The end is near

Or as I am calling it, the Keeping me Honest post.

Yes, the end is near.  I thought Whiteface was bad, and it was because it was subcontinent, rainforest hot.  Owls Head was a wonderful walk through the Pemi Wilderness.  Then came the scree laden slide of death swarming with black flies and blowdowns.  But, it was still a walk in the Pemi, and we know how much I love the Pemi.

The hills are alive with the sound Simon and Garfunkel and James Taylor.

So now there are 3.  Passaconaway.  Isolation.  And finally Cabot.  Then it will be over.  My NH48 will be complete.  Of course, I will redo some.  The Cats from Pinkham.  Franconia Ridge.  A Presi traverse, or semi Presi.  The Carters on a bluebird day.  Gridding Tecumseh and maybe Pierce.  Moosilauke is still needed for July (AT miles).  Trail magic hike.  And of course, a Pemi Loop.  I have to do a Pemi Loop.  However, I have to find 4 great days.  See the freedom finishing the 48 affords you?

And I just found out I got picked as an alternate for a colloquium on Calvin Coolidge.  You know what that means...reading a huge packet of readings. :)  But also, the LONG TRAIL.  And more AT miles.   It's conveniently located in Killington, so a VT 4K, LT/AT miles, and learning.  Trifecta.  OH and I think the Leonids are peaking then too.  August will be awesome.  No, it will be in tents. 

This last week has been good.  And I am wallowing in it for as long as I can.  The future looks hard, but I have this.  Now about those 2 mountains I have 48 hours to complete...

The mountains are calling and I must go - John Muir

Me? A tourist? Pfft.

Obligatory Mt. Washington photo.  Taken by a thru hiker.

Once you go 4K...

So I am in a teacher workshop.  I know, you are so surprised.  Of course, it is a good one, organized by the Museum of African American History in Boston.  Everyone from the director, to the Rangers, to the MLK scholars (students and recent grads from BPS), are just fantastic.  Some of the stuff I know, some is new.  They have a great exhibit on African American books.  So many great books are on display.  One of the books was Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria. Our activity was to pick a book that we felt spoke to us.  Initially, I did not pick that book to talk about, but after a few people discussed it, I did too.  I talked about being in a primarily White town and school and not really seeing myself as different until I went to a primarily Black school.  Then, I was an outsider.  I struggled with identity.  Who was I?  Was I acting the way I was “supposed” to?  Of course not, I was acting as myself, as me.  I was bullied terribly for it.  Add in the stress of Catholic School, well, you get the picture.  Throughout my life, I have had to deal with my identity.  Yes, I listen to Korn.  I can listen to rap music for about 2 minutes before I am desperately looking for some Metallica.  Yes, I still dress like a Preppy.  OK, maybe that part has changed a bit.  I fiercely defend my decisions about myself.  I have had to prove my worth as the person that I am.  I am still proving that I am worthy.  Yeah, that book speaks to me, but as someone who sat with the theater and music kids and shunned the kids who smoked pot.  

Not just did I hike up, I brought treats for thru hikers.

Then I mentioned hiking, because, well, I hike.  I love it.  It brings me joy, even if it humbles, hurts, and challenges me.  I am a different person outside.  I let nature teach me, I let it build me up.  Heck, I would get in my car and drive, hike some, and sleep in the woods right now.  It’s so me.  When I began to develop myself as a hiker, I took a hike in Acadia in Maine.  No, not Cadillac, but still some awesome hikes.  Heck, nothing is out boring in Acadia.  Someone asked me if I felt out of place.  Huh?  Ok, I had some new North Face clothes, but other than that, nothing would make me feel out of place except on thing.  

I've hiked in Wyoming and Montana...I like Montana better.

Yeah, you don’t see many People of Color (or whatever the new phrase it today) in the woods.  You don’t see many on the AT, PCT, almost anywhere.  Why?  Many people have studied this and shown that doesn’t make sense.  I have participated in the NPS African American History on the AT program.  One of the things they talk about is how many students at Storer College hiked to help them deal with their stresses.  Go back and look at the history of the Buffalo Soldiers.  But when I go out, not many other hikers look like me.  Of course, I could not care less.  The hiking community is the best community I know.  HELL, we are a family that has just not met yet.  I never feel out of place.  People even ask me for help because I guess I look like I know what I am doing.  At least a few times a year, I get the usual, “Are you a thru hiker?”  Issue with color, not that I have seen in the hiking family.  Issues with leashing dogs, postholing, trail runners vs. boots, that is another story.  

Me with the Trail Dames on Old Rag.  Now that is a hike.

I kayak (my first time too) with the Secretary of the Interior.  She was the REI CEO then.

I do it in the winter too.  And those birds are thieves.

I can even paraphrase Vanilla Ice

Am I the best hiker?  Heck no.  I still have so much to learn.  And I am slow.  Not glacial, but slothy.  Do I feel out of place?  Please.  Why aren’t all the Black kids out hiking?  I wish I knew.  I wish they knew the joy it brings.  Or how it make you realize what you can do.  There are many organizations that seek to change this.  Even some colleges have Freshman do major hikes for their orientation.  I guess there could be more.  And it’s not like their need to be any special accommodations.  Just an open mind and open heart.  

This is why you carry a map.  So you don't go 50 miles in the wrong directions toward another state.

Are there scary parts?  OH YEAH.  This one rocked.  Best part of the whole hike.

See that smile?  Does she seem out of place?  Of course not.  THE END.