I haven't blogged in a long while, so probably no one who remembers me is still around. I tried, back in 1997, to backpack the entire Appalachian Trail, but only was able to complete about 900 of the 2200 or so miles of it. I don't feel the least bit guilty of not being able to hike any longer - I retired at age 55 and began the trail a few months later. I loved it (most of the time), but wasn't embarased to say "I'm finished".
I lived in Virginia back then, and have since moved to Sacramento, CA. I enjoy living here, for the most part, although since I've outlived many of my peers, I really don't fit in anywhere.
I'd love to hear from any former hikers/backpackers out there, and how you've managed to return to society. I don't think I have ever really fit in with most of society since I left the trail. And no, I don't have any desire to hike or backpack in California, even though I'm not far from the Pacific Crest Trail. I have had a good life in California since I moved here many years ago, but I will always be a "daughter of Appalachia". (I also spent a couple of years living in Ireland, which I really enjoyed at the time. But I'm so happy to be back in the U.S.)
Three of my four children live in CA, and one settled in New York. I belong to a different generation and era, and I sure miss my old friends. If any of you are still out there, or have enjoyed backpacking, please drop me a line.
Gypsy97 (Marty)
Posts
I am still here. The only place I backpacked was in South Viet Nam for about 15 months. I have day hiked many miles in the USA west of the mississippi river and a few miles in the north Alabama area. Yesterday I checked in on you and was wondering if you were still active. Glad to see you post tonight. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteBarney, it's so good to hear from you, and I'm glad you are still around. If you backpacked in Vietnam, I'm sure you had no control over your pack weight! Thnak you and all the Vietnam vets out there.
DeleteIf my pack was freshly resupplied it weighed 88- 90 pounds normally.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you Gypsy. Not sure I qualify as an old friend although I'm pretty sure we have been blog friends for at least 10 years. I've section hiked much of the AT and continue to hike everywhere I am though mostly under 10 miles round-trip now (7.7 on Monday ). Like you I am a daughter of Appalachia having lived in the foothills of Virginia less than 20 miles from the AT and Shenandoah NP for over 40 years. Where in Appalachia is your heart?
ReplyDeleteGypsy, I'm so excited to see your post. I have never been a hiker and I'm sure I won't start now. But I so love reading blogs and looking at pictures of those who do hike to places I'll never see for myself. I don't post very often anymore. I had surgery on my ankle and Achilles tendon about 4 1/2 months ago. So I'm just trying to survive the heat here in AZ.
ReplyDeleteGypsy, I am so glad to see a post from you! With this terrible heat wave I have often thought of how you were making out in California. It has been horrible in Del Rio, Texas.
ReplyDeleteI would be more than proud if I had completed 900 of 2200 miles of the Appalachian trail. I am not a hiker, as I was more than horrified at encountering a rattlesnake when I was hiking with my friends in Terlingua and so glad that I was not alone as I almost passed out from fright.
I am more than sure there are Hiker Channels on YouTube that you would enjoy. I follow many women, and some men vandwellers and car campers as that is more my style. I have been a part time vandweller before there was even a name for it.
Thank you for letting us hear from you. Be well my friend.
Hi, Gypsy! I check in from time to time, and keep promising that I'm still posting, lol. Somehow, I'm just so danged busy with all the things I'm doing I never seem to have the time. Blogging and writing in my journal are the last things on the list now-a-days. But I try... I used to backpack a little, the trips in Yosemite were the best backpacking trips I took. They were after my divorce when I was in my 30s and 40s, and I was lucky to have boyfriends who were experienced backpackers. I just loved it! It was a sad day when I decided I was probably too old to backpack anymore and sold all my equipment. The last man I dated mentioned us doing a hike on the PCT, just sections at a time. It sounded like fun, but we never did it. This was 10 years ago, so I wasn't a youngster, but I would have tried it! I'm finding the more I move and walk and exercise, the healthier I get, so long backpack trips probably aren't in my future, but I'll keep walking! Take care, and I'm so happy you're still posting! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gypsy missed you! I am from Windsor ON. Canada and my hubby writes "It's about time!" keep in touch! Kathy!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is so beautiful, I have been so busy lately about life but let me share with you all about my health life experience with the great herbal traditional doctor that saved the life of mine and my dear husband.
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Thank you and I hope this could save someone else out there.
Karen Paul
South Carolina.
Hi Gypsy: I don't qualify as an old hiking friend but have read your blog for many years and you have read mine. I used to do a lot of back packing and hiking but now my legs are pretty well shot and i struggle to walk sometimes. We recently moved from the mountains of Colorado to the mountains of N. Carolina. Now it is a struggle to ambulate around the property but I manage to get it done every day and miss the higher elevation (9,800') but it is better living close to relatives and medical care. Best wishes to you on this new year.
ReplyDeleteI sure miss living in the mountains on either side of the country! And I'm well past my hiking abilities. So friends, those of you who are still able, get out there while you still can. It's a beautiful country, and I'm proud to say I've been in all 50 states, finding great people in all of them, as well as incredible beauty in places that no one would imagine. I really loved North Carolina, by the way!
DeleteThanks for sharing this blog
ReplyDelete