Tag trail

What’s on Your Mind While You Trek?

Reg Spittle Leave a comment

Whether I am doing a day hike or trekking to the top of Mount Whitney, there are times when I forget where I am for a time. My mind wanders to countless places, even if I am walking through some of the greatest scenery in the world.

What are three things I think (daydream) about when I am walking in my Altra Olympus trail runners?

  1. I replay places and events from previous distance treks.
  2. I take a musical journey with a favorite playlist on my AirPods (I only do this on day hikes.).
  3. I replay something else from my life, sometimes a regret. (I try not to do this.)

In an article on The Trek website, Emma Ramsey asked eight thru-hikers to list three things they think about on the trail.

Unwell (trail name), in photo, above, from Topeka, Kansas, listed these:

  1. Interesting things about the insects she sees on the trail. The ins and outs of butterfly lives.
  2. How crazy it is that trail angels are so willing to help when we are willingly homeless.
  3. Excitement for the future/replaying the past.

Click on the link to read the lists from the other seven trekkers.

What would be on your list?

Tackling the Appalachian Trail (sort of)

Reg Spittle 2 Comments

While in the eastern U.S., Sue and I just had to walk the Appalachian Trail. Not all 2,135 miles of it and not even the 544 miles of the AT that runs through Virginia.

The Massie Gap Trail in Grayson Highlands State Park took us up to the AT, where we witnessed some of the best views of the entire iconic trail, according to our state parks guide. And a rhododendron forest that hadn’t bloomed despite it being late April. There was not a wild pony in sight either, despite warnings not to feed them.

We saw a couple of northbound thru hikers with medium-sized backpacks, but they sped by too quickly for us to ask how far they were going. Then we came to a group of 15 or so adults and teen-agers laden with huge backpacks.

“You must be going a long way,” Sue asked them. ”Yep,” said a woman leading the group. “We’re out for three days!”

We are proud to say we walked the Appalachian Trail, at least a couple miles of it in southwestern Virginia.