"Hiking, Hiking on the Appalachian Trail"

Last night we had a "send-off" gathering in our apartment with good food and even better company. Amidst the show-and-tell of my equipment and a blessing on my trip, this poem was written by the friends in attendance, each line written by a different hand. I thought I'd share it:

Hiking, hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
Some days are hot, some days are not
On the Appalachian Trail.
Your muscles will be sore one day,
And sorer still the next.
But you never have to answer
When your friend sends you a text.
They should've known you are hiking;
That should've been assumed.
They should've known you are hiking:
You are using your shovel to make a boom;
You are using a Dr. Pepper can to cook;
And wearing one Fruit-of-the-Loom.
Putting one foot in front of another can become a bore,
But continuing to do so is NOT something you should ignore!
Press on friend!
Knowing we wish you the best.

Walking Prayer

While still in the early stages of planning for this hike, my mom suggested that I read "Walk In A Relaxed Manner" by Joyce Rupp. This book documents lessons learned while walking the Camino trail in northern Spain. One of the things Joyce and her hiking partner did, prompted by the pilgrimage aspect of the Camino, was compose a "walking prayer" that they prayed daily during their trip. This prayer helped to frame their journey.

My mom, too, has walked some distance: from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh to be exact. And during that journey, she, too, composed a walking prayer that helped her focus the intent of her trip. So, after giving me Rupp's book, when she suggested that I consider writing my own walking prayer, I listened.

From the beginning I was intrigued by the idea. And as I worked with the prayer, it began to take on a life of its own. Its beginnings were modest. I simply wanted a prayer that would help shape my walk each day. From there it began to grow, and soon it resembled a liturgy of the hours that presented morning, midday and evening offices. For those of you more familiar with common prayer, you will see echoes of that structure in my walking prayer. You will also find trail imagery to help prompt my thoughts. My hope is that this prayer will enrich and guide my experience in ways that I will only be able to discover along the way.

Walking Prayer

Morning

O Lord, let me rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun. Yours are the earth and its fullness.

Thank you for your new mercies this day:

The provision of bread,

The courage to face the unforeseen,

The patience to remain present in the moment,

The strength to remain undeterred by the troubles this path insists on giving.

The Lord’s Prayer

O Lord, may I find my rest and hope in you.

As I walk in your care,

May your life spring up in me,

May I live to your will and die to my own,

And may your surrounding Spirit protect me.

Allow me to trust that you will lead me by the right path.
Plant your word deep in my heart so that I may know your voice and not wander.
Make me an instrument of your peace.
Grant me the grace to serve you with gladness and singleness of heart.

Lord Jesus, as you walk, teach me to follow.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Midday

Father, Creator, Provider, Sustainer,

Help me to apply my heart unto wisdom;

Sharpen my mind that I might discern your truth.

Help me to accept what is given to me, embrace what is before me, and let go of what I must.
Help me to see the trees through the forest, yet help each footstep expand my vision of your world.

May this trail teach me of the hope that sprouts from Jesse's stump;

Fashion me into a branch that bears fruit.

May each shelter remind me of your protection;

Keep me from injury, illness, and harm.

May each mile move my heart farther from moth and rust;

Help me emerge from shadow into your light.

May each white blaze point me toward your grace, justice and joy;

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Through my life and through my prayers, may your Kingdom come!

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Evening

O Lord, come to my assistance and bind up that in me which is broken.

In choosing to do wrong and in failing to do good, I have sinned against you

In thought and word,

By what I have done,

And by what I have left undone.

I have not loved you with my whole heart;

I have not loved my neighbor as myself;

I have walked as if you did not matter and I mattered most.

There is no health in me.

[Reflection]

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.

I stand forgiven!
As far as the north is from the south, so far have my sins been removed from me.

O Lord, now as I come to the setting of the sun, let me give thanks for your grace this day.

[Reflection]

And let me not go through any part of the night unaccompanied by you.

Give me sound and refreshing sleep;

Give me freedom from restless dreams;

Give me safety from all perils;

Command your angels concerning me, tonight and tomorrow.

O Lord, may your grace pierce the darkness and give way to a new dawn.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

What's in my pack?

Due to popular demand, I've put together a list of what I'm carrying every step of the way. Because this list does not include consumables such as food, fuel, and water, it is known as a "base weight." When consumables are included, it is known as "total weight." Here is my base gear/weight for the AT:

The Big Three (Pack, Shelter, Sleeping)
Pack (37.5 oz)
Pack cover (3.1)
Shelter (30.2)
Stakes (2.5)
Aluminum pole (3.7)
Tent drysack (0.6)
Trekking poles (7.2)
Ground cloth (2.7)
Sleeping bag (47.6)
Sleeping bag compression sack (2.9)
Sleeping bag drysack (0.8)
Sleeping pad (6.9)
Total: 9.11 lbs

Clothes
Rain jacket (13.1 oz)
Rain pant (6.9)
Rain/sun hat (1.9)
Rain mitts (1.3)
Wind shirt (2.8)
Nylon hiking pant (9.8)
Nylon short (7.2)
Wool t-shirt (5.8)
Insulating jacket (14.4)
Long sleeve, hooded wool baselayer (6.5)
Mid-weight long underwear bottoms (5.7)
Wool socks, 3 pair (5.9)
Sock liner (0.8)
Underwear (2.2)
Warm hat (0.9)
Gloves (1.2)
Gaitors (1.8)
Bandana (0.9)
Bug head net (0.8)
Storage drysack (2.4)
Hiking shoes (32.5)
Camp shoes (10.3)
Total: 8.32 lbs
*Note: The clothes I'm wearing I won't be carrying, lightening the load. Shoes are a great example here. I also won't have all the clothes at once. For example, when it gets too warm for nylon hiking pants, I'll switch out to shorts, keeping the rain pant for needed warmth when/if necessary.

Cooking and Hydration
Bearbag system (3.6 oz)
Mini FireSteel (0.5)
Stove (2.8)
Fuel storage (0.8)
Pot (4.2)
Pot cozy (1.0)
Mug (3.2)
Spork (0.4)
Gatorade Bottle (1.8)
Platypus water bladder (4.0)
One gallon water bag (0.7)
In-line water filter (3.3)
AquaMira drops (3.1)
Total: 1.84 lbs

Misc. Essentials
Toothbrush (0.5 oz)
Toothpaste (1.0)
Dr. Bronner's soap (2.8)
Hand sanitizer (0.9)
Pack towel (2.2)
Headlamp (2.1)
Extra batteries (0.8)
Multitool (2.0)
Compass (1.0)
Maps (?)
Watch (0.9)
BIC mini lighter (0.5)

Tinder (0.5)

B-day candles (0.2)
Insect repellant (1.7)
Chap stick (0.4)
Sun screen (1.3)
Sun glasses (2.5)
First aid kit (13.9)
Repair kit (1.5)
Mirror (0.7)
Cat hole trowel (1.4)
Toilet paper (?)
Whistle (0.4)
Total: 2.40 lbs

Misc. Non-Essentials
Phone (4.5 oz)
Power cord (2.1)
Case (0.3)
Extra battery (1.1)
Journal (2.0)
Pen (0.5)
Ear plugs (0.1)
Total: 0.68 lbs

Grand Total (give or take): 22.34 lbs
Estimated Base Weight: 18.44 lbs
* On most days, I expect my base weight to be closer to 18-19 pounds, once clothes being worn, etc., are taken into account. After all, the hiking shoes alone are 2 pounds!