Backpacking Just Because — She Explores: Women in the Outdoors

via Backpacking Just Because — She Explores: Women in the Outdoors

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I read this article from She Explores today entitled “Backpacking Just Because” and it really struck a chord with me. It’s about choosing to backpack long-distances because you want to, without some grand purpose in mind. I think it resonated so deeply with me because I’ve always felt a twinge of imposter syndrome for NOT having an answer to the question “why are you hiking?”

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When I set out to thru-hike the  Appalachian Trail in 2015, I did it because I had the time, the money, and the health to do it. I watched the movie “The Way” and thought to myself, “A long walk sounds fun.” So I did it. I wasn’t hiking to find myself, to heal from trauma, or to run from anything. I just wanted to see if I could.

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Now the truth is that the AT did change my life. It had a profound impact on my development and has influenced every decision I’ve made since that first white blaze. But I didn’t go into it hoping for or expecting this kind of transformation, and I wasn’t even really aware it was happening.

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I think it’s important to to talk about this idea of needing 【Ｖａｌｉｄａｔｉｏｎ】to do something epic. It’s enough to just want to do it because it’s fun and because you can.

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Leave a note in the comments, and check out the entire article from She Explores at the top of this page.