Tim Dronfield (Outside Reading) - Peoples Experiences are Shaped by Their Preferences

 December 9 2020

Peoples Experiences are Shaped by Their Preferences

    In researching the Appalachian trail and pilgrimages I found an interesting article. It talks about visitors perceptions of trails and parks. It talks about how the management, wildlife, water, views and many other factors influence how individuals perceive the trail or parks. Some people like the really rough and rugged trails that are barely visible. Others prefer a clear path maybe even a paved road to follow.

    In this class we have talked a lot about how the trail can provide an excellent place for a spiritual journey. But for some people nature is just not their thing. For some people the prospect of spending a single night much less weeks out in the woods is unimaginable. So there has to be different trails and experiences for different people.

    For those who want to go out in the woods to seek escape from everyday life a long hike would be good. For some people they would prefer to have a short day hike to a nice view, or along a river, or lake. Whether they are able to gain anything similar depends on how open they are, but its not impossible to have a sacred encounter this way. They wouldn't gain anything from a long hike or at least it would be a lot harder for them to gain anything. The odds of them giving up really quickly are fairly high, and it takes time for your mindset to change and open up to reflection. So for those who are adventurous enough to do a long trek like the AT it is a great experience. But, for some people that's not the best option and they can seek other options.

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