Try A Little Kindness

Hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2019.

I wanted to begin these blogs by addressing some of the underpinnings of my planned adventure on the three major hiking trails in the U.S.

A thru-hike is a significant undertaking. Untold numbers of people aspire to complete either the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail. Of the few that succeed in taking that first step on one of these trails, only a small percentage succeed in reaching the terminus. Fewer still complete all three. The number of people who accomplish the feat within a year is minuscule, indeed. Though I will give it my all, I am acutely aware that the odds are against me. I am not out to prove anything, but this will not be a casual stroll.

For some, the act of thru-hiking is an attempt to make friends among cohorts and the social aspects of the trail become a driving force for their hike. For others it can be a journey of self discovery or an effort to banish demons haunting them. Some take time to savor sunrises, paint scenes, write poetry and others hike it barefoot. A few stitch together the path, completing sections over the years as time allows. Then there are elite athletes who aspire to set records by covering the distance in as short a time as possible. The reasons for hiking are many and, as you may guess, there are critics for all of these types of hikes and any others that you might imagine.

Online criticism can be brutal and paralyzing. The easiest solution is to avoid notoriety by remaining silent. Herein lies my conundrum because my intention is to film my trek in order to bring awareness to a cause. In so doing I will be opening myself up to every naysayer on the planet. Of course these people have the option of simply not watching my vlog. Instead, some will spew negative vitriol with impunity. Criticism when constructive is appreciated. Hatred and bullying is not.

My solution is to proceed as if I am alone. Indeed, that will be the physical reality for much of my trip, however long it might last. I have no intention of following comments, good or bad while I am on the trail. If I am going to have a shot at completing this journey, I will need to maintain focus. Even if I wanted to read what people have to say, I won’t have the luxury of taking time to do so. I sincerely ask that followers try to maintain civility. I welcome comments. I’ll look forward to reading every one of them when I get home.