In my first week I have hiked over eighty two miles. The first few days were tough and I will admit I questioned my decision to leave home. Yet now that I have found my rhythm, pace and friends I am more than content. I have started hiking with two German girls, cowboy and Indiana, and their dogs. They are also on a gap year and we hike the same pace. We don't spend the whole day together but sleep in the same place. So far I have slept in a shelter all but one night. The weather in the smokies was quite cold but now at a lower elevation it is moist and sunny, with even a little bit of rain.
As far as the daily hiking goes, I basically spend the day going up and down, up and down. This is monotony makes the changes in the mountain flowers, or the occasional waterfall even more magical. I am finding the hiking a perfect time to reflect and observe. Hiking for so many miles allows an almost meditative state that invites in just the exact present moment. Before I left I did a one day meditation retreat at Cambridge zen center and the zen master told me " worry not of the future nor of the past because it creates a box in your mind that codes out possibilities". This has really rung true to me as I have been hiking. Each day I need mostly to just simply be and reach my goal.
I have met so many amazing people so far and the kindness everyone shares ceases to amaze me. I cannot wait to see where the trail brings me.
More tomorrow during out zero day
Happy trails
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