This is something I’ve wanted to do since my days as an avid backpacker in Boy Scouts, and something rekindled my interest a few months ago – I can’t even remember what. At first, I tried to gauge the interest levels of my friends, and when I couldn’t seem to get any interested in the idea at all, I let the idea lie dormant for a while. Recently, though, it’s come back to the forefront of my mind, and I’ve decided that if I want to do it, I should do it regardless of whether or not I can get a friend to go with me. The time I have after I finish my Master’s is going to be the best opportunity I’ll have to go, and if my desire remains, I’ll really regret not doing it. Once I’m finished with my thesis, I’m going to be taking a number of prep hikes to test out gear, and make sure that it’s something that I really want to do. But beyond that, it seems like mental commitment is the most important contributor towards successfully finishing, and I know from past experience that that won’t be a problem for me.
People doing this are also doing these things:
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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.
I went on a weekend backpacking trip and I now know that as much as I love the outdoors and camping trips, I would be fucking miserable thru-hiking the AT. I give up.
I’ve done a ton of shorter, overnight hikes on the AT, and have always wanted to hike the whole thing. Perhaps after I graduate?
So I’m only 17, but I’m already dreaming towards doing this. I don’t think its something I would be incapable of. I’m going to be receiving my Eagle in the next couple months, I’ve done some backpacking, been to Philmont once, so I definatly feel as though I would be capable of doing it.
Now, I know a Philmont trek is not enough preperation, but if I’m go through with it I’ll end up doing it just after college. (I’m hoping to try and graduate in either 3 1/2, or 4 1/2 years so I’ll be able to do it right out of college more easily). I’m looking forwards about 6 years from now would be when I would step on the trail in Georgia, but its been well over a years since I’ve gone a day without stepping on the trail.
Maybe I’m thinking a little to far ahead into the future, but once I get into college every free moment will be spend planning for my hike, and in preparation. If all goes well, I should be able to be in the class of 2014 of thru-hikers.
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.
After visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and hiking just a couple of miles of the trail, I’ve decided this is definitely a feat I would like to accomplish at some point in my life. The trail is over 2100 miles long and runs from Georgia to Maine. Only roughly 20% of the people who start the trail actually finish. It usually takes 6-7 months to complete the trail.
Dropped out of society for 6 months – it was great! Best $5,000 I ever spent!
I hiked the New Jersey portion of the AT in July 2008. On day I’ll go back and hike the whole thing.
