Disclaimer: Blah blah blah my thoughts. Blah Blah Blah not those of REI, the AMC, Greater Lowell Tech, etc. Yada yada Yoda.
Yeah, no posts for a while. But hey, I have two jobs. And I got more hours at REI, which I truly enjoy. Good, but at the same time, less time in Maine. Then again the weather never cooperates with me, so it evens out. Seriously, I had 4 days off, and it was either raining or 90 and humid. Or there was a snowstorm. So instead of detailing the adventures, I will just say I finished the NE67. I will do the “what I did on my summer vacation for a patch” post later. Right now, things need to be said. Oh yeah, I Instagram now. Kinda easier than a blog. Sometimes. I am still learning. Clicky the linky. ------------>
You see school started. That puts the brakes on those awesome trips. But someone has to teach the kids.
 |
| Do you follow Naturechola? Just one of the awesome Instagramers I follow. You should too. |
Oh and have I mentioned my awesome friends Ilse and Scott Dunbar. They accompanied my on my 67 finish and Scott was my photographer. I have awesome friends.
 |
| Now we feast. |
In my life as a hiker, I have been told many things. I have to do this, I have to do that. You’ll regret not doing this. Everyone loves that. OMG, how can you like that? I could go on. In a world where people are boasting of fastest known times and how they did X in Y, it is easy to feel deflated. Am I jealous. Maybe, but only of a select few who really deserve the credit for their hiking achievements. Those who are there for the social media glory, not so much. Those who shun or belittle those who are slower? Or faster? Well, I will let Karma deal with them. And anyone who says that someone should not be hiking because they are overweight or don’t seem fit? They will be surprised in the afterlife for sure.
 |
| Learn about LNT, do a short but strenuous hike after. |
Let’s face it. I am not a good hiker. I am slow. Like mile an hour slow. Sometimes slower. I ruin the enjoyment of others. I don’t do cardio exercise or run during the week to train and get faster. I take too long to do things. Sometimes, I don’t summit. I am overweight. I huff and puff. I often hike in shoes or trail runners. I also just completed the New England 67. So what I really want to say is...F@$k that noise. I’ve got 99 problems and my fitness for hiking ain’t 1.
 |
| Damn straight. |
Do I share my accomplishments? Yes. Do I get accolades? Yes. Do I have people tell me I am still not a good hiker or try to put me down? Oh yeah. Guess, what I may care for a bit, then I move on. However, I have been reacting to people saying things about other people. Notably people who are “slow.” Why? It hits close to home, but it also turns people off to hiking. Being told you are not good enough is very hard. Honestly, you are taking away someone’s joy, someone’s chance. I can’t hike with 99.9 percent of other hikers or groups. I understand the frustration.
 |
| Camping. It's in tents. |
 |
| This is my friend Chaya. She is an admin in BPS, an Outdoor Afro leader, and a team leader for the first African American Team up Kilimanjaro. See, I have awesome friends |
But there are other considerations. I have noticed that as some try to make the outdoors more inclusive, many have pushed back. I dropped a group because of their reaction to encouraging diversity in the outdoors. I have seen people question why people feel a need to celebrate their accomplishments and make known their real struggles. I have seen certain groups blamed for all problems in an area. To be sure, there has been a very definite air of inclusivity in the outdoors. Why? There is more enough room for all to enjoy. Believe me, there are those who should never leave their house. And so so so many need to be educated on how to behave in the outdoors. But we can do that. The outdoors belong to all,not just a few. Not everyone is on the same page,and that is fine. Some finished the NH48 in a single season. Some did it in a month. Others in a matter of days, in one long trip. And if you choose not to do it that way, but instead take your time, that is fine too. Hike your own hike. Only you can decide what is right for you.
 |
| The hiking world has lost some awesome people. Baha was a father to two great kids and an avid outdoors man. To celebrate his life, we have taken a Turkish hiking. This was Moriah for Flags on the 48. |
The hiking world is funny. We are told we have to do so many things, but does that make us happy? My best times in Baxter were not summitting Katahdin, I mean, I sprained my ankle and incurred Pamola’s wrath. They were slow, plodding treks to waterfalls and smaller peaks. Some were long, quiet, and yet sublime. Others were short and involved good friends. It is not the destination, it is the journey, the path that makes a hike a hike. Sometimes hard is good. Rain can be fun. A hike people love or a route people say you have to can be terror. Sometimes you can have fun in the attempt and feel pride when it is accomplished. Sometimes, you turn around. The hike everyone hates, can be your favorite. And “the rules,” they can be broken.
You want to know the real reason I am happy I finished the 67? So I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. No more timelines, no more deadlines. Just hike when I feel like it. Not worry about what others think. Hike on my own terms. No pressures.
That is what the journey has taught me.
