I just got out of the shower where I spent a good bit of time savoring one of the four remaining dependable showers I’ll take. Certainly I’ll have opportunities to shower over the course of the next year, but when and how often are unpredictable.
The second time I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, in 1980, I took only three showers over the course of 109 days. I made up for lack of showers by jumping in virtually every large stream and lake no matter the temperature or weather. There was something satisfying about the “natural” approach to cleanliness, while at the same time making those three showers quite special.
Before I left for my first thru-hike I did not think twice about my “last showers.” You don’t what you’ve got until it’s gone. You certainly appreciate them when you get back from a long-distance hike; and I appreciate them now as I contemplate a year ahead when they become few and far between.