I have a trail name

I have been watching many videos on YouTube from various hikers. Whether they are hiking the Pacific Coast Trail, Appalachian Trail, or thousands of other trails, I have found one simple thing in common. They give each person who hikes on these trails a trail name. It is not one chosen by the hiker themselves but given to them. As explained in this article they can give a trail name for almost any reason. A hiker’s look, tendencies, something they did or said, how they walk, what they eat, almost anything. This got me thinking, what would my trail name be? As is customary I cannot give myself a name so I timidly reached out to my buddy Mark (a. k. a. Deermark), for a name.

A trail name can be given to anyone who has hiked one of the major trails. It does not involve completion of the trail, only that I hiked on it. Since I have hiked a minute part of the Appalachian Trail a few times, I qualify for a trail name.

As my anticipation mounted, and a bit of fear. Mark can be known for hijinks. I was unsure what he might come back with. Doughboy, Sasquatch, and many others popped in my head. One may refuse a trail name, but it is respectful to accept what they are given.

Text started arriving. His first choice was mentioned, then “Where To, Tick Collector, Timulation, Timultuous, Fuji Tim, Simply Tim” and a few others. Ultimately, he landed on one.

Alfred Joyce Kilmer was a poet and an American writer who wrote the famous poem “Trees”. Mark, upon knowing me very well, and reading my latest blog dendrophile, pondered my trail name and came up with ‘Kilmer’. A befitting choice I feel. Here is Joyce Kilmer’s poem titled “Trees”:

“I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.”

I am honored and humbled to accept this name, not only due to a dear friend choosing it for me but also to represent Joyce Kilmer and his poetic words about one of my favorite things. Trees.

Until next time,

Tim (a. k. a. Kilmer)

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