I have always loved backpacking and for years I have thought about being a “thru-hiker”. On the trail, my brother once asked me what I liked about being a “thru-hiker”. I had a lot of time to contemplate that question. Every time I tried to answer that question, I realized I was conflating backpacking and thru-hiking and they are really different things which have some of the same elements.

Backpacking is usually for a shorter distance and time and you typically don’t have to worry about things like resupplying because you usually carry everything you need from start to finish and that is logistically easier. You also don’t have to worry if you have a few days of a bad diet or poor dental care because it is only for a week or two. For older hikers, this is important.

Thru-hikers deal with the logistics of resupplying either with pre-mailed boxes to places along the trail or, more commonly, walking into a town close by. Resupply may consist of expensive prepackaged dehydrated food or cheaper things like tortillas and peanut butter or ramen, etc. Sometimes that food can have upwards of 3000 mg of sodium which, unfortunately, is not really conducive to great nutrition and, when you are older, this matters.

This is one example of the difference between a week or two of backpacking vs thru-hiking. For younger people, a bad diet and bad dental and physical hygiene can be compensated for with time. For geriatric hikers like myself, that cost/benefit analysis is tougher to deal with.

I have come to realize that, after hiking roughly 1/4 of the trail, which is no small feat, that it will be better for my health to become a section hiker. I haven’t given up my dream, I just am prioritizing my physical and dental health. I am having an issue with my foot (the rebuilt one) that needs to be fixed. I thought I could get away with ignoring it for 6 months, but alas, that isn’t possible. I would rather take care of it and have another decade of fun adventures than to ignore it and lose the ability to ski, bike, hike, etc.

So my status is changing from thru-hiker to section hiker. In my case, since my section was over 500 miles, I’d consider it a LASH (long-a$$ section hike). Once my foot is fixed, I just have to do that 3 more times!!

I do not regret one moment of my journey. The confidence I have gained in my abilities has been worth every step. I got to see some incredible parts of the country and will continue this journey once I am cleared by my ortho. And I got to meet some amazing humans and will meet more in the future.

Most of all, I got to strip everything away to the bare minimum which let me remember what is truly important on this journey we call “life”.

Always undefined,

Bee

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experiences that reveals the human spirit.” – e.e. cummings