September 14, 2003 - The dawn broke clear and colorful, unexpected from the evening’s forecast of clouds and rainy skies. Strips of cloud banded the eastern horizon providing canvas for the sun’s morning light. Reds and purples faded to yellows and greens as the day grew lighter. It’s time to write down some of what I’ve been thinking, hopefully as clearly and colorfully as the scene I’ve just witnessed across my back yard and Upper Saranac Lake.
A few days ago I was sitting on the railroad track near my cottage, watching the loons treading water in the breeze across Rat Pond. Things had been churning in my mind for several weeks and now it seemed like all the facts and feelings were on the table ready to be sorted out and a decision made. Maybe talking to these loons would provide some answers I needed.
I’ve got a nice job and I’m earning enough to get by ok. I go to work excited, ready to be ambitious and creative. I’ve got a cottage that’s in the middle of most things I care about, the mountains, lakes, streams and woods of the Adirondacks. There are lots of things to do on the place, painting, fixing and restoring it to an earlier charm. And I’m starting to know this area and its people: I know the name of the lady at Stewart’s, have a regular barber, and have a couple friends. Things are coming together here. An absence would put everything into reverse gear.
So why am I thinking about hiking again? I just finished 700 miles on the International Appalachian Trail. It should be out of my system. In fact I’m still tired from the hike. But my friend, Mr Bojangles, is hiking the PCT next year. He’s asked me along, and I’ve wanted to do the PCT since 2000. It sure sounds inviting. We met on the Appalachian Trail in 2001, both of us southbound thru-hikers, and spent a couple of months hiking somewhat together. He’s a great hiker, and a naturalist to boot, so the trip would be doubly fun.
Another friend is hiking the CDT next year. I haven’t a clue about the CDT except that in some places it’s more a direction of hiking than an established trail. One evening I happened onto Brian Robinson’s website as I was thinking about the CDT, trying to figure out what it was and why it would be desirable. I read a bit of the journals from his calendar year Triple Crown and was real curious about his sequence and how he linked it all together. Probably the seeds of fate were sown right here.
A couple days before the audience with the loons on Rat Pond, I hiked over to Fish Pond and camped out for the evening (We have lots of animal ponds around here). As I came trotting into the lean-to there, I was greeted by four canoeists out for a long weekend. They had lots of food and were eager to share the last of their sausage with me, rather than having to dispose of it in the fire. So I stopped for a while to chat, and inhaled the last eight inches of their sausage. It was a father, his son, and two boys the son’s age from their local church group. The father was experienced; the boys were new to the woods. This was the perfect weekend to introduce them. The bugs were gone, the loons were singing and the weather was perfect. We had a great conversation about all the grand places to canoe in the world, and as it was turning dusk I set out for a nearby campsite to set up for the evening.
Later that evening I couldn’t help but reflect on how much fun and comfortable that evening had been. A quick 5-mile hike, the great food provided by a fellow outdoorsman, the wonderful campsite, and great conversation. There’s no denying how really happy and content I am when I’m out in the woods.
On the way back from Fish Pond the next morning, I was thinking about Brian’s hike and fantasizing about doing one just like it. I thought about the challenges he faced and how I measured up: planning, organizing, finding water, finding the route, cold, heat, more heat, relentless days of hiking, staying focused. And I thought about all the rewards for his effort, especially spending almost a year in the woods through all the seasons. Almost unconsciously at first I started thinking about how I could possibly do such a hike. Where would the money come from? I was struggling to financially justify a PCT thru-hike. How could I possibly pull off a hike over twice the length? Could I make it? Would I feel ok about myself if I couldn’t? Who would help me? What on earth would I do with my cottage while I was gone so long? How could I get ready in so short a time? And on and on.
Little by little in those 5 miles back to the cottage, a plan fell into place. I really could do a Triple Crown attempt if I wanted to and if two other important people would give a hand in the effort. One was Lil. Would she stay in the cottage, pay me a small amount of rent, and take over the utility bills? If she would, the finances would just reach. And the other person was Nancy. Would she help me with resupply? I needed someone experienced to get my food and other supplies together, organized, and shipped as I needed them. And I wanted to have a website to keep my friends informed of my progress. She knew how to do that too.
Well, the two loons on Rat Pond were uncharacteristically quiet that warm afternoon as I sat on the rails. Neither would offer encouragement either way. And in the end I just got up and walked on home. I should have known there was no way to figure it out and come to some logical conclusion. I just wanted to go deep down inside, and, regardless of the outcome, I would only be happy with myself if I gave it a try. That’s how it all started, my attempt to hike the Triple Crown next year.
So in the days that followed, I contacted Lil and Nancy. They both agreed to help out, and I started making preparations. I should be frantic, but I’m not. There’s a ton to do and a million decisions to be made, but I’ve sort of got it organized. I made a list. I broke all the work, research, and decisions up and laid them out week by week between now and the end of the year. Right now there are even a couple of weeks without anything in them. That will change but it’s comforting to know there’s still a little slack. Even Nancy did some figuring and said that I could do it. That was a great moral boost. |
