Long Trail – Day 2
June 15, 2016
Congdon Shelter to Goddard Shelter
A previous law professor of mine said of the BAR exam that “it doesn’t measure how smart you are, it measures how bad you want to be a lawyer.” I feel that hiking or thru-hiking can be analogized similarly. It doesn’t measure how strong or quick you are, it measures how badly you want to finish.
Today I had planned to do 18 miles to Kid Gore Shelter, but I’m still finding my sea legs, so to speak. Speaking of that I found a great book at Congdon last night called Sailing Solo Around The World. It was a fascinating look at an expedition, but the nautical terminology was unfamiliar. Somewhat related I now have a trail name: Paperback. Gourmet (the ex military guy) found my bringing four books on the trail comical, and apropos for a new name.
As I write this I sit around a fire at Goddard. Another great night of great conversation. Met LBJAY and Dirty Don, two great Christian guys from Georgia, the first southerners I’ve met. As soon as I heard Dirty’s accent, I knew he was southern. We had a great conversation, and LBJAY enlivened the campfire with stories of Grizzlies in the Yellowstone and out west.
I hope to make it to Stratton Pond tomorrow, but won’t make a fuss if I don’t.
Total mileage is 14.4 miles.
Paperback is a great trail name! Four books does seem like a lot! That first paragraph hits the nail on the head! Happy trails!
I ended up shedding a lot of weight in Rutland. Some of the books were victims 🙁
Paperbacks, huh. I met a lady on the trail in Glacier NP 14 years ago. She was carrying heart-shaped rocks… lots of them. I thought she was nuts! 😉
Funny, but I’ll soon be hiking Glacier again with three others, and she is one of them… a reunion! I will also be visiting Yellowstone again soon, the Big Horns, and the Badlands. Fun, fun, fun!
I’ve never had a trail name. 😉
Beautiful country you’re traveling, Paperback!
It’s so rewarding traveling to an unknown area (for me) and accomplishing s goal. I’ll be honest the terrain up here is brutal (especially the northern section).
Yellowstone! I’ve always wanted to go there! Have fun!
Check my blog… several stories about Yellowstone… they just might draw you and family west young man! 😉