Re: [pct-l] attitudes

[Owen <jim_ginny_o@attglobal.net>]

Kelly Miller wrote:
> 
> I would like to know how people in the past have death with lapses in attitude,
> depression, "trail shock".  I know..."stay focused".  Sure, true but simplistic.
> Were there solid, concrete things that people did to get past the low points?
> Singing?  Getting off the trail and calling home?  Extra time in town? Reading?
> Something else?  I know it would be different for everyone. I ask because I know
> that at some point it comes to all of us, to one degree or another, and I wonder
> whether just knowing ahead of time that it will come will be enough.  Everyone
> concedes that it's 90% mental, and it must be impossible to keep a 100% positive
> mental attitude 100% of the time.


Kelly - 
We just finished 6 months on the CDT - and there was precisely one (1)
day that we seriously considered quitting.  The solution (for us) was to
go into town, get a couple meals, a shower  and a good night's sleep. We
left town the next morning.  Sometimes it takes more than that - there
were at least three times that we stayed in town an extra day because
one of us wasn't ready to leave.  One of those days we were packed and
headed out the door when the decision was made.  The same thing happened
when we did the AT. But in each case, we were ready to be back on the
trail the next morning. 

Standard advice is that if you're considering getting off the trail - go
into town, eat, sleep, drink, whatever - for three days.  Then if you
don't have any desire to get back on the trail - you may be ready to go
home.  Too many people make the mistake of making "instant" decisions -
and going home without waiting.  I think it's largely a product of the
"TV age" where all problems are expected to be solved instantly - or
within an hour at most. But there are other theories. 

In any case - our partner in northern Montana last year said - "If it
takes physical conditioning to make it to the end of the trail, then
I'll make it and you won't.  But if it's mental, then you'll make it and
I won't because you have the 'fire in the belly' and I don't."  We made
it - he didn't.  That "fire in the belly" is what'll get you through
nearly any situation - including many major injuries.  It'll get you to
the end of the trail when those who are younger, stronger, faster,
smarter, etc ad nauseum - fall by the wayside.  

It's not 90% mental - it's 1% physical and at least 95% mental/emotional
- and that stray 4% is in doubt - but probably mental/emotional, too.  

One other note - to a very large degree, attitude is discipline. It
doesn't just happen. You MAKE it happen.  

Notice that I added another dimension there - the emotional stuff that
most people (especially males) don't want to talk about.  

Walk softly,
Jim
AT-92, CDT-99, PCT-00

* From the PCT-L |  Need help? http://www.backcountry.net/faq.html  *

==============================================================================