I WON'T BE CLIMBING MT. EVEREST!

No surprise there - right?  But I'm not disappointed since I had never planned or hoped to do so anyway.  

I really do feel badly about having to give up hiking the Annapurna Trek in Nepal.  That was to be the crème de la crème of my hiking aspirations.  I  had also given some hope to hiking at least part of China's Great Wall [hopefully along with my friend, Randy].  But that's off the list also - for many reasons!  I had also given some thought to hiking the Camino de Santiago in Europe, but I would have liked to have a partner for that spiritual adventure.  

But, a couple of years ago - at 69 years of age - I began to experience the Haire handicap of arthritis along with an impediment related to my sciatic nerve in my right leg.  Now, my reality is limited to walking just about a mile.  My cane-chair has become a treasured companion.  People seem amused when I pop it open in Walmart and sit for a while.  😆  The Rogers' Sale is typically my biggest excursion for the week on Friday mornings.  

But I can walk!  PTL!  And I don't intend to stop!  

By the way, I'v done lots of hiking and backpacking over the years!  Monday was almost always my day off and it usually found me in the woods for three or four hours!  I've backpacked large sections of the North Country Trail repeatedly.  I've also done the Laurel Highlands Trail [70 miles from Johnstown to Ohiopyle, PA] about six times either alone or with a friend!  In 2018, I hit the Appalachian Trail for several months and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge!  I've spent hundreds of nights in the woods alone!  I've got stories to accompany those experiences!  

But, unless the Lord strengthens and heals me - or I choose to spend the thousands of dollars that a specialist has recommended - I'm probably pretty limited in my hiking aspirations.  But that's ok; I doubt that the above-mentioned dreams would have ever materialized anyway.  

I think the things that caused me to enjoy backpacking were essentially two-fold:

1. I found it to be a challenge!  Carrying forty-five pounds into the woods for a week or more was adventurous!  It was not something that everybody did!  And the rewards of hiking up a mountain and enjoying the vistas from its top were mesmerizing.  It was demanding!  There were many times when I wondered why I was out there!  🙄  There were a few times when I was intimidated by the darkness, the storms, and just general fear.  But all-in-all, it was exhilarating!  
2. I loved the solitude!  It was me and God!  The conversation began as I entered the trail and continued for the duration of the hike!  I settled lots of issues while backpacking!  I experienced high moments of worship and deep intimacy with God!  One hike produced the only miracle that I've personally experienced in my life!  Most of my praying was out loud!  I love to pray out loud - it helps me stay focused and lends a face-to-face quality to my dialogue with God!  

I soon expect to start unpacking all of those backpacking gear boxes and passing them along to someone who can use this stuff!  I still have a good bit of prepared food from my AT experience.  It might come in handy someday if we experience a crisis.  

I'm clearly in a de-accumulating phase of my life!  I figure its better for me to go through all this junk than to cast that burden on Troy and Tracie [or possibly Debbie] after I've moved on to higher ground!  

Although my backpacking days appear to be over, I can still type!  I'll unpack my life experiences here - on this blog - for anyone who might enjoy picking through my faux pas and adventures!