I pushed it away,” Strayed relates. “I simply did not let myself become afraid. Fear begets fear. Power begets power. I willed myself to beget power. It wasn’t long before I actually wasn’t afraid.” Other people on such journeys are inspired by their love for the environment, like Zen Buddhist priest and retired psychotherapist Shodo Spring, leader of this year’s Compassionate Earth Walk, a July-through-October protest of our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels. It has engaged a “moving community” of shared prayers, meditation and yoga along the path of the pending Keystone XL pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Nebraska. Spring emphasizes that the walk is intended to connect participants to the land and the people that live on it. “We’re going to small towns,” she says, “where many residents make their livelihoods from oil. There’s a deep division between such people and our group. But when we listen to each other, that division gets healed.” Activist David Rogner says that long- distance walks don’t just raise awareness of political and social issues—they also give people hope. He spent 25 months walking across the United States in the fi rst coast-to-coast roadside litter program, Pick Up America.
“As we walked and picked up trash, we inspired people to believe there could be change,” he says. His trek gave him hope for his own future, too. He now believes, “If you commit your life to the healing and restoration of community and yourself, you are going to be wholly provided for.” Whatever the purpose, there are
many scenic long-distance walking trails to choose from. The Pacifi c Crest Trail, from the U.S.-Mexico border in Southern California to the uppermost reaches of Washington State, offers stunning views of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. The Appalachian Trail, which winds 2,200 miles between Georgia and Maine, provides 250 shelters and campsites. In Wisconsin, the 1,000-mile Ice Age Trail offers awe-inspiring views of glacial landscapes. Starting in North Carolina, the Mountains-to-Sea trail extends from the Great Smoky Mountains to the crystal-blue waters of the Outer Banks. In Missouri, the Ozark Trail sweeps through mountains, lush valleys and tumbling waterfalls. Plus, overseas trails await, as well.
Sarah Todd is a writer and editor in Brooklyn, NY. Connect at Sarah
ToddInk.com.
TIPS FOR A LONG TREK by Sarah Todd
Pack light. In long-distance hiking, every ounce counts. Try to make sure everything in the backpack has at least two uses: socks that double as mittens or a fl eece that transforms into a pillow.
Get in shape. Walk two hours a day in preceding months to help train for lengthy days on foot. Do a few test walks loaded with gear to see what it’s like to carry that amount of weight before hitting the trail.
Prepare for foot care. Expert trekkers smear jelly-like products like Waxelene on their feet before putting on their socks to help prevent blisters. It also soothes chafi ng and offers foot relief at the end of a long day’s hike.
Plan meals beforehand. Measure out all the ingredients for a healthy menu plan and put them in lightweight bags to allow the exact right amount of food needed—no more, no less—for the long haul between provisioning stations (local accessible towns and holding spots for pre- shipped boxes).
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