“L K Speas, aka Conundrum, will backpack the AT beginning in May 2013. She will hike as far as she can this summer, and then complete the trail next summer. The AT, nearly 2200 miles, begins on Springer Mountain, GA, and ends at Mt. Katahdin, ME. Conundrum will begin her trek on Springer Mountain on May 6 or 7. Follow her AT Adventure at lspeas.wordpress.com. Happy trails!”

How amazing, right?  Let me tell you about my views on nature…

Let me start by saying that if there were an experience or thing that I have learned, that I do not think I would have ever learned if not for living in the New River Valley for so long, it would be having a new-found appreciation for nature. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a city guy at heart, and I really value having (extremely) quick access to necessities; like grocery shopping, social outlets, malls, etc. I truly am a city guy at heart. But in the past few years, I have been much more intentional about exploring the natural area surrounding Blacksburg, Virginia, and have grown to appreciate it as opposed to avoid it.

One of those people who helped me do that was a friend named Chris. Chris, better known as CFE ;) , and I lived in the same suite during my freshman year of college and have remained close ever since. Chris took me on my very first “hike” to Pandapas Pond in the New River Valley, and I think that was the moment that I really fell in love with nature. Seeing so many things that were natural, and not necessarily man made, was eye-opening to me. Being surrounded by and immersed in that even more so.

Beginning with that adventure, I had never really been somewhere that was so inaccessible – and therefore I only go on such excursions with people that I really, truly trust – and so raw and naturally beautiful. Obviously, with the hike to the Cascades, that emotion was definitely was just magnified.

One of my favorite memories in life was a trip that Kristin and I took to the beach, when she carried me out to wear the water was almost up to her chest.  Mortifying? Absolutely – the ocean is such an unpredictable beast. Yet it was a moment that really made me realize how much I trusted her; similar to the excursions that I’ve made twice (once with KH, and another time with other friends, including CFE) down the New River Junction (a trip pictured above) while tubing.

So, when I found this blog and heard about the journey that this amazing woman is on, I was awestruck. I don’t think I (phsyically) could ever do this – especially not on my own – but through adventures like hiking to Pandapas, driving out deep, deep into Amish Country, and exploring the country side otherwise, I feel a deeper connection with nature than I ever have at any other point in my life. I’m excited to continue reading about this woman’s adventures…I sure hope she hikes as much as she desires.

She defines perseverance in a very impressive way. It’s inspiring, aspirational, and motivational for me.  No, I don’t have a dream to hike the AT but I do have dreams, just like everyone else does, to set a goal and achieve it.  I can’t wait to see how far she gets.  It’s also amazing to hear her reflections on people that she truly cares about, who are helping her along the way.

I have a feeling that for both “Conundrum” and I, nature equates to friendship in some sort of equation.