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.
sweetwilder 
Paperback is a great trail name! Four books does seem like a lot! That first paragraph hits the nail on the head! Happy trails!
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I ended up shedding a lot of weight in Rutland. Some of the books were victims 🙁
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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!
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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).
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Yellowstone! I’ve always wanted to go there! Have fun!
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Check my blog… several stories about Yellowstone… they just might draw you and family west young man! 😉
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