TRIBAL INSIGHT

Jangles on the AT:
"In less than 24 hours, I will be leaving Nashville and will be en route to Springer Mountain. Wow! The time has come! My thoughts and feelings are all over the place right now. 'Quit talking about it and just do it!,' shouts the competitor in me. 'Am I TRULY ready for this?,' asks the doubter. 'Everything is going to be all right,' soothes the laid-back, calm one. 'I really hope I can make it,' says the fidgeting nervous voice. 'I am going to miss everybody so much!,' cries the broken heart. 'This will be the biggest test of mind, spirit, and will,' states the challenger. 'I cannot do this alone,' realizes the helpless. 'Will I be safe out there?,' asks the trembling fearful one. 'This is going to be the trip of a lifetime!,' smiles the young, confident adventurer. And on and on it goes…."
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Mouse on the AT:
"Around sunrise this morning, I woke up to the sound of rain again, so, with nowhere to be, I turned over and went back to sleep for a while. See, one of the best things about being on the Trail is dates, time, and schedules really don't exist. You are never late for an appointment. Most of the time you don't pay attention to time and rarely ever do you know what day of the week it is. It's great!"
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H-Bomb on the AT:
"I prefer not to think of myself as a pessimist; I just speak the things the way they are. Rain by any other name is still rain. It's still wet and miserable and sometimes I can't tell the difference between it and my tears. I see no reason to call it sunshine. It's not warm and fuzzy, and it definitely doesn't make me feel tingly all over. Sometimes, optimists should keep their comments to themselves."
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Shasta on the AT:
"Despite the fact that my daily routine never changes, these have been the clearest and most memorable months of my life. Maybe that's because walking is all I have to focus on when I'm on the Trail. When it is all you do, the little things, like a particular viewpoint, a flooded river crossing, a bowl of ice cream, a bear attack, wild blueberries, or pouring rain take on a new importance and define the date."
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Chardonnay on the AT:
"Today, I was at my grumpiest for a good 10 miles. I was cursing the bugs that kept flying into my eyes, the rocks making my feet sore, my wet boots giving me new blisters. Even with only three miles to go, I didn't want to hike and was considering pitching my tent and taking a nap. But, somehow every day I get through the rough spot and wind up feeling great, ready to do it again the next day. Sometimes, it's a climb that invigorates me; other times, the company at camp. If it takes me three more months to do this, I think I can make it."
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Silverfoot on the AT:
"Many people have a stereotype about who thru-hikers are, and I don't really fit that picture, I suppose. We all know, though, that the only true commonality among thru-hikers is that we are all crazy enough to start walking a ridiculously long way and refuse to stop until we are 'thru'."
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River Weasel on the AT:
"Life will never be the same as on the Trail. Friendships there are as pure as they come."
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Donkey (Love) on the AT:
"Hiking the AT? It's the most wonderfully satisfying and adventurous thing I have ever done. I consider it as important as any job or college degree, or anything, really. It's freedom."
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Hot Springs on the AT:
"I suppose what draws most to the Trail is the wilderness and the remoteness of the journey. What most don't realize is the giving-heart of the Trail community is what makes the hike such an incredible experience."
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Jellybean on the AT:
"To anyone contemplating such an adventure - Beware! You will never want to work again! You will want to sell or give away all your belongings, and then buy more gear! Your dreams will be filled with the most cherished memories of your life, and all you will think about is 'Where to next?'"
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Gringo on the AT:
"Am I the only one that thought the Trail was like high school. You start out not knowing anyone, then you find your clique, some people (gear-heads) are way too concerned about what you're wearing, and when you're finished you get a certificate. It's not the beginning or the ending, but everything in between that makes the AT thru-hike experience great."
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