Rain. And more rain. But it's April in Maine, and rain is just part of the weather equation for now. You know it won't last. Just be patient.

This time of year makes me think back to those many long rainy days on the Appalachian Trail. On a six month hike from Georgia to Maine you're going to have your share of rain. And on my thru-hike I had plenty. But, as every thru-hiker learns, "you can't get to Maine without hiking in the rain." And so you do.

Sometimes it would rain for days on end. But each day you'd get up, pack the sopping wet gear, and start out again up the trail. And walk all day through the woods and up and down the mountains. Wet socks, wet boots, wet shorts and shirt, wet everything. Get to camp and crawl into the damp, sticky and smelly sleeping bag and try to get some rest. Then do it all over again the next day.
You get used to it, though, and you move on. It's what thru-hikers do.

Near the end of my hike, in New Hampshire and Maine, it rained for 30 out of the last 40 days. Cold, bone-chilling autumn rain. It was impossible to keep anything dry. One night at Carlo Col Shelter in the Mahoosucs on the NH-ME border I put on every layer of clothing I had in my pack, but I still couldn't get warm. I just lay there shivering, my down sleeping bag a useless lump of nylon and clumps of feathers. Through the long night I wondered just how much more of this I could endure. But the next day, I awoke with renewed determination, got up and carried on a few more miles to the next camp. And the next. And the next.

Until finally I set foot on the summit of Mount Katahdin and hugged the sign at the end of the trail on a beautiful, sunny October morning. Suddenly all those rainy days along the way since early May seemed worthwhile.

And they still do. Because I learned through the rain and all the hardships in 2,000 miles of hiking the AT not to give up easily. Ever. It's a lesson I've never forgotten.

There's always going to be some rain on the path to wherever you're going. You've just got to keep your hood up, your head down, keep your feet moving and deal with it. Sunshine will always follow soon enough...