Portrait 24: Leonardo

This is Leonardo. He just hiked his first 20 mile day on the Appalachian Trail. That's a significant achievement and is pretty awesome. But something else:

One evening I arrived at a shelter intending to eat my first dinner and hike another two or three hours. There was a guy laying in a hammock that was hung across the entrance to the shelter and blocking several pack hangers. I immediately decided to simply not engage. I rolled my eyes and started shoving pepperoni and cheese into my face as quickly as I could.

Leonardo arrived and quietly asked if anybody was in the hammock. He promised to be quiet while sweeping the entire shelter so his friends would have clean places to sleep. He apologized preemptively for any dirt or debris that may hit the hammock. He also had carried extra water to the shelter so someone else wouldn't have to walk an extra 0.6 miles if they ran out. I even used some of the water to brush my teeth the next morning, since I decided I'd like to camp with that group that night.

He did hike his first 20 mile day, but I'd contend that's not the most awesome thing he did this week.

And that guy in the hammock? He decided to move to make room. The next morning, he got a ride to town to heal up a little. I hiked a big day and wound up camped next to him at the hostel. I gave hammock man a chance and he's actually pretty friendly. Thanks, Leonardo.