thru-hike the Appalachian Trail

To experience what the Good Lord has made me out of. To live out the very basic elements of survival and moving forward. To be without the distractions of daily life, so that I can hear God’s whispers and feel him as I do in natural settings. I want to interact with strangers, and see that beauty that can only point back to the creator. Hone my physical endurance, then mental stamina, and most importantly, have one gigantic spiritual journey. My quest for solitude and companionship all at the same time. I want trail towns, and storms, and snow, and vistas, and bug bites, and exhaustion, and the joy that comes with mastering and experiencing and feeling.
I want this to be an adventure with my Father, and an oddysey on my own.
This is either in 2 and 1/2 years or in 3 and 1/2 years. I’ll either have to finish school late or finish it early, because if I finish on time I’ll be starting the trail in May and I reallllllly don’t want to risk Katahdin being closed when I’ve already traveled so far. And I’d rather be in school the semester before I leave because I do NOT want life to get me too busy to go. I’ll finish school fall of ‘10 or ‘11 so I have a couple months to prepare hardcore and gather myself and then I’ll partake in something so grand, it may be quite the turning point. Many revelations will occur, I’m positive of it. And they may assure me of the direction I’m headed or discombobulate it so that I’ve got to rearrange, who knows!

This is a picture of me on the trail when I was first learning of its existence. Little did I know of the precedence it would take.

It becomes an obsession. And then in order to keep focused on the present, it must become a longing. And then I can tame it to where it is in the back of my mind, but then on the turn of a dime it will resolidify once more to something of the untmost importance. I read “A Season on the Appalachian Trail” by Lynn Setzer and I am overcome by the experience there I am waiting for. For the things I will learn that I am not even aiming to learn. For the perception of the trail that I will have that is worlds beyond what I have an idea of it to be now. For the “me-and-God in the beauty of His creation” moments. For the moments I will cry and be in pain, and be at the peak of the stuggle, and then for the delight and the joys and the strength gained. I honestly have no clue what will result from it. How could I? I have heard it quite a few times that “the only way to prepare to hike all day with forty pounds on your back is to hike all day with forty pounds on your back!” That goes for everything. Physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, I will be tested by the formidable Appalachian Trail. 2 years and 7 months. For some reason it seemed so distant until recently. That’s right around the corner! There’s much I need to do before the trail, and then I’ll hike it, and then live yet even more adventures God has in store for me. It will definitely be an interesting season though.

This is what my savings account is for. So that in three years, I can graduate from FIU, and buy my equipment (hopefully getting a bit with my rewards points from my Bass Pro visa).
I’m really going to need to start training too, to build up my stamina and endurance.
There was really no particular reason for writing this. Just that I like to remind myself. Sort of keeps me going.

This is my goal. This is what I am heading for. I save for it, I dream of it, I learn about it. 5 or 6 months of absolute struggle in order to find myself? Find my place by being on my own? Feel like I can make a way for myself? Whatever the reason, I WILL hike all 2,000 + miles of the trail, and I will bleed, and I will cry, and miss home, and wonder why I ever wanted to suffer. And then, I will reach Mt. Katahdin, and I will be found and lost at the same time.