What is the medicine for these unpredictable and revolutionary times? Well… one sure-fire way that helps me center and ground is to GO OUTSIDE. My unfailing remedy has always been to simply take a walk. And when I really need a remedy for life… I go for a walk in the woods for several days….or maybe several months.
I must need guidance these days because the Universe has presented me with a wonderful opportunity to GO OUTSIDE. A friend asked if I would like to hike for three hundred miles on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia with her. Of course I said YES!…as this trail is dear to my heart. YuP from March 16, 2010 to September 15, 2010 “Rabid,” (my trail name), plodded her way north 2,180 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Katahdin, Maine. Thru-hiking the AT changed the way I lived forever. I learned many, many things. Especially… Nature is the best Medicine.
It has been two years since I have been on the trail for three weeks or more. I have been living a lot of the time in the flat-lands and I feel completely out of backpacking shape. I dance every day, do yoga and I am now a regular in the local Zumba class (Thanks Cookie!) but climbing mountains with 25+ pounds on my back….uh….. well, it has been a while. Our itinerary is moderate at first and I trust that we will be just fine and in perfect backpacking shape by the time we are finished…lol. And my gear…well…it was brand new about 3000 miles ago….and smelled WAY better back then. Not to mention being in a storage unit for the past two years. Ugh.
However, I absolutely cherish this occasion to GO OUTSIDE….to breathe deeply…revel in the silence of the mountains and gaze up at the infinite stars at night. Is it a convenient time in my “busy schedule” to take off a month plus planning time? Hell no. Do I feel like I have properly trained for such a journey? Seriously? HA. Double Haha. But…. How could I possibly turn down this opportunity!???
Tomorrow morning we leave for Virginia. We will be hiking south, amid the thru-hiker masses making their way north. I am as prepared as I can possibly be under the circumstances. I TRUST. I am on a magical journey and know that we are guided and protected as the Universe goes before us preparing our way… What a gift. Thank you!
See ya later alligator…
[*Here is a link to the blog I wrote almost every day for the entire length of my 6 month hike…Scroll to the bottom and click “Older Posts” until you get to the beginning: http://rabidhiker.blogspot.com]
