Fall Hiking (and some links)

This past weekend I went backpacking on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania with my dad and my two boys.  We try to get out on the trail together once a year.  The past two years we went in late October/early November and were treated to nights in the low twenties.  (That would be Fahrenheit you weird metric system people.) If you’ve read any of this blog, you are quite aware of my aversion to cold weather.  This year the weather was just about perfect.  Sixties during the day and mid forties at night.  Nice.  It’s kind of cool to be able to do this right now.  Three generations on the trail together.

• My youngest son is seven.  He is a 100 percenter. Whatever he is feeling at any moment,,,, he is feeling it 100 percent.  So hiking with him goes like this.  First mile-  This is exciting, I’m going to run, I like being in the woods. Second mile-  We’ll never make it, I want to go home.  Where is grandpa?  He’s left us behind, I can’t see him.  Third mile-  Lot’s of slow walking, occasional sitting, and a few tears.  Then we stop for a snack and repeat the whole process.
• My oldest son is eleven now.  He usually walks with grandpa.  Within half a mile they leave me behind with his brother so I can ride the roller coaster of emotions with him. My oldest can usually be found walking with at least one shoe untied.  When you mention this to him the response is something like, “Meh”, or, “Ok”, and he just keeps walking. Often you get no response at all because he is designing some kind of video game world in his head or thinking about Pokemon.  Later he will fall on the trail and not connect this at all to the fact that he was walking with one shoe untied.
• My dad took our family hiking when I was a kid. It’s where I learned to love the trail.  Since I was a kid, his hiking style has not changed.  He has one speed, and if you’re not walking that speed, you’re getting left behind.  On one of our first hiking trips when I was little, we started in on the trail late behind the group we were supposed to be walking with.  It was me, my dad, my mom, and a friend of theirs.  I kept up with my dad as we walked into the night to catch the rest of the group.  My mom and the other person didn’t walk the same speed.  So, what happened?  That’s right.  They got left.  Behind.  In the dark.  Don’t worry.  They eventually arrived at the campsite. He still walks faster than the rest of us, but at least now he’ll text us to let us know when he’s stopped to wait.
• Me.  I love being in the woods.  I’m handing that down to my kids.  Hopefully one day they’ll hand it down to theirs.  I love the clean air.  I love the sense of self-reliance.  I love sleeping under the stars.  I’d like to get out there more.  I enjoy every minute,,,,,,, except for the time spent prodding my seven year old along.  That’s grueling.

Being on the trail is a recharge for me.  Remember that old movie They Live.  Yes, the one with Rowdy Roddy Piper.  Every time he put on his “special” Ray Bans he could see the alien invaders who had disguised themselves as human.  I know it sounds iffy, but it’s got an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes.  Well, every time I put on my “special” sunglasses and look at road signs, this is how I see the world.  Welcome to the city.  (Here we will steal your soul)  Welcome to the suburbs.  (Here we will steal your soul more more slowly, while you sip a latte, and shop at Hollister and American Eagle Outfitters. But the end result is the same.) ‘Welcome to the trail.  (Here you can recharge your soul.)

LINKS

• Home of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.  Great site.
• If you want to backpack, but you’re new to the trail.  Here’s a checklist of gear you may need.
• On this date in 1959, The Guggenheim opened in New York.
• A new Bon Jovi album is coming out on November 4.  To celebrate, here’s Wanted Dead Or Alive.  Classic.