thru-hike the Appalachian Trail

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.

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.

I started hiking the AT on March 8th, and made it all the way to Damascus, VA almost 500 miles. I had to stop due to a condo I had rented was abandoned and I owed 2 months rent. TRIP OVER!

Everyday was special, and it really is a trip of a lifetime. I hope to go back and complete this ASAP.

I have even more respect for those that complete the whole trail. Physically, mentally, and financially an enormous undertaking that can end at a moments notice. Yet, it will change me forever.

I love mountains.

Id really like to do this is 2009 but with my college semester ending in the middle of May and the fall semester being on the last week of August…Id have to average 20 miles a days to pull it off in 15 weeks. I just dont think that is something thats realistic with all that could happen along the way, let alone trying to commit to 20 miles everyday. I will be done with school in 2010 though, so its something to be strongly considered in 2010 if 2009 didnt work out. Anyone interested? However, be forewarned I like keeping a heavy pace so if you cant handle 20 mile kind of days (when possible) than Im not your type of partner. Get in touch with me if your interested.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail in it’s entirety is a real dream of mine and involves more than just a commitment of time and money. It requires both the understanding and consideration of those around me. Hopefully in the next year I can organize my life in such a way as to allow for this.

I want to hike it after I get out of high school. I want to do the whole thing in a thru hike so I will need to start saving up money for equipment.