Statisticly1 out of 4 people who set out to thru
hike the AT actually make it. 75% of people drop out. So why do so many people
quit? Why do so many long to do such a hike, but cannot follow through with it?
When I tell people my plan to thru hike the AT, the
first response I get 9 out of 10 times is “I have always wanted to hike the AT,
but…” For those who have always wanted to go on a long hike there was something
stopping them. Many people have never found the right time to pursue this dream
due to their careers; starting a family; finishing school, etc. Even those
lucky people who get an opportunity to do such a hike still cannot complete it.
The main reason that people drop out is not
because they did not have the proper gear or were not physically ready; it is
that they were not ready for the emotional struggle when faced with the
tremendous challenges that the AT requires. Many people, when they have been
out in the rain and cold for days and are starving, just cannot continue. This
is understandable. So how do I prepare
myself for such trying circumstances to make it the entire way?
As the date of my trip edges closer, I am finding
new light and concerns arising in my process. At first it was all about getting
the gear. I spent hours researching to find the best deals, the best products,
and the best prices. Marly and I are proud to say that almost 100% of our gear
has not been bought at full price. I
did buy my tent full price, but it was cheaper than most out there. We are
practically all ready with our packs. It is down to the little things like
should we bring binoculars for birding and how many pairs of socks should we
take.
As we move past the initial stress of having
everything we need, it is time to focus on preparing ourselves mentally and
physically. I have spent many hours looking up information online about the
trail and I came across a video for this book called Appalachian Trials,
written by a young guy who hiked the AT and after finishing discovered that
there is nothing out there to help prepare people mentally for this adventure.
So he made it his next goal to write such a book. I immediately found it on
amazon and read it within 3 days (which for me is really fast!). Once I
finished it I then sent it to Marly insisting that she read it as well. This
book was incredibly helpful in explaining to its readers exactly what kinds of
hardships you will go through emotionally and how to process them and move
closer to accomplishing your goal.
Although much of the guidance and advice he gave was
for the individual hikers to achieve, part of it talked about having the right
support. Now it is pretty obvious that I have the support of my family and
friends, but there are very different ways of showing this support. The author
of the book Appalachian Trials refers to the first month as the Honeymoon
stage. Where everything is so exciting that even when things are rough you can
push through and not get too down. It is later on in the adventure where things
start to get harder. So now in preparing mentally for the trail I feel that I
could really use some help from friends and family by sending me encouragement
not just at the beginning, but throughout the entire 5 months.
My family and some very close family friends came up
with some brilliant ideas of how to support Chelsea and Marly along their hike.
TEAM CHELSEA AND MARLY or TEAM CHARLY! This team initiative will help us get
not just on the trail, but to the top of Mt. Katahdin in Maine. It is sending
us your favorite passage, quote, or encouraging words in a letter. Send us a
great book for us to read along the way or perhaps a favorite song for us to
sing while we walk. It is helping our parents send us care packages or maybe
baking some cookies to send us. It is helping us purchase our second and
possibly third pair of hiking shoes. It is donating meals to us either by
actual food or money for that food (about $12 a day). It is scooping us off the
side of the road smelly and dirty and giving us a hot shower and meal.
By being
a part of TEAM CHARLY, you will see and read about our hike week to week
through this blog and through our many many photos (Marly especially loves to
take pictures!) We believe in ourselves and believe that we can make it, but a
little help along the way can go a long way. Knowing that there are people out
there really supporting us has so much to do with us finishing the trail.
Once we have made it to the top we and made it
safely back home, I will be sending out a special gifts to everyone who has
helped us along the way. This might take a bit of time while I start working
again and make some money again!
It has been a year now that Marly and I met and
decided we would hike the AT together. We have been saving and preparing for
this trip since then. I have been setting aside at least half, if not more, of
every paycheck to my AT trip. Even with
all that I saved, it is barely enough. I spent much of my saved money on gear (and
if you have ever looked into hiking gear before you know that it is not cheap.)
The rest I am saving for food and I am rationing it out for the 5-6 months I
will be in the woods. However, this
doesn't give me enough for hostels, the occasional hotel, hot meals, more gear,
a beer now and then, or extra food.
I hope you find it in your heart to help us out in
whatever way you feel like you can. We will be so thankful for anything that
you can give.
With love to all
Team Charly!
