You’re probably here because you saw some guy wearing a shirt with his Twitter handle on it, and thought to yourself, “this guy is a jackass. I must know more.”
Far be it from me to tell you that you’re incorrect.
But as long as you’re here, let me give you a little better idea on what exactly the Good Badger is all about.
Remember when you were a kid and your mom had to douse your cauliflower in cheese or butter prior to you considering putting it anywhere near your face hole? One way or another, she would get nutrients in you, damnit.
Well consider the Good Badger to be your cheese, education is the new cauliflower, and your face hole is still your face hole.
If I can make you laugh in the process of you obtaining a new life skill, random fact, or sense of motivation, then my life purpose has been fulfilled.
I spend nearly all of my free time consuming non-fiction information in one form or another. When I hike I listen to audiobooks. When I’m out of reach of my computer, I’m reading about meditation. Even my Netflix queue is made up of documentaries and PBS specials. This site gives me a reason to justify being such an information slut.
With that said, my life, and correspondingly this site, will be going through some major changes in the near future.
I’ve hit my mental threshold with living a life completely dependent upon technology. For 60-70 hours a week, I’m staring at a screen, pounding away at a keyboard, completely isolated from the world around me.
I’m not a doctor, but my internal sanity meter is telling me that can’t be a healthy lifestyle.
As a result of this, I will be thru-hiking all 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail starting this Spring.
Go big or go home, right?
Why You Should Care
When I tell people about my upcoming adventure, there are two very common reactions:
1) “Wow! [contemplative pause] That sounds like the opportunity of a lifetime. I would love to do that.”
2) “Wait a second. You’re about as outdoorsy as a Microwave. You don’t know the first thing about camping. You’re definitely going to die.”
The main takeaway from their reactions (other than needing less honest friends), is that I can tell this is a journey many wish they could partake in themselves, but due to life obligations, cannot. I can’t help but detect the “please take me with you,” so prominently displayed in their eyes.
Here’s the good news: I will.
Here’s the bad news: there will be Black Bears, Rattle Snakes, and crazy mountain men with more guns than teeth there as well.
I am taking you with me, because, quite honestly, your reactions have been such a major surprise.
Along the way, I anticipate many challenges, both physical and mental, and hopefully as many if not more revelations, breakthroughs, and inevitable tales of trail humor initiated by my complete camping incompetence (I’ve been camping twice in my life).
There are few things as valuable as a clear perspective. That’s what I’m after.
I hope for you to join me along the way.
I haven’t quite flushed out all of the details about how this site will be maintained, but the if is not in question. With that said, I encourage you to follow the Good Badger on twitter, like him on Facebook, and subscribe to this blog to ensure this page isn’t one that gets lost in the endless barrage of information that is the Internet.