“He who would travel happily must travel light”
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The folks at Mountain Crossings might use this quote at the beginning of their famous shakedowns. And, it is appropriate, given that after their help we have hiked a little easier.
However, I think there is something else to be gotten from this phrase. The weight in your pack is not so important, I think, as the weight in your mind.
To truly hike happy (or travel in any way for that matter) you can’t carry too many troubles or too much worry.
You must just let your adventure happen, let it be. To use the words of another beloved poet traveler, you must take to the open road afoot and light-hearted.
Posts
Nik & Pete,
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Mike and Barbara ( your fashionista twin ) We meet on the AT near the Blue Mountain shelter back in GA over the New Year weekend. ( we are not actually exotic dancers :)Glad to hear you are still at it. You have my admiration since that one night in a tent sent me scuttling off to a Resort and Spa the next day. Mike is the hardcore camper/hiker so I am learning to struggle up and down mountains and endure fridgid temperatures to share the great outdoors with my man. We plan to hike the AT in a couple of years - I hope I will be ready. I guess you just have to take the jump!
Good luck, keep up the good work. I was going to email you the photo we took but can't figure out how to attach it. If you know how, let me know.
Barbara
I'm so glad you found my blog. It was very nice meeting you both. I've just gone through our pictures and posted the one of us on my Facebook.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, I've wanted to hit a spa over the trail many times. Have fun with the adventures.