Well, I've waited a few days to write a post up here, not having too definite grip on my future and being uncertain what to say...I am back at home for a bit, having arrived this past Thursday.
On Tuesday night, I came down with a bit of food poisoning, I think. Maybe something in the water. Regardless, that night was one of the worst of my life. Fever, chills, lump in stomach, unable to move out of sleeping bag or get a wink of sleep for 13 hours. Luckily, I was only a mile out of town, and I stumbled in the next morning, got a hostel, and called the parents to prepare a rescue. Although, I had mostly convalesced by the time the parent came, I was ready to go home for a while and reassess the Appalachian adventure. While the trip has had its good parts, it's had its share of misery, too. It's been cold, wet, cold and wet, remarkably un-scenic, especially with most peaks and balds being misted over, rather crowded at camping sights, but with few people complementary to my mold. And trail food has been really bad.
But, after a few days off, the edge of these discomforts has worn away, and I've decided to order a new sleeping bag, a new stove, get together a better menu, and head out again in a bit. Don't think I'm headed all the way to Katahdin, but I'd like to get through the Smokies and I'll see after that.
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I think any great achievement is just a series of defeats overcome. The fable says we plunge in valiantly, triumph over adversity and go on to glory. The reality is that we minimize risk by working up to great achievements. In the end, the achievement endures, not the defeats along the way. I'm glad you're re-planning the trip to minimize risk of defeat. I'm confident you can turn this into a memory of achievement and a solid life-lesson.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your words, Scott. Curious, though... Are you of the Furman crew I met at the Hike Inn?
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