Share Our Journey

When I was working, my free time was very limited. During the week, I would make a promise to myself to get out and hit some trails but by the time the weekend rolled around, I would be just too tired.  We did, however, set aside a 4-day weekend every Fall to make the 5 to 6 hour trek with our friends up to Baxter State Park  where we unplugged and immersed ourselves in the majestic & serene beauty of Northern Maine.

We hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail and marveled at the AT thru-hikers, jealously admiring their scraggy hair and trail-worn boots, knowing that in a few hours they would be celebrating the official end of their 2,190-mile journey at the top of Mt. Katahdin.

David & good friend Ray climbed BSP’s 5,269-foot Katahdin one year, returning to our base camp 8 hours later – bloodied, exhausted, but excited that their camera worked and they had digital proof of their expedition. They’ve climbed other peaks since but nothing compared to the Katahdin experience.

Long before the pandemic hit (COVID – 19) and just before I retired, hiking the trails north of Boston was on my bucket list. I had taken numerous walks in the woods without much purpose other than spending a few hours outdoors enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.  I never imagined we would find over 75 local trails with such different terrains. How could this be possible – I mean really, once you get off the pavement and hit the dirt trails shouldn’t everything look pretty much the same – trees, ponds, and some birds? No, actually, what we found was that every trail had its own “woodsy” personality. Some trails were flat, some filled with roots & rocks, some with towering pines & birches, and others with low brush & briers. With the help of my brother Bob & sister-in-law Wendy, I have increased my outdoor knowledge from a Level 2 – Basic Competence, to a Level 4 – Beyond the Basics (from Dan Thurmon’s blog, The Five Levels of Learning). He encourages people to “live off – balance on purpose.” The idea encourages you to look at your experiences through a different lens – shifting your normal perspective and opening a space for personal growth – I really like that.

I have yet to become an AT Thru-hiker, but I would say that since we started in March 2020, my fitness level has improved a good 60 %, and my endurance has increased at least 70 %. Our first hike was about 1.5 miles and a couple of our longest, 6.5 miles. I am not out there to break any speed records – I tend to linger & absorb what’s around me. I take lots of photos – much to my brother’s chagrin – okay, maybe to the chagrin of everyone I hike with. But those photos are worth it – every one of them – because they are proof of this new leaf I am turning.