Thru-Hiker Reflects on Appalachian Trail Journey

A hiker on the verge of completing the Appalachian Trail has shared that she began her five-month thru-hike with almost no preparation. Writing for The Trek, the author states she is now less than 50 miles from the summit of Mount Katahdin after starting with just one night of prior backpacking experience.

She kept her plans a secret from almost everyone, informing friends and family only after she was well into North Carolina. Her practical skills were nonexistent at the start; she had never filtered water, pitched a tent, or secured a bear bag until she was already on the trail.

A Forgiving Trail for Beginners

The hiker does not recommend her approach, noting she could have avoided significant 'headache, heartache, and body ache' with even minimal preparation. She cites buying three pairs of shoes in the first 500 miles as one consequence of her lack of foresight. However, she now believes that preparation mattered little in the grand scheme.

She argues the Appalachian Trail, particularly its southern portion, is very forgiving. 'You can throw a rock and hit a shuttle driver and a hostel at the same time,' she writes, indicating help and bailout points are readily available. The key, she states, is to never put yourself in a dangerous situation.

The Reality Behind the Inspiration

Throughout her hike, other people told her she was inspiring and living a dream they could never achieve. Many marveled at her bravery for hiking alone as a young woman. The hiker wishes those people knew her dream is not unattainable and that most probably have more experience than she did at the start.

'When they marvel at my confidence and fearlessness, I wish they knew how unsure and afraid I really was,' she writes. On her very first night on the trail, she cried alone in her tent, overwhelmed by the reality of having quit her job for a dream almost no one knew about.

The Simple Act of Continuing

Despite the fear and cluelessness, she woke up the next morning, packed her gear, and kept hiking. She repeated that simple act for the next five months. The hiker hopes that if her journey is inspiring, it is because 'nothing about me is special.'

She concludes she is thru-hiking not because she is exceptionally athletic, fearless, confident, or prepared, but because it is her dream. Her final message is a direct encouragement: 'I hope that if thru-hiking is your dream, you know you can do it too.'