I
began to hike through some rugged trail. Well, all of the trail is rugged, but
this section was particularly difficult. When I was in Virginia I could put in
a very long day and walk 20 miles. But in this section I put in very long days
and barely made 15 miles. It was tough!
Hikers
are always hungry and I had a standard supply of food designed to last for one
week. For several months this worked out, but I found myself in a very unusual
situation. I looked at the miles to my next re-supply point and then evaluated
my food. For the first (and only) time, I had more miles left than food. At my
current rate I would be one day short of food. In the deep wilderness, on foot,
miles from any road (and who knows how far from a store), this was a crisis!
I
looked at the food supply long and hard. Was there any way I could walk faster?
A detailed study of my mileage data book showed that it was not possible. The
only solution was to eat less and “stretch” the food to last. I began to eat
less. And, for the first time, I was truly hungry. Oh, sure, I was always
hungry and could demolish a plate of food in short order. But now I was hungry
all of the time. As I laid down to sleep, I felt the gnawing pains in my
stomach. I was miserable. How many days would this last? Just a few more I told
myself.
The
next day was equally miserable. All I could think about was food. Toward the
end of the day I found something. No, it wasn’t food. It was a paved road. I
decided to hitch-hike until I found a store. It didn’t take long before a
logging truck stopped and picked me up. In a few miles I spotted a small store
on the side of the road. Shouting my thanks to the trucker, I dashed in and
drooled over the shelves packed with food. Well, if you saw it then you would
have thought that it was a tiny “hole-in-the-wall” store with limited
inventory. But for me, it was a bonanza!
I
honestly don’t remember what I bought and ate at that store. I do remember
buying a 2.5 pound can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew and a large package of Oreo
cookies. I hitch-hiked back to the trail and carried my treasures with me about
a mile until I found a shelter. I pulled out my stove and very quickly it
roared to life. My large pot was soon filled to the brim with the ENTIRE 2.5
pounds of the Dinty Moore Beef Stew. Steam wafted from the pot as my large
spoon began to shovel the tasty meal into my hungry belly. In short order the
pot was empty and licked clean. Now it was time for the Oreos. One by one they
disappeared as I savored the sweet taste of victory. When nothing was left but
an empty container, I sat back satisfied for the first time in what seemed like
years.
I
slept soundly that night and woke refreshed. I was back on “normal” eating and
ready to continue my quest for Mt. Katahdin in Maine. I knew that I was going
to make it!
