Living on the trail
In today's crazy economy and world,does anyone else feel like going to live on the trail?theres so much pressure to achieve certain ranks that you can tend to feel smothered.
No, personally I am happy very happy in the real world. I believe that if folks were to step back and examine what is happening in life, they would find that they are all too often the ones putting the pressure on themselves. Others have said this as well, but running off and escaping to the trail does not usually resolve the issue you are running from.
What is happening in your life that you are feeling smothered?
Last edited by Tuckahoe; 10-16-2013 at 07:38.
igne et ferrum est potentas
"In the beginning, all America was Virginia." -William Byrd
How would you "live on the trail" ?? it still requires money for food, gear replacement, ect.
Betting Sunshine is posting this question much like "don't you ever think about what it would be like to win the lottery?" We all have pressures, we all daydream... I see where she's coming from: carefree, living in nature. Anyone who does a long hike is living on the trail. Look at The Barefoot Sisters (I'm in the middle of "Walking Home" and they have been on trail 11 months--so far). I think it would be a nice sabbatical, and yes, I do think about it. It's not my reality though, but that big hike is in my future someday.
"Your comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there."
wherever you go, there you are.
living on the trail is a nice escape from the commercialism that pervades our society. trail life is simple. you wake up , you eat and walk. eat some more, sleep, and do it all over again.you come to learn how little you need to be happy.how much easier life is when its simple. and thats the best lesson of trail life, to simplify your life, reduce your debt,live frugally, but without want.less can truly be more.
you can only escape temporarily, sooner or later you'll come off the trail, perhaps with a new perspective. the world can change, and it does with fresh perspective.no matter how far you walk, you cannot run away from yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEHOoENxssg
Ditto..........Originally Posted by Tuckahoe64
DeerPath
LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY
IN A WELL PRESERVED BODY,
BUT RATHER SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT,
SHOUTING "HOLY CRAP....WHAT A RIDE!"
Living on the trail is NOT living in nature. Your backpack with all your supplies, which you are very dependent on, keeps you well insulated from nature.
Only the strong survive in nature; nature will kill you if you don't kill and fight. Why people think nature is so benign is beyond me. There are no pressures of society that can be tougher than what nature throws at you.
If you lived on the trail you would trade things like bad commutes, stressful jobs, high bills for things like very cold nights, bad terrain and dangerous animals. Being on the trail is fun for awhile. But it's always nice to get back to the real world.
I think the secret is to bring a little of the trail mindset back with you to the real world.
Living on the trail is something I wish I would love to do. But, I have a feeling I would end up hating it. I really enjoy the time I spend on the trail, now. It's just enough to keep me "hooked" on it.
I believe I know myself well enough to understand that I could not do a thru-hike. I would get tired of the trail before I got to the end.
I didn't say living "on" nature, nor did I say "at the mercy of" nature, I said living "in" nature... As opposed to, say, living in the city, or a suburb, or on a boat. You see nature the way you want (which is pretty scary, quite frankly), I'll see it the way I want.
"Your comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there."
To some of us caught in the current economic environment, living on the trail may be a great retirement plan!
99.9% of y'all couldn't do it. no way to charge your Ithingys
I'm entitled to use any electrical outlet I see!
If you are hiking in PA and you see an electrical outlet on someones porch can you recharge your phone? Is it a survival situation if you haven't checked your emails for 3 days?
during the government shutdown, we're all in survival mode.
anything goes.
Your silly
wheres my water?
Yeah. I think about it a fair amount, though not because I feel "smothered" or otherwise troubled about living in a more normal way. I think I might actually enjoy it for a year or two. I may try it if I'm still so inclined after my thru hike, which looks like is shaping up as a traditional SOBO in about 3 years. I would term what I am contemplating more as staying in the woods, than living on the trail. Would definitely head to Florida Trail area in Winter. Fun to think about. Time will tell whether it will be fun to actually do.My smartass phone would be one of the things that would really help make it possible from the standpoint of having a lightweight info source for every need. Portable solar has come a long way and by 2016 will be even more capable and cheap. UL gear is the other factor that would make it even possible to enjoy such an extended time out. Hoboing has always held an appeal for me. Not without hardship, but what really is?
Living on the AT is not feasable during the winter. The hardcore tramps head south to the Florida trail for the winter.
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