[pct-l] Fear

[Bethany.Axtman at mercer.com (Axtman, Bethany)]

What a great question.  As a 2005 hopeful, this is on my mind about
every day.  

My biggest fears right now:
* That I'm not tough enough, experienced enough, prepared enough...
whatever it takes, I don't have it.
* I'm quitting my job, confounding my friends and family, and telling
everyone I know what a grand adventure this will be.  But somehow, I'll
be wrong and I'll just miss everything that I'm trading in.  That whole
grass-is-always-greener syndrome...

And strangely, I'm a little scared of the opposite, too.  That allowing
myself this break from the responsible-adult, professional-job,
home-owning world means that I'll never be happy returning to this life
again.  That once I have this long breath of freedom, the "real world"
will never be satisfying...



-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of
Bighummel@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2005 5:14 PM
To: pct-l@backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Fear


So, this brings up an rather interesting question for those who have
hiked 
the trail before and those who are aspiring to do so; 

What are/were your greatest fears before taking that first step?

Mine;

1) That I would just burn out after a few weeks of walking high mileage
days 
and the fun of seeing what is over that next ridge would wear off.  It
didn't.

2) That my gear wasn't right.  It was and got better during.  

3) That my experience level wasn't good enough.  It wasn't but good
really 
good along the way after numerous experiences in snow and heat and rain
and bugs.

4) That "no" was just too easy of a cop out.  That I should listen to my

friends and family who thought I was nuts to try this.  I'm sure glad I
didn't 
listen to them, but did to my heart.

5) That I just couldn't do this.  That I simply didn't have it within my

heart and mind.  Turned out that I did and it was the only thing that I
really 
needed in the first place and all of the other fears were misplaced and
fruitless.

6) That I might lose my life out there.  I quickly came to the
realization 
and calm resignation that if it is my time to go, then at least I'm
doing 
something I clearly love to do.

What are/were yours?

Greg "Strider" Hummel _______________________________________________
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