"Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it." - Greg Anderson
I left REI with mixed feelings. There was the feeling of let-down in knowing I wouldn't get to hike the trail this year, yet I left feeling one step closer to actually hiking the Wonderland Trail just in having received knowledge of what my next step must be.
I called my sister, Emily, on my cell phone from the REI parking lot to tell her I was going to hike this trail and asked if she would like to join me. I had always envisioned myself doing this as a solo trip, but the truth is whenever I do something exciting I picture my sisters there with me. She was instantly psyched. My enthusiasm was contagious and it was the beginning of many spontaneous planning sessions.
Before long, my youngest brother, Austin, was on board and my older sister, Tina, as well. They both had some things that had to fall into place before it could happen, but they hopped right on the Wonderland planning train and hung on for awhile. We often joked that Tina would be pregnant by next summer and not be able to go, but her biggest concern was figuring out who could care for her diabetic five year-old while she was gone for ten days.
The day my guidebook arrived in the mail was the day that the adventure became truly palpable. Up until now, I knew we could, and would do it, I just had no clue what it would entail. I read the book cover to cover within a few days. Then I began to read it again. I learned amazing details about the geological features of the trail and I also learned some history of the Mountain. To me, it was like hearing childhood stories of the one you've had a serious crush on...like getting a deeper understanding of one you've only been able to gaze at with adoring eyes.
With steps being taken to achieve my goal of hiking the Wonderland Trail underway, there was one roadblock that was partially out of my control: reservations for the back country hiking permit. It involved a process of knowing exactly where we would stay each night, writing up an itinerary of our campsites, and mailing or faxing a request, along with $20.00 that would be deducted only if you were able to get the itinerary you requested. Apparently, it wasn't easy to get reservations as back country camp sites were limited and the number of requests to hike the Wonderland Trail have been going up every year.
The first opportunity to send or call in a request was 8 am, March 11. I worked that day so I would have a fax machine available. However, the school day began at 8 am so I would have to wait until recess, two hours later, to fax my reservation request. I remember the anticipation of that morning. This action could either solidify my plans or send me back to the drawing board.
As soon as the kids ran outside to stretch their legs and blow off some steam, I hurried next door to the church office and begged the help of our beloved secretary who is always ready to lend a hand. We faxed the request form and waited....
I don't know much about fax machines but apparently this one prints out a verification that the fax was received. We never got one. I tried again. Same thing. I tried again. I was a little, well, a LOT nervous that my fax didn't go through, but I eventually surrendered and left it in God's hands. If it was meant for me to hike this trail and accomplish a dream that has been building within me for half of my life, then it would happen. I tried calling the next day to see if my fax was received, but not only was it a recorded message, but the message warned against doing that due to the high volume of requests and the small number of rangers handling the reservations.
Now I was forced to wait for either a letter of confirmation or denial to come in the mail. The website said it would take at least two weeks to sort through all the requests...four weeks went by and I still hadn't heard.
Waiting to hear.....
