Old habits die hard and excuses keep them going. Especially when the need for money is involved. So, upon my return to Houston, since my last post, I have been possessed by the demon of busyness in a frenetic haste to replenish the bank account. However, I did manage to slip away for a few days to catch up with some people I haven’t seen in 27 years.
Gary “The Clam” recognized me right away. He looked a little different that he did during the time he was running 130 mile weeks and hiking like a machine. Chuck “Woodchuck” quickly spotted me as well and hobbled over enthusiastically while expressing how good it was to see me. I was informed that Pete “The Cheshire Cat” would be showing up the next day.
“ALDHA… Ah yes,,, I must confess. I am a long distance hiker”. That got a few chuckles from the audience and one boisterous laugh to my right. I had been asked to speak only an hour before the opening of "The Gathering" and didn’t hesitate to do so. Why not? It’s just a bunch of hikers. A crowd of kindred spirits that enjoy hiking miles on end sleeping in the woods while living off noodles. An assortment of individuals driven by the force of getting from here to there for no other reason than seeing what’s along the way.
I was speaking in an auditorium on the campus of Concord University in Athens, WV. To my left a large banner hung as I spoke before a good sized crowd feeling quite comfortable as unrehearsed words flowed naturally. I talked of how it had been 27 years since I hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine and how much of an impact 5 months of continuous hiking atop mountains and through woods had affected my life. I also spoke of how it continues to do so. Since most of the crowd had hiked the trail I felt my talk was keenly understood and well received. In all I think my speech lasted about 7 or 8 minutes but it was kind of hard to tell for sure. I do very little public speaking but I kind like it and think I’m reasonably good at it.
ALDHA stands for the Appalachian Long Distance Hiking Association. It was created by former end to end thru hikers of the Appalachian Trail. The main event is "The Gathering" which takes place every year in October. It’s a reunion of sorts filled with workshops, meetings, and campfires. Most everyone camps on a small music festival site outside of Pipestem, WV. The workshops and all take place on the Concord campus. Although the Gathering favors Appalachian Trail hikers it’s open to anyone who is interested. Most of the workshops deal with what to do after the A.T. and where to go next. Most presentations focus on other paths within the USA and abroad. The key presentation was by a hiker that traversed the Himalaya’s across India and Nepal. He would have continued into Pakistan but didn’t and couldn’t for obvious political reasons.
The workshops and all were fine but my real reason for attending the gathering was to revisit, catch up, and reflect upon the one accomplishment that has most affected my life. Chuck and Pete were probably the two I wanted to see the most and Gary remained a vivid memory out of many I met along the way. I was only 19 when I hiked the trail. Pete was 40. Gary and Chuck were in their 30’s. Naturally, they looked a little older.
Pete “The Cheshire Cat” was fresh out of the Air Force in '85 with a 20 year retirement. He was the most precise, organized, and cleanest hiker I've ever met. Chuck “Woodchuck” was the most colorful character on the trail with his long hair, bushy beard, and custom made 7 foot hiking staff adorning coon tails and crucifix. I met Pete and Chuck on the 4th day amidst self-doubt and second guessing as the reality of what it takes to walk from Georgia to Maine really sunk in.
I hiked with Chuck for a week. I also camped with Pete and Chuck along with a few others during that time. Their enthusiasm and determination through what I refer to as the early miles of “Breaking In” really helped me to understand how to allow time for adjustment. I realized I needed break down the big goal of walking to Maine into smaller goals of where I’d be in a week, the end of the day, and mid afternoon. I learned a lot from just being around more mature adults who already knew this and were well suited for the task.
After three weeks I had gone through a mental and physical transformation. I found myself passionately committed and in it for the long haul. At that point there was no way I was getting off the trail until reaching the northern terminus atop Mt. Katahdin, Maine.
I ran into Pete off and on all the way to the end. I saw Chuck regularly until Pennsylvania where I sped up and he slowed a bit. Gary was one of those guys I met along the journey that I simply connected with and enjoyed sharing conversation during the evening when camped at a lean to. I don’t remember seeing too much of him as he was a faster hiker than myself.
In 1985 less than 10% of those who set out to hike the A.T. end to end succeeded. By late fall of 1985 about 100 hikers registered as having completed the entire trail either in one trip or several stages.
It took me a day and a half to drive the 1,150 miles up to West Virginia which gave me Friday evening and all day Saturday/Sunday to catch up and swap stories. Although many details have turned foggy, twenty seven years seemed like yesterday. As if it were nothing more than a brief hiatus were everyone just got a little older. I spent most of my time hanging out with Pete, Chuck, and can’t say I really felt all that connected with the others.
The trail was different back in the day. A lot fewer people did it. Equipment was heavier. Resupply was more of a chore. Communication was poor in comparison to today’s smart phones etc. I think hikers leaned a little more on one another. Every fellow thru hiker you met was an instant friend. Maybe the relationships were a little stronger back then and hold up a little better over time. Most attending the event were veterans of more recent years and what seemes like a little different experience.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday passed quickly. On Monday morning I packed my tent in a light rain and bid farewell to Chuck. I had said my goodbyes to Pete and Gary the evening before. That afternoon I made a slight detour on my way home to perfectly time lunch with a buddy in Asheville, NC before pressing on.
With the passing of 6 short days I arrived back home after driving approximately 2,400 miles and immediately dived back into work. I've hardly given myself a moment to reflect on the awesome time I had.
Today Pete still does long hikes. From what I understand, Gary hasn't done too much hiking since the trail but attends The Gathering every year. Chuck’s hiking is limited due to a bad foot but he is heavily involved in preserving the Appalachian Trail and has become a living legend of sorts. Oh, and come to find out, 1985 is viewed to have been one of the best years based on hiker community and trail camaraderie.
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