The Appalachian trail covers just over 2,100 miles, from Mount Katahdin in Maine, to Springer Mountain in Georgia. Thousands of Hiker’s take to this trail as only a few hundred actually finish the entire trail. This has been a dream of mine to hike the entire trail, hopefully one day before my body says other wise I can accomplish this dream. You definitely need to be in top physical condition, as this trail will test you in many ways and the weather you encounter along your trek, well lets just say…….. it will more than test you, it will show just how determined and motivated you actually are in finishing this trail.
Most people that take to this trail, have had some sort of a major life event happen to them and this is how they cope and search for their true selves. Some may be entering in what is known as mid life crisis, they get laid off from a job they worked hard and long at, they realize they don’t really know what they want, so they take to this trail to find themselves within the peace and serenity that is around them along this trail. You meet others that have embarked on the same journey and you hike together for a short time and become friends with them, you chat with each other as the quietness of this trail, will test you yet once again.
When hiking this trail you don’t want to carry too much, as the extra weight will slow your pace and possibly be reason enough to not finish the trail? You carry what you need for a few days and when you get too certain sections of the trail, you then stay a night at some hiker cabins, that are taken care of by others who have hiked this trail and you can be shuttled to town and get your parcel that replenishes your carrying supplies, these parcels are set up before you start hiking and are at post offices waiting for you at your arrival. There are other good Samaritans that set up in places along the trail, in areas that you come down from one mountain and up the next with a crossroad that you cross over, these kind people are usually Boy Scout Troops, or others that just offer hikers, soup or other kinds of comfort foods. You meet a lot of kind Hearted people that are friendly and neighborly, this makes you realize that yes there are other people that actually care for the well being of others.
True the Appalachian trail is a lot of hard work and effort on your part as you walk this trail, but when you take it one step at a time, set a smooth pace that is comfortable for you, you find it is not work at all and you actually enjoy your time in the outdoors, enjoy seeing all that is around you, including the wildlife you may encounter along your journey of the Appalachian trail.
While you are enjoying your time on the trail, enjoying all that is around you, you are also learning better of who you are, learning better of just what you can accomplish when you set your mind to it, You are also learning that there is so much more to life, then you thought when you were back in the comfort of your home and within your comfort zone. When we get into our comfort zones, we are so afraid to step outside of the zone, cause we don’t know whats out there and we are also afraid to try new things as we don’t want the mistakes of the unknown to disrupt what we are doing, so we then never venture out of the zone and never try something in order to find if we like it or not.
The Appalachian trail is more than just a trail when you look deeply into the trail, most will just see it as too much work to embark in such a long walk, but when you look deeply into the trail, you will learn just how to look deeply into yourself, so you can truly find who you really are and what you can truly accomplish when you set your mind to it. Yes this trail will test you in many ways, you don’t need to study for these test, just jump in head to toe with excitement to learn of everything around you including you yourself, as you walk your path along this journey through life.
” The Appalachian trail is not just there to hike in sections for the beauty of the trail, it is there to complete the trail from start to finish, seeing all the beauty around you, including you yourself”
” Just over 2,100 miles from start to finish on this trail, it is not the miles you walk, but how you walk the miles that help you better understand life and yourself within”
” Peace and serenity is what we all need at one point or another along this journey of life, the Appalachian trail offers that for whoever wants to embark on the journey”