You don't have to be Catholic to be a monk. There are Buddhist monks, Greek Orthodox monks, Russian Orthodox monks, and Episcopalian Benedictine Monks. Thomas Merton is probably the most famous American monk for his book "Seven Storey Mountain". He was a Catholic Trappist monk. You can always go on retreat at a monastery and pretend to be a monk for a weekend. Are you going to use SG as your online trail journal? When are you hitting the trail?
and that is priceless.
unless you live in hollywood. then it's marketable.
thanks for your sweet birthday wishes...