Dear Fellow Hikers,
I frequently get (much appreciated) responses on the letters I’ve been writing. This week I got a couple regarding “What’s in a Name?” that I I’d like to share. They were both backpacking stories that were similar to the ones I shared in the letter. So, I’m venturing down a new path of passing those stories on* to our readers! This stuff excites me because it shows how telling certain types of stories can inspire folks to dig up and tell their own stories on the topic.
Here’s the email of the first response …
“I hiked part of the CO trail with [my daughter] and my buddy… and his daughter… A short time into the hike we became part of our “trail family” - a group of about 20 people, all on about the same hike schedule. We all ended up camping near each other every night. If someone was late getting into the camp, there’d be buzz around asking who had last seen them and where.
As the trip progressed, trail names started to become prevalent. My favorite was “Heisenberg” for a guy who looked like the lead character in the Breaking Bad series.”
I followed up his email with a phone call. I remember him telling me about hiking with his daughter, but I didn’t remember him telling me about the “Trail Family” piece… definitely a positive experience for him and his hiking crew. He described his Trail Family as a group of people he’d never met, and probably would never see again, with a variety backgrounds and personalities. People who came together caring about, and caring for each other. A common interest in hiking… common space on the trail.. a good mix for a good community. And… a new trail phrase for our trail vocabulary! (Not to mention an interesting new trail name to add to our list.)
The second response came in a phone call that went something like this…
“Hey Just Dan! Read your Names letter and thought I’d remind you that you gave me my trail name… Coach! …”
Then we proceeded to tell stories (for almost an hour) about our hiking adventures out west.. as well as our faith journey adventures back here at home (including, as always, plenty of healthy laughter!) He finished up our conversation giving me some trail words to think about…
“Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the trail is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the trail is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
An Acknowledgment… Although I have previously given credit to the artist of the painting that I use (with permission) for our Life Hike logo, I wanted to acknowledge him again now that I’m using it for Life Hike Letters as well. The painting is On The Trail, (Fall Hikers), by Rick Allen (Kenspeckle Letterpress). On The Trail is a favorite image for me, one that just feels right for several reasons (see below). It hangs above my dining room table writing space, offering inspiration whenever I need it.
So who is this guy with a brand new blue, Kelty Tioga II backpack? He’s an early 1980’s version of your’s truly, on his first Beartooth Mountains backpacking trip in Montana… with Glacier Lake in the background. I was guiding (helping, definitely not leading) a church group of high school kids. I know it’s my first trip because I see my (chunk of heavy carpet padding) sleeping pad rolled up on the top of the pack… yes, fond memories here! The blue pack looks just like the one in the On The Trail painting. When I first saw the painting, I literally saw me… hiking the trail… taking up the rear… following an image of my hiking and faith-life mentors*… learning as I went… knowing I was well cared for… knowing I was doing my part… building a solid - clear - and practical*… foundation for a lifelong relationship with God.
With Care and Gratitude, Dan… “Just Dan”
Postscript…
Re: *passing stories on… Just fyi, anytime I share the stories of people who respond to my letters, I’ll do the best I can to contact them and get their permission. In most cases I’ll edit to try and remove anything that shares their personal information.
Re: *solid, clear and practical… Words used in Pastor Ekse’s obituary to describe how he preached God’s word.
Re: *hiking and faith-life mentors… Coach, O’Grady, The Carpenter…
Re: Next Up: “Unpacking…” (Friday 04/04/25, S2/L18)