Live Like You’re Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Trust in the magic of provision

I have a fascination with stories about hikers who tackle trails like the Appalachian Trail (the AT) or the Pacific Crest Trail (the PCT). I’ve read dozens of these stories from the famous memoir, Wild, by Cheryl Strayed to the story of Grandma Gatewood, the first woman to solo-hike the AT, to the entertaining account of Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods. I’m enthralled with the adventure, the dedication of these individuals, the humorous and touching stories they each bring to their walks, and the lessons they learn along the way.

One theme that repeats itself over and over in these stories is what hikers come to understand and call “trail magic.” It’s the idea and experience that when something is needed on the trail somehow it is provided. Hikers tell of stories of being down to their last dollar and finding a $20 bill in the outhouse or in need of shelter and meeting a group who has a place to stay in town for the night.

While some hikers plan their hike meticulously and have provisions sent ahead to local post offices along the route, many rely more on trail magic to get them through the hike.

Cheryl Strayed tells the stories of meeting many along the way who gave her a hot meal, a place to shower or bunk for the night, and inspiration to continue on her journey. In Eat, Pray, Love — although not about a hike but a different kind of journey — Elizabeth Gilbert shares similar stories of learning to walk in faith through life’s journey. It’s a lot like living in faith…no wait — it is living in faith. After all, isn’t that how God tells us we should live?

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:25–27, NIV)

Why we rarely experience trail magic

Most of us are used to living in a society where we rarely have to guess or wonder how our next need will be met. We have provisions a-plenty: a freezer stocked with food, a bank account stocked with money, a closet stocked with clothing, and most of the time the reliability of a paycheck coming within a few days. If in desperate need, most have reserves we can turn to; we can cash out a CD or an IRA, borrow from relatives, tighten our belts for a while, or sell something valuable.

But living on the edge on a daily basis, not knowing where the next helping hand will come from or if the money you have in your pocket will stretch to the next point of provision, or praying that someone will come along and point you back to the trail when you’re lost or rescue you if you fall off a ledge and sprain your ankle — most of us don’t live in that day-to-day walk of faith.

Maybe this is one of the things that intrigues me so much about the hikers I read about. Their faith. I remember one story I read where the guy had everything planned out to the minute, his wife waiting for him or sending packages to him at each checkpoint with new socks, boots, money, food. I didn't particularly enjoy his book. I felt cheated and I felt he had cheated himself out of the adventure of the trail magic. It seemed like he hiked the AT just so he could write the book and that felt inauthentic to me.

Contrast that with other hikers like Grandma Gatewood who set out in Keds sneakers and a garbage bag as a backpack. That was someone setting out in faith. Her first attempt failed but that didn’t deter her from heading out again and again and again. She’s also the first person to hike the AT completely three times.

I know in my own life there have been times I’ve been backed to the wall and down to the wire, wondering where and how the provision would come. Much like trail magic, it always did. In the form of good samaritans, benevolent but anonymous friends, and supportive family. We don’t know how others will come through for us until we need them to and always having our needs met on our own robs us of the adventure of faith — the trail magic of life.

Like the time my son was so ill that I couldn't work and we were eating up all our carefully stored savings to pay for gas to and from the hospital and covering our mortgage only to arrive home to find $1,200 in cash in our mailbox. To this day I don’t know who it was from.

It’s an uncomfortable space to be in — not knowing how the next need will be met. I prefer to know. I prefer to have backups and savings accounts and plans in place for hiccups along the road. But I also know that when I’ve been in that place along the trail of my life, trail magic has come through for me.

There’s still time to experience trail magic

At age 54, I have aspirations to walk the AT or maybe a shorter hike like the Arizona Trail. Right now I don’t have a good track record for hiking (see photo above), but if Grandma Gatewood could do it at 66, I figure I’ve still got a few years to get ready.

In case I never do hit the trails, I still desire to experience trail magic, to be in that place where there just isn’t enough time to worry about tomorrow because I’m too busy living in today. Kinda like what Jesus recommends:

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6:34, MSG)

I figure the best way to live like this is to pursue the things that capture my heart not fill my wallet. To shed a lot of the excess so I can carry my backpack unburdened. To keep putting one foot in front of the other and aiming toward the future. To believe in the magic of provision and expect the unexpected with each step I take.

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This story is published in Koinonia — stories by Christians to encourage, entertain, and empower you in your faith, food, fitness, family, and fun.

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