The Appalachian Trail is a long and arduous footpath that traverses 14 states over a distance of approximately 2,160 miles. It runs from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia. It is fraught with steep uphill climbs and treacherous downhill descents as the hiker makes his way often well over a mile high.
Okay, so why the hiking and geography lesson? A while back at a gathering of friends, I had occasion to talk to a guy, about my age, but much better off financially, since he was looking forward to retirement next spring. He told me that his plans were to take six months and walk the Appalachian Trail. Now, I know this guy was always the outdoorsman, at least in his youth, but in the last decade since I have known him, it was apparent that his lifestyle became more opulent and most definitely more sedentary. This assessment was punctuated by the fact that he sat there before me, easily 50 pounds overweight, with the ever-present protruding gut as he pounded down snacks and wine.
Nevertheless, I was curious and asked about his plans. He said that it was something that he always wanted to do and that it had always been a goal. How, I queried, was he was going to prepare for the journey? As his wife joined us, he said that he currently walks about 3 or 4 miles a day. Now I am no hiker, but I know that a daily walk is not going to be enough to prepare you for a six month trek that will require, at a minimum, about 12-15 miles a day over rugged terrain. His wife, who earlier had commented about my “fit” look, asked me what I thought he should do. I briefly explained what I did to bolster my cardiovascular system using high intensity interval training, running all out alternating with slower periods of recovery. This was met immediately with the fact that he didn’t (I did not quite understand if it was could not or would not) run. His wife suggested walking fast and then slow. I just left it at that and moved on to another phase of how I might train for such an undertaking.
I mentioned to him that he would no doubt be hiking in heavy boots with a considerable weight on his back. He countered with the fact that his back-pack would be about 50 pounds. I suggested that he may want to do some weight training to build strength in his legs and develop core stability and overall mobility. Why I do these things, I don’t know, but his wife (who I think was trying to make a point with him about being out of shape) kept pressing me for details. I explained that the act of climbing contained the equivalent of many standard lower body exercises and his journey would require him, like it or not, to do things like step-ups, all sorts of lunges, squats, calf-raises and much more, all the while demonstrating each. Without going into detail, I got, in return, the two heavy hitters of the excuse roster; bad back and weak knees. Where do I go from here? I just let him talk. He did tell me that he planned to hire a personal trainer over the winter to get him in shape. I hope he and the trainer know what they are in for.
The conversation continued and was punctuated frequently by his wife’s questions about my level of fitness and what I do to maintain it. I explained my six-day a week regimen to raised eyebrows. All the while, I was trying to get across the idea of working toward a goal and before long the subject turned to what I was lifting. These things are tough to discuss without sounding like you are bragging, but I explained that I had always wanted to Deadlift with eight plates on the bar. He immediately chimed in by explaining to his wife that the plates were 25 pounds each. “Nooooo,” I said, “these are 45-pound plates.” At this they both stopped as you could see the calculations being made. “How much is that?” “Over 400 pounds," I replied. This is when the kicker was leveled and now I just laugh as I think about it. “Why would you want to do that?” he said. My answer was as clear and as simple as I could make it. “Why do you want to walk the Appalachian Trail?”
This guy has lived a life where everything was done in superlatives; the biggest home, the best automobiles, the most expensive restaurants, the finest wines. Why would one expect that it would be capped with anything else but another big undertaking? The Appalachian Trail is just that and he has the financial means and the time to do it. But, are there missing elements? Right now I think so, but I truly hope he will someday realize his dream. To conquer the world requires that we subdue ourselves first.
Our dreams are not realized in formulating the greatest of plans, but in the execution of the smallest of its details.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Have a Great Week!
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__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
Nice John!! The AT is a great goal (I've hiked many of the segments in CT, MA, and NH) but most of the folks who start it never finish. It actually crosses our road nearby our camp in NH ... we see a fair number of through-hikers ... they are in great shape by the time they reach us, but they haven't hit the White Mountains yet!! You'd be able to do it for sure with your level of fitness ... your friend ... perhaps ...
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Life's a Journey ... Enjoy the Ride!
Thanks for sharing John. When ever some asks me about fitness and I get the type of responses that you did the old addage about leading a horse to water comes to mind.
__________________ -50# by 4/1/10 2 down 48 to go.
Great, great story John. If you want to help open your friend's eyes a bit, get him "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson. It's the story of his adventure on the AT and one of the funniest books I've ever read!
__________________ “I have always done my duty. I am ready to die. My only regret is for the friends I leave behind me.”
-- Zachary Taylor, 12th U.S. President, 1849-1850
Reminds me of a few encounters I have had with people over the years, John - hard to get the message across. From what you told me, this trek will simply never happen - he will develop an excuse and it will all fade away.
I hope I'm wrong and he pulls it off, but, quite frankly, the way you described him it would be pretty dangerous for him to try.
I hope I'm wrong and he pulls it off, but, quite frankly, the way you described him it would be pretty dangerous for him to try.
I agree. While he may have had the fire/inner strength and fortitude to do it in his younger years, his current station/station in life has provided a good amount of water to douse that flame.
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Tom
No "happy hours" makes for a lot of miserable days. - Mahler
John - there will be nothing like the first 5 miles with that 50 pound back pack to make him remember what you were saying. He may get pretty serious about the gym stuff!
It's time to go nail down some of those details...
Thanks, John.
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
Thanks John! My nephew hiked the trail before he entered the Navy. He certainly trained for it and was helped by the fact that he played college soccer. He entered the Navy soon after and went to medical school. He is now attached to a Marine Unit and all that hiking and running probably helps.
awesome story. i hope he actually does make it through the whole trail. I have a friend who did it this past summer and he said it was an absolute blast.
I've been hiking the AT in sections for a few years and have now finished 4 states. "Only" 10 more to go hopefully before I have to hike in a walker due to old age.
I started after I had lost a bit of my morbid obesity but was still WAAAAY out of shape. I could barely do a few miles in a day, up and down some pretty tough mountains here in the South. I stayed with it and as the pounds continued to come off of course it got easier.... but never easy.
I fell in love with it. I've backpacked hundreds of miles of non-AT trails also and have recently taught beginner backpackers some of what I know and have had the pleasure of seeing them come to love it.
I've met many people on the trail. Some are in fantastic physical shape and some are in very poor condition.
For all these people it is much more a psychological test rather than physical. Even if he can only go a few miles at first and pass out in a tent or shelter at the end of the day, he WILL gain his "trail legs" and do better over time. As long as he doesn't give into what isn't so glamorous: constant rain for days at time, freezing temperatures and deep snow, incredible heat and humidity, mind numbing climbs and descents on mountains, animals stealing your favorite foods, etc.
But there is a thriving AT community and subculture. If this fellow starts in the spring at Springer Mountain, GA (as most thru-hikers do) he will more companionship than he'll know what to do with, and will have plenty of support. There's the AT legend of the "Trail Angel". Someone that, just when you need the moral and physical support to go on, will magically appear and provide assistance. It exists. I've seen it.
If you see him again have him check out http://www.whiteblaze.net/ . It is to the AT community what this forum is to us.
It sounds like he read A Walk in the Woods and got motivated. I HIGHLY recommend that book, whether you plan to hike the trail or not. It is both poignant and hilarious. The author, Bryson, is like Douglas Adams mixed with a nonfiction author.
It is a great trail! I hiked Most of TN and VA with my father and brother while living in upper East Tennessee. I have deep respect for that chain of mountains. In the peak of my conditioning I remember being humbled by that trail, and I only did it in segments.
We were passed like we were standing still by 70 year old man one trip. Come to think of it, he reminded me of Mahler! John, have you been lying about your age?
It sounds like he read A Walk in the Woods and got motivated. I HIGHLY recommend that book, whether you plan to hike the trail or not. It is both poignant and hilarious. The author, Bryson, is like Douglas Adams mixed with a nonfiction author.
I would recommend most of Bryson's books, particularly his books on travelling in Europe, England and particularly Australia. They are laugh-out-loud books to be sure. Well worth a read.
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"Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right." - Henry Ford
"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss
"Life is no brief candle to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." - George Bernard Shaw
Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 178 – Appalachian Trail
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