good afternoon thank you everyone needs a dream a vision
everyone needs a dream a vision
everyone needs a dream a vision I think our dreams should challenge us
I think our dreams should challenge us
I think our dreams should challenge us and maybe even make us afraid I hope to
and maybe even make us afraid I hope to
and maybe even make us afraid I hope to convince you to create your own
convince you to create your own
convince you to create your own adventure plan something that would
adventure plan something that would
adventure plan something that would shake you up
shake you up
shake you up I’ve been looking so pretty great
I’ve been looking so pretty great
I’ve been looking so pretty great adventure travel in the last ten years
adventure travel in the last ten years
adventure travel in the last ten years or so and it’s given me plenty to be
or so and it’s given me plenty to be
or so and it’s given me plenty to be afraid of recently I completed a for
afraid of recently I completed a for
afraid of recently I completed a for summer hike of the Appalachian Trail
summer hike of the Appalachian Trail
summer hike of the Appalachian Trail which amounts to about 500 miles a
which amounts to about 500 miles a
which amounts to about 500 miles a summer by the time we finish today we
summer by the time we finish today we
summer by the time we finish today we will have journeyed to both sides of
will have journeyed to both sides of
will have journeyed to both sides of this continent and to the top of one of
this continent and to the top of one of
this continent and to the top of one of the world’s highest summits now just
the world’s highest summits now just
the world’s highest summits now just saying aloud I’m going to hike the
saying aloud I’m going to hike the
saying aloud I’m going to hike the Appalachian Trail or any long trail is
Appalachian Trail or any long trail is
Appalachian Trail or any long trail is darned brazen it takes a lot of hutzpah
darned brazen it takes a lot of hutzpah
darned brazen it takes a lot of hutzpah for sure because what if you don’t
for sure because what if you don’t
for sure because what if you don’t finish
finish
finish I’ll go right ahead and answer the four
I’ll go right ahead and answer the four
I’ll go right ahead and answer the four most common questions that people ask
most common questions that people ask
most common questions that people ask long trail hikers no I didn’t carry a
long trail hikers no I didn’t carry a
long trail hikers no I didn’t carry a gun my husband would have liked me to
gun my husband would have liked me to
gun my husband would have liked me to carry a gun and my sons would have liked
carry a gun and my sons would have liked
carry a gun and my sons would have liked me to carry a gun but guns are heavy and
me to carry a gun but guns are heavy and
me to carry a gun but guns are heavy and we found that being on the trail is
we found that being on the trail is
we found that being on the trail is actually a lot safer than being in most
actually a lot safer than being in most
actually a lot safer than being in most towns yes there are bears usually when
towns yes there are bears usually when
towns yes there are bears usually when you see bears on the trail they want to
you see bears on the trail they want to
you see bears on the trail they want to go in the opposite direction of you but
go in the opposite direction of you but
go in the opposite direction of you but it’s a little unnerving at first and
it’s a little unnerving at first and
it’s a little unnerving at first and there are some other kind of scary
there are some other kind of scary
there are some other kind of scary little creatures on the trail who wants
little creatures on the trail who wants
little creatures on the trail who wants to wake up next to a porcupine or a
to wake up next to a porcupine or a
to wake up next to a porcupine or a skunk where do you sleep what we
skunk where do you sleep what we
skunk where do you sleep what we generally slept in our tents my hiking
generally slept in our tents my hiking
generally slept in our tents my hiking partner and I Sarah each had our own
partner and I Sarah each had our own
partner and I Sarah each had our own tent and we found getting into our own
tent and we found getting into our own
tent and we found getting into our own little tent every night was just a lot
little tent every night was just a lot
little tent every night was just a lot cleaner
cleaner
cleaner and smelled a lot better than being in a
and smelled a lot better than being in a
and smelled a lot better than being in a large shelter with 10 or 12 snoring and
large shelter with 10 or 12 snoring and
large shelter with 10 or 12 snoring and smelly men how do you carry all that
smelly men how do you carry all that
smelly men how do you carry all that food people ask you
food people ask you
food people ask you well you don’t what you do is you can do
well you don’t what you do is you can do
well you don’t what you do is you can do a couple of things but what we chose to
a couple of things but what we chose to
a couple of things but what we chose to do was to ship our food and boxes ahead
do was to ship our food and boxes ahead
do was to ship our food and boxes ahead of us on the trail and every three or
of us on the trail and every three or
of us on the trail and every three or four days we’d stop in a town and get
four days we’d stop in a town and get
four days we’d stop in a town and get our food box and this works great except
our food box and this works great except
our food box and this works great except when it doesn’t and so one year we came
when it doesn’t and so one year we came
when it doesn’t and so one year we came into a little tiny town called Parris
into a little tiny town called Parris
into a little tiny town called Parris burg Virginia to find our food box at a
burg Virginia to find our food box at a
burg Virginia to find our food box at a little motel that had burned down five
little motel that had burned down five
little motel that had burned down five months ago that was not in the manual
months ago that was not in the manual
months ago that was not in the manual and so what we had to do was go to a
and so what we had to do was go to a
and so what we had to do was go to a tiny little convenience store in a gas
tiny little convenience store in a gas
tiny little convenience store in a gas station and supply ourselves for four
station and supply ourselves for four
station and supply ourselves for four days and I would challenge you the next
days and I would challenge you the next
days and I would challenge you the next time you go through a tiny town just
time you go through a tiny town just
time you go through a tiny town just stop in one of those little convenience
stop in one of those little convenience
stop in one of those little convenience stores and think about buying food for
stores and think about buying food for
stores and think about buying food for four days that you would want to eat
four days that you would want to eat
four days that you would want to eat hikers burn between five and seven
hikers burn between five and seven
hikers burn between five and seven thousand calories a day so you really
thousand calories a day so you really
thousand calories a day so you really have to eat a lot of food and the
have to eat a lot of food and the
have to eat a lot of food and the carbohydrates and sugar from a
carbohydrates and sugar from a
carbohydrates and sugar from a convenience store are great but you
convenience store are great but you
convenience store are great but you won’t find protein that you need there
won’t find protein that you need there
won’t find protein that you need there years ago in sub-saharan Africa my 17
years ago in sub-saharan Africa my 17
years ago in sub-saharan Africa my 17 year old son and I will landed at
year old son and I will landed at
year old son and I will landed at Nairobi International Airport for our
Nairobi International Airport for our
Nairobi International Airport for our trek up Mount Kilimanjaro we were so
trek up Mount Kilimanjaro we were so
trek up Mount Kilimanjaro we were so excited
excited
excited finally we were in Africa and we landed
finally we were in Africa and we landed
finally we were in Africa and we landed and got our visas stamped and did you
and got our visas stamped and did you
and got our visas stamped and did you know that a lot of people in the world
know that a lot of people in the world
know that a lot of people in the world don’t line up they just make a wedge and
don’t line up they just make a wedge and
don’t line up they just make a wedge and push their way to the exit of a place so
push their way to the exit of a place so
push their way to the exit of a place so we joined that throng and went out to
we joined that throng and went out to
we joined that throng and went out to our sort of beat-up van to be
our sort of beat-up van to be
our sort of beat-up van to be transported to our hotel and we looked
transported to our hotel and we looked
transported to our hotel and we looked at each other and I was so excited and
at each other and I was so excited and
at each other and I was so excited and excited for to share this time with my
excited for to share this time with my
excited for to share this time with my son and a ways out of town it was very
son and a ways out of town it was very
son and a ways out of town it was very very dark and we were stopped our van
very dark and we were stopped our van
very dark and we were stopped our van was stopped by a man and a t-shirt and
was stopped by a man and a t-shirt and
was stopped by a man and a t-shirt and jeans and a submachine gun and I
jeans and a submachine gun and I
jeans and a submachine gun and I remember he shown his flashlight into my
remember he shown his flashlight into my
remember he shown his flashlight into my window and I
window and I
window and I guess maybe checking for safety and so
guess maybe checking for safety and so
guess maybe checking for safety and so we were allowed to proceed on to our
we were allowed to proceed on to our
we were allowed to proceed on to our hotel which also had a 9 foot metal wall
hotel which also had a 9 foot metal wall
hotel which also had a 9 foot metal wall around it and also guards with machine
around it and also guards with machine
around it and also guards with machine guns so this was something that wasn’t
guns so this was something that wasn’t
guns so this was something that wasn’t in the brochure but we were there so we
in the brochure but we were there so we
in the brochure but we were there so we were going to go many your many days
were going to go many your many days
were going to go many your many days later near the top of Mount Kilimanjaro
later near the top of Mount Kilimanjaro
later near the top of Mount Kilimanjaro our Sun will became really quite ill and
our Sun will became really quite ill and
our Sun will became really quite ill and couldn’t keep food down and I said you
couldn’t keep food down and I said you
couldn’t keep food down and I said you want to stop and he said no and so I
want to stop and he said no and so I
want to stop and he said no and so I watched my brave son trudge up the last
watched my brave son trudge up the last
watched my brave son trudge up the last 3,000 feet of that mountain and collapse
3,000 feet of that mountain and collapse
3,000 feet of that mountain and collapse at the end taking oxygen only at that
at the end taking oxygen only at that
at the end taking oxygen only at that point and I think that’s courageous the
point and I think that’s courageous the
point and I think that’s courageous the payoff for that trip to Africa was of
payoff for that trip to Africa was of
payoff for that trip to Africa was of course a wonderful memory with my son
course a wonderful memory with my son
course a wonderful memory with my son but also to see the snows of Kilimanjaro
but also to see the snows of Kilimanjaro
but also to see the snows of Kilimanjaro and this is a story that my son who is a
and this is a story that my son who is a
and this is a story that my son who is a Hemingway lover was excited to see every
Hemingway lover was excited to see every
Hemingway lover was excited to see every day safety is easily lost while out
day safety is easily lost while out
day safety is easily lost while out hiking the combination of cold rain and
hiking the combination of cold rain and
hiking the combination of cold rain and wind and sometimes sleet can create the
wind and sometimes sleet can create the
wind and sometimes sleet can create the perfect conditions for hypothermia and
perfect conditions for hypothermia and
perfect conditions for hypothermia and hypothermia is a very dangerous thing
hypothermia is a very dangerous thing
hypothermia is a very dangerous thing your body temperature if your core
your body temperature if your core
your body temperature if your core temperature drops about 6 degrees this
temperature drops about 6 degrees this
temperature drops about 6 degrees this slows your circulation and respiration
slows your circulation and respiration
slows your circulation and respiration and your brain loses its ability to
and your brain loses its ability to
and your brain loses its ability to function and you get what hikers call
function and you get what hikers call
function and you get what hikers call the umbels you stumble you mumble you
the umbels you stumble you mumble you
the umbels you stumble you mumble you fumble and suddenly setting up your tent
fumble and suddenly setting up your tent
fumble and suddenly setting up your tent becomes an impossible task and you
becomes an impossible task and you
becomes an impossible task and you really can’t even think of why you would
really can’t even think of why you would
really can’t even think of why you would want to do it danger outside is real and
want to do it danger outside is real and
want to do it danger outside is real and can be deadly
can be deadly
can be deadly last year in Maine they found the body
last year in Maine they found the body
last year in Maine they found the body of a woman just my age who had been
of a woman just my age who had been
of a woman just my age who had been missing for two years and she had
missing for two years and she had
missing for two years and she had wandered off the trail and no one really
wandered off the trail and no one really
wandered off the trail and no one really knows what happened to her but possibly
knows what happened to her but possibly
knows what happened to her but possibly she had developed hypothermia
many outdoor venturers though are
many outdoor venturers though are ordinary people and I think they just
ordinary people and I think they just
ordinary people and I think they just listen to their inner voice that says
listen to their inner voice that says
listen to their inner voice that says get out and I imagine that everyone
get out and I imagine that everyone
get out and I imagine that everyone feels a little bit of restlessness and
feels a little bit of restlessness and
feels a little bit of restlessness and I’m here to tell you that trekking and
I’m here to tell you that trekking and
I’m here to tell you that trekking and hiking or very accessible activities for
hiking or very accessible activities for
hiking or very accessible activities for most of us how do you get started well I
most of us how do you get started well I
most of us how do you get started well I think first you recognize the itch and
think first you recognize the itch and
think first you recognize the itch and don’t listen to people who can’t share
don’t listen to people who can’t share
don’t listen to people who can’t share in your excitement it is my experience
in your excitement it is my experience
in your excitement it is my experience that your family and friends kind of
that your family and friends kind of
that your family and friends kind of divide up into two groups one group is
divide up into two groups one group is
divide up into two groups one group is kind of scared for you and it’s hard for
kind of scared for you and it’s hard for
kind of scared for you and it’s hard for them to get excited but the other group
them to get excited but the other group
them to get excited but the other group encourages you and introduces you to
encourages you and introduces you to
encourages you and introduces you to people who have done your trip and they
people who have done your trip and they
people who have done your trip and they are happy for you to take on an
are happy for you to take on an
are happy for you to take on an adventure and those are the people that
adventure and those are the people that
adventure and those are the people that we really need to listen to so then your
we really need to listen to so then your
we really need to listen to so then your dream starts to take on aspects of
dream starts to take on aspects of
dream starts to take on aspects of reality you read about it you save money
reality you read about it you save money
reality you read about it you save money for it you save more money for it you
for it you save more money for it you
for it you save more money for it you buy gear and if you’re like me you buy
buy gear and if you’re like me you buy
buy gear and if you’re like me you buy more gear and finally you do the hardest
more gear and finally you do the hardest
more gear and finally you do the hardest task of all which is to strengthen your
task of all which is to strengthen your
task of all which is to strengthen your body because let’s face it adventure
body because let’s face it adventure
body because let’s face it adventure challenges our bodies I have Canadian
challenges our bodies I have Canadian
challenges our bodies I have Canadian cousins and one year my cousin Nancy was
cousins and one year my cousin Nancy was
cousins and one year my cousin Nancy was telling me about a beautiful trail in
telling me about a beautiful trail in
telling me about a beautiful trail in Vancouver called the west coast and I
Vancouver called the west coast and I
Vancouver called the west coast and I had never heard of it and she described
had never heard of it and she described
had never heard of it and she described to me how she and her daughter hike this
to me how she and her daughter hike this
to me how she and her daughter hike this trail together every year and at 74
trail together every year and at 74
trail together every year and at 74 kilometers along the coast of Vancouver
kilometers along the coast of Vancouver
kilometers along the coast of Vancouver Island beautiful Pacific coastline and
Island beautiful Pacific coastline and
Island beautiful Pacific coastline and she also told me that occasionally she
she also told me that occasionally she
she also told me that occasionally she and her daughter would stop and have a
and her daughter would stop and have a
and her daughter would stop and have a cup of tea in the afternoon and I’m here
cup of tea in the afternoon and I’m here
cup of tea in the afternoon and I’m here to tell you I have never hiked with a
to tell you I have never hiked with a
to tell you I have never hiked with a lot of people mostly men because I
lot of people mostly men because I
lot of people mostly men because I didn’t know women at the time to hike
didn’t know women at the time to hike
didn’t know women at the time to hike with and I never stopped for a cup of
with and I never stopped for a cup of
with and I never stopped for a cup of tea in the afternoon
so I really wanted to find some women to
so I really wanted to find some women to hike with now the West Coast Trail is
hike with now the West Coast Trail is
hike with now the West Coast Trail is achingly beautiful when the tides go out
achingly beautiful when the tides go out
achingly beautiful when the tides go out there is a rocky shelf that you can walk
there is a rocky shelf that you can walk
there is a rocky shelf that you can walk out on and it’s like I think a jewel box
out on and it’s like I think a jewel box
out on and it’s like I think a jewel box of sea urchins and starfish and an enemy
of sea urchins and starfish and an enemy
of sea urchins and starfish and an enemy and in the evening it gets really misty
and in the evening it gets really misty
and in the evening it gets really misty and beautiful and oh but there’s a
and beautiful and oh but there’s a
and beautiful and oh but there’s a challenge at the West Coast Trail and
challenge at the West Coast Trail and
challenge at the West Coast Trail and that is Cougars so the first time I
that is Cougars so the first time I
that is Cougars so the first time I knelt down to filter my water on the
knelt down to filter my water on the
knelt down to filter my water on the West Coast Trail I saw a triangular
West Coast Trail I saw a triangular
West Coast Trail I saw a triangular yellow sign that said beware don’t
yellow sign that said beware don’t
yellow sign that said beware don’t crouch down unless someone’s behind you
crouch down unless someone’s behind you
crouch down unless someone’s behind you so attacks of Cougars or by Cougars
so attacks of Cougars or by Cougars
so attacks of Cougars or by Cougars aren’t very common on the west coast
aren’t very common on the west coast
aren’t very common on the west coast trail but Cougars are common on the west
trail but Cougars are common on the west
trail but Cougars are common on the west coast trail
coast trail
coast trail speaking of a dream story a couple of
speaking of a dream story a couple of
speaking of a dream story a couple of summers ago my hiking partner and I met
summers ago my hiking partner and I met
summers ago my hiking partner and I met a guy named Steve from West Virginia and
a guy named Steve from West Virginia and
a guy named Steve from West Virginia and he had we chatted him up and he had been
he had we chatted him up and he had been
he had we chatted him up and he had been to a family gathering many years before
to a family gathering many years before
to a family gathering many years before and a bunch of people were sitting
and a bunch of people were sitting
and a bunch of people were sitting around talking about adventure trips
around talking about adventure trips
around talking about adventure trips they’ve taken and he thought to himself
they’ve taken and he thought to himself
they’ve taken and he thought to himself I haven’t done anything like that and he
I haven’t done anything like that and he
I haven’t done anything like that and he decided he didn’t want his life to go on
decided he didn’t want his life to go on
decided he didn’t want his life to go on that you know without adventure so when
that you know without adventure so when
that you know without adventure so when we met him he had started cycling and he
we met him he had started cycling and he
we met him he had started cycling and he had cycled across the state of West
had cycled across the state of West
had cycled across the state of West Virginia where he was from and then he
Virginia where he was from and then he
Virginia where he was from and then he decided to cycle from the top border of
decided to cycle from the top border of
decided to cycle from the top border of Florida down to mile marker zero at Key
Florida down to mile marker zero at Key
Florida down to mile marker zero at Key West and then he started running and
West and then he started running and
West and then he started running and then when of course when we met him he
then when of course when we met him he
then when of course when we met him he was 1,800 miles into his thru-hike of
was 1,800 miles into his thru-hike of
was 1,800 miles into his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail I remember him
the Appalachian Trail I remember him
the Appalachian Trail I remember him well because he and my hiking partner
well because he and my hiking partner
well because he and my hiking partner Sarah had to climb a very slippery and
Sarah had to climb a very slippery and
Sarah had to climb a very slippery and high and dangerous mountain called Mount
high and dangerous mountain called Mount
high and dangerous mountain called Mount Musa locky in the cold rain so
Musa locky in the cold rain so
Musa locky in the cold rain so adventuring does this to you it tests
adventuring does this to you it tests
adventuring does this to you it tests your body in your strength and your
your body in your strength and your
your body in your strength and your focus it makes you braver not foolish
focus it makes you braver not foolish
focus it makes you braver not foolish but calculating another aspect of
but calculating another aspect of
but calculating another aspect of outdoor adventure is the undeniable
outdoor adventure is the undeniable
outdoor adventure is the undeniable emotional journey there
emotional journey there
emotional journey there definitely an element of personal growth
definitely an element of personal growth
definitely an element of personal growth that you experience when you’re out on
that you experience when you’re out on
that you experience when you’re out on long weeks hiking by yourself for most
long weeks hiking by yourself for most
long weeks hiking by yourself for most of the day we met several former service
of the day we met several former service
of the day we met several former service members male and female who were walking
members male and female who were walking
members male and female who were walking off the war we met
off the war we met
off the war we met of course people in transition from work
of course people in transition from work
of course people in transition from work to retirement and I remember
to retirement and I remember
to retirement and I remember particularly one big burly bearded young
particularly one big burly bearded young
particularly one big burly bearded young man who said the trail it just heals you
man who said the trail it just heals you
man who said the trail it just heals you and I think it improves you occasional
and I think it improves you occasional
and I think it improves you occasional you see children on the trail mostly Boy
you see children on the trail mostly Boy
you see children on the trail mostly Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and I remember
Scouts and Girl Scouts and I remember
Scouts and Girl Scouts and I remember one particular occasion where we were on
one particular occasion where we were on
one particular occasion where we were on the high slope and they were coming up
the high slope and they were coming up
the high slope and they were coming up and of course they’re here carrying big
and of course they’re here carrying big
and of course they’re here carrying big packs of heavy sort of inexpensive gear
packs of heavy sort of inexpensive gear
packs of heavy sort of inexpensive gear and they’re miserable
and they’re miserable
and they’re miserable pretty much and so you look at them and
pretty much and so you look at them and
pretty much and so you look at them and you say things like you’re great keep
you say things like you’re great keep
you say things like you’re great keep going and try to encourage them I should
going and try to encourage them I should
going and try to encourage them I should say here that hiking can be pretty
say here that hiking can be pretty
say here that hiking can be pretty demanding it can be downright punishing
demanding it can be downright punishing
demanding it can be downright punishing actually until you get what we call
actually until you get what we call
actually until you get what we call trail hard and trail hard means that
trail hard and trail hard means that
trail hard and trail hard means that your heart and muscles and respiration
your heart and muscles and respiration
your heart and muscles and respiration have been taxed enough so that you have
have been taxed enough so that you have
have been taxed enough so that you have the fitness to pull yourself up a
the fitness to pull yourself up a
the fitness to pull yourself up a mountain with a backpack on but what do
mountain with a backpack on but what do
mountain with a backpack on but what do you do if you’re not trail hard well you
you do if you’re not trail hard well you
you do if you’re not trail hard well you just take your time you just slow down
just take your time you just slow down
just take your time you just slow down you hike your own hike that’s a great
you hike your own hike that’s a great
you hike your own hike that’s a great statement from the trail hike your own
statement from the trail hike your own
statement from the trail hike your own hike you can stop whenever you want and
hike you can stop whenever you want and
hike you can stop whenever you want and you can take off your shoes and just
you can take off your shoes and just
you can take off your shoes and just kind of hang out and start up when you
kind of hang out and start up when you
kind of hang out and start up when you want to and this is the magic of hiking
want to and this is the magic of hiking
want to and this is the magic of hiking anyone can really do it I think in the
anyone can really do it I think in the
anyone can really do it I think in the last 100 miles last summer of the
last 100 miles last summer of the
last 100 miles last summer of the Appalachian Trail I lost my excellent
Appalachian Trail I lost my excellent
Appalachian Trail I lost my excellent hiking partner Sierra after an 11 hour
hiking partner Sierra after an 11 hour
hiking partner Sierra after an 11 hour day she fell on a slippery rock at dusk
day she fell on a slippery rock at dusk
day she fell on a slippery rock at dusk and when you’re carrying a heavy
and when you’re carrying a heavy
and when you’re carrying a heavy backpack when you lose your balance it
backpack when you lose your balance it
backpack when you lose your balance it really slams you down and when Sara fell
really slams you down and when Sara fell
really slams you down and when Sara fell I was pretty sure she was hurt and sara
I was pretty sure she was hurt and sara
I was pretty sure she was hurt and sara is a really tough hiker
is a really tough hiker
is a really tough hiker but a broken arm will send you home and
but a broken arm will send you home and
but a broken arm will send you home and so the challenge for us then was to get
so the challenge for us then was to get
so the challenge for us then was to get Sarah off the trail but the dangerous
Sarah off the trail but the dangerous
Sarah off the trail but the dangerous thing and disappointing thing was that
thing and disappointing thing was that
thing and disappointing thing was that there was a big mountain that we had to
there was a big mountain that we had to
there was a big mountain that we had to go over before we could get to a road
go over before we could get to a road
go over before we could get to a road for someone to come and pick her up so
for someone to come and pick her up so
for someone to come and pick her up so we got her in her tent and she slept
we got her in her tent and she slept
we got her in her tent and she slept overnight and got her packed up in the
overnight and got her packed up in the
overnight and got her packed up in the morning and we set out to climb this big
morning and we set out to climb this big
morning and we set out to climb this big mountain there was no other way to do it
mountain there was no other way to do it
mountain there was no other way to do it and of course it was a rainy cold and
and of course it was a rainy cold and
and of course it was a rainy cold and windy day and Sarah fell twice on that
windy day and Sarah fell twice on that
windy day and Sarah fell twice on that arm before we got down and I would say
arm before we got down and I would say
arm before we got down and I would say that that’s just another kind of crazy
that that’s just another kind of crazy
that that’s just another kind of crazy courage – Sarah was my saving grace she
courage – Sarah was my saving grace she
courage – Sarah was my saving grace she is a map reader and planner
is a map reader and planner
is a map reader and planner extraordinaire she pushed me I can be
extraordinaire she pushed me I can be
extraordinaire she pushed me I can be kind of a complainer and I we hiked many
kind of a complainer and I we hiked many
kind of a complainer and I we hiked many more miles a day than mostly I would
more miles a day than mostly I would
more miles a day than mostly I would want to do so and now I had to say
want to do so and now I had to say
want to do so and now I had to say goodbye to Sarah in their last 100 miles
goodbye to Sarah in their last 100 miles
goodbye to Sarah in their last 100 miles and that was a really hard thing to do
and that was a really hard thing to do
and that was a really hard thing to do but my patient husband had been home for
but my patient husband had been home for
but my patient husband had been home for four summers cooking meals and kind of
four summers cooking meals and kind of
four summers cooking meals and kind of hanging out without me for weeks on end
hanging out without me for weeks on end
hanging out without me for weeks on end and he was ready for my epilation trail
and he was ready for my epilation trail
and he was ready for my epilation trail adventure to end so I when we got to the
adventure to end so I when we got to the
adventure to end so I when we got to the next trail town we found medical care
next trail town we found medical care
next trail town we found medical care for Sarah and she got a flight home but
for Sarah and she got a flight home but
for Sarah and she got a flight home but now I needed to go through the last 100
now I needed to go through the last 100
now I needed to go through the last 100 miles of the trail the Appalachian Trail
miles of the trail the Appalachian Trail
miles of the trail the Appalachian Trail which is called the 100-mile wilderness
which is called the 100-mile wilderness
which is called the 100-mile wilderness and you are not it’s not wise to go
and you are not it’s not wise to go
and you are not it’s not wise to go through that place by yourself so I had
through that place by yourself so I had
through that place by yourself so I had to find other people to hike with so
to find other people to hike with so
to find other people to hike with so luckily I found this amazing little
luckily I found this amazing little
luckily I found this amazing little family who were out on the trail a
family who were out on the trail a
family who were out on the trail a French mother who was a trained lawyer
French mother who was a trained lawyer
French mother who was a trained lawyer from France her husband was at home and
from France her husband was at home and
from France her husband was at home and she had decided to take her three
she had decided to take her three
she had decided to take her three children on a summer trip that would
children on a summer trip that would
children on a summer trip that would challenge them and require them to
challenge them and require them to
challenge them and require them to cooperate and to do a really hard thing
cooperate and to do a really hard thing
cooperate and to do a really hard thing and so these little kids were hiking on
and so these little kids were hiking on
and so these little kids were hiking on the Appalachian Trail Vermont New
the Appalachian Trail Vermont New
the Appalachian Trail Vermont New Hampshire and Maine the very the three
Hampshire and Maine the very the three
Hampshire and Maine the very the three very hardest States so I’d like to tell
very hardest States so I’d like to tell
very hardest States so I’d like to tell you about them a little bit um there was
you about them a little bit um there was
you about them a little bit um there was a little boy named arpád and he was
a little boy named arpád and he was
a little boy named arpád and he was seven and he did not
seven and he did not
seven and he did not carry a pack but his twelve-year-old
carry a pack but his twelve-year-old
carry a pack but his twelve-year-old brother marcus aurelius carried him what
brother marcus aurelius carried him what
brother marcus aurelius carried him what a name right now that’s a name
a name right now that’s a name
a name right now that’s a name he carried a pack that would make me cry
he carried a pack that would make me cry
he carried a pack that would make me cry and the 15 year old former ballerina
and the 15 year old former ballerina
and the 15 year old former ballerina sister was carrying an equally heavy
sister was carrying an equally heavy
sister was carrying an equally heavy pack and the five foot tall mom was
pack and the five foot tall mom was
pack and the five foot tall mom was carrying a pack that was the heaviest of
carrying a pack that was the heaviest of
carrying a pack that was the heaviest of all and they were very inspiring and
all and they were very inspiring and
all and they were very inspiring and welcoming to me and just when I might
welcoming to me and just when I might
welcoming to me and just when I might feel a little puffed up for being 2,000
feel a little puffed up for being 2,000
feel a little puffed up for being 2,000 miles into my trip here was the
miles into my trip here was the
miles into my trip here was the seven-year-old skipping over the
seven-year-old skipping over the
seven-year-old skipping over the mountains of Maine so a funny thing
mountains of Maine so a funny thing
mountains of Maine so a funny thing happens when you’re on long-distance
happens when you’re on long-distance
happens when you’re on long-distance hiking that is a predictable
hiking that is a predictable
hiking that is a predictable conversation that most hikers know about
conversation that most hikers know about
conversation that most hikers know about you start to talk about food and if
you start to talk about food and if
you start to talk about food and if you’ve been out for several days you
you’ve been out for several days you
you’ve been out for several days you start thinking about pie that you love
start thinking about pie that you love
start thinking about pie that you love and restaurants that you love and this
and restaurants that you love and this
and restaurants that you love and this little boy Arpad started talking about
little boy Arpad started talking about
little boy Arpad started talking about food and he described every meal at
food and he described every meal at
food and he described every meal at every restaurant that he loved every
every restaurant that he loved every
every restaurant that he loved every type of ice cream that he’d ever had the
type of ice cream that he’d ever had the
type of ice cream that he’d ever had the three best desserts that he was going to
three best desserts that he was going to
three best desserts that he was going to eat as soon as we got to a town and he
eat as soon as we got to a town and he
eat as soon as we got to a town and he did this for two days and his teenage
did this for two days and his teenage
did this for two days and his teenage siblings just took turns listening to
siblings just took turns listening to
siblings just took turns listening to him they just said things like yeah me
him they just said things like yeah me
him they just said things like yeah me too and oh I’m going to have chocolate
too and oh I’m going to have chocolate
too and oh I’m going to have chocolate now I don’t know about you but I don’t
now I don’t know about you but I don’t
now I don’t know about you but I don’t know very many teenagers like this I
know very many teenagers like this I
know very many teenagers like this I must say the best thing about all of my
must say the best thing about all of my
must say the best thing about all of my hiking adventures has been the
hiking adventures has been the
hiking adventures has been the camaraderie and finally my husband and I
camaraderie and finally my husband and I
camaraderie and finally my husband and I shared a trip a few years together a few
shared a trip a few years together a few
shared a trip a few years together a few years ago to England and hiked Hadrian’s
years ago to England and hiked Hadrian’s
years ago to England and hiked Hadrian’s Wall and we should have known that we
Wall and we should have known that we
Wall and we should have known that we were in trouble when we were the only
were in trouble when we were the only
were in trouble when we were the only people out there but I’m a professor and
people out there but I’m a professor and
people out there but I’m a professor and we went on my spring break so there was
we went on my spring break so there was
we went on my spring break so there was a lot of rain it was in March a lot of
a lot of rain it was in March a lot of
a lot of rain it was in March a lot of wind and 60 mile-per-hour gusts actually
wind and 60 mile-per-hour gusts actually
wind and 60 mile-per-hour gusts actually and so we were a little concerned about
and so we were a little concerned about
and so we were a little concerned about hypothermia again but this kind of
hypothermia again but this kind of
hypothermia again but this kind of travel brings of course some
travel brings of course some
travel brings of course some appreciation for each other
appreciation for each other
appreciation for each other and you have mutual respect for the
and you have mutual respect for the
and you have mutual respect for the effort that each person expands and I’m
effort that each person expands and I’m
effort that each person expands and I’m so glad that I had that chance to do
so glad that I had that chance to do
so glad that I had that chance to do that with my husband to see history and
that with my husband to see history and
that with my husband to see history and my love of nature at the same time so my
my love of nature at the same time so my
my love of nature at the same time so my adventures linger and their dreams
adventures linger and their dreams
adventures linger and their dreams fulfilled and fears faced and there will
fulfilled and fears faced and there will
fulfilled and fears faced and there will be more of them but no adventurer gets
be more of them but no adventurer gets
be more of them but no adventurer gets there without support people who see
there without support people who see
there without support people who see your dream and want to help you get
your dream and want to help you get
your dream and want to help you get there to achieve it and then you become
there to achieve it and then you become
there to achieve it and then you become the next mentor you educate and you
the next mentor you educate and you
the next mentor you educate and you encourage and you cheer on the next one
encourage and you cheer on the next one
encourage and you cheer on the next one and this is so satisfying and fun so I
and this is so satisfying and fun so I
and this is so satisfying and fun so I ask you to search yourself for an
ask you to search yourself for an
ask you to search yourself for an adventure dream that sounds well just a
adventure dream that sounds well just a
adventure dream that sounds well just a little bit scary thank you
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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