[at-l] Any body want to talk thru hiking?

[Mara Factor]

If I were you, I would consider a thruhike but I would wait until at least 
March to start.  Why struggle with the cold?

That said, since nobody is ever going to "give" you time to do a thruhike, 
if you ever want to do one, you will have to "take" the time.  From what 
you've said, you may find it easiest to take the time now, when you have the 
fewest other demands on your time.

If however, you think you're going to end up dwelling on your fear of 
missing out on a job opportunity while on the trail, you may find you won't 
enjoy the trail experience as much.

If you decide the trail has priority in your life, then you should be able 
to let go of that fear.  It seems to me that all (or at least, almost all) 
thruhikers end up adopting the attitude while on the trail that things will 
always work out.  I've found that is true for me off the trail as well.

I thruhiked at an "opportune" point in my life and never regretted it.  Even 
before that, I was always pretty good at making the best of opportunities.  
Since my hike, I not only make the best of opportunities, I seem to have 
learned how to make opportunities happen and be even better prepared to take 
advantage of them when they do.

Best of luck with your decision,

Mara
Stitches, AT99

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Visit my Travels and Trails web site at:

http://friends.backcountry.net/m_factor
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>From: "Thomas Fort" <tfort at jam.rr.com>
>Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 19:55:24 -0500
>
>To put this into a more precise question....
>
>What motivated you to hike and when? Did life dictate the timing, or,
>were you more exacting?
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: at-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:at-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
>On Behalf Of Thomas Fort
>Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 7:14 PM
>To: at-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: [at-l] Any body want to talk thru hiking?
>
>
>Within the next couple of months, I will be homeless, somewhat bill-less
>(only scheduled minimums to credit cards), and ... god forbidit ...
>Jobless.   At my age, 46, I may never get this chance again.  At least
>not before I retire. How many out there would like to voice an opinion
>about whether you would consider a thru, your 1st ever, next February
>1st?  Like anything, there are cons.  I *may* miss out on a good job
>market where I'll move to; The idea just plain scares me.    However, I
>am sure there will be some superior mind growth to it.
>
>I'd love to listen to your opinions.
>
>t.
>
>