I spent seven hours incorporating new information into the Servatius chapter. Another day or two till it's done. I've been thinking a lot about him and the influence he's had on my life. I doubt he knows how important he's been. The book will be a revelation. Lee won't like that I've written so much about him because he's so modest and selfless. But, he's the central pillar of the whole Quest program. Without his leadership and organizations skills, Quest never would have happened at all. Lee, of course, gives credit to Dave. And it's true that Dave's initiative, drive and passion sparked it all. And Steve. What if he had not stepped forward in 1998 and taken over the reins? For eighteen years he's carried the weight of responsibility. And the tent.
Back in 1978, Lee welcomed a tiny, naive woman into the expedition ranks. He trusted me to be a cook group leader when I didn't know anything. Then, he trusted me to be a hike group leader when I was way out of my league. When I started, I didn't know any proper hiking techniques, not even to move aside to let other groups pass. My equipment was all wrong, my feet were bloody and raw. Migraines plagued me nearly every year. But, I learned. Mostly, I learned the hard way and they were unforgettable lessons. Maybe the people who read my book will not have to make all the mistakes I did.
I've spent the last six years writing about Quest. I've spent twenty-nine years backpacking with teens, expanding the program, teaching backpacking skills, making thousands of new friends, sleeping on the ground, hiking in the rain, eating macaroni and cheese, laughing at the Petunia skit and the samurai pooper, getting eaten by black flies, scratching bug bites and poison ivy, swimming in muddy ponds and slogging through mud. I wouldn't trade those moments or those years for anything.
I hope he likes it. I hope it does justice to our collective experiences.
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