The Extra Mile

There are Trail miles, and there are miles. Trail miles count towards getting the Appalachian Trail finished.

Every day, however, we find ourselves putting on the "extra mile," the one that doesn't count but that the feet still feel.

It's often that long walk to the spring for water. Sometimes the side trail to it is a half mile. Straight down.

Or the blue blaze to the shelter, or the side trail to the privy several times. It might be a walk to a scenic view. It all adds up.

Our friends Jim and Ginny put it in perspective. Hiking out west, sometimes you have to walk an extra mile, or two, or four, to find the only water source for the next 20 miles. And so you do.

At least on the AT, when water is scant, you normally only have to walk that ONE extra mile.