logging roads. Mosquitoes: Maine State Bird. The pristine beauty of Lower Mary Jo Lake (south of Katahdin) with white sandy
    shores (and a resident mink or weasel) made a great camping spot, even if the ranger did almost catch us fishing with a safety pin and chopped-up clams! I have so many wonderful memories of that trip... I love your AT photography. Blessings, KR/HC (formerly of NY3)

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