Well, here we are. I feel somewhat obligated in this- my final post to the blog that has chronicled my 2185 mile walk along the Appalachian Trail- to sum up my experience with pithy, poignant commentary. Unfortunately, I don’t do pithy and I suspect the insights I’ve gained apply rather narrowly to me. Nevertheless, I’m happy to share them with anyone interested.
Last stream crossing, final morning
In my case, this hike was less about the AT and the act of long distance walking than it was about taking time away to connect with something meaningful that could carry me smiling into my latter years. During the 10 months that have passed since I started (six months hiking, four months off-trail injured), I learned- in no particular order-
…that I am a more social being than I previously understood.
…to be (much!) less skeptical of human nature.
…that I value simplicity over wealth.
…the difference between southerners and mountain folk (thank you Hydro!)
…that it is liberating to look like a hippie.
…that I feel at home in small town public libraries.
…that God is great, and that freedom from religion is glorious.
…that it is grand to be unimportant, and unimportant to be grand.
…that self-created variety can be an antidote to boredom.
…that Northbound AT thru hikers never believe they are in ‘the bubble.’
…that when a path forks, the toughest looking option is almost always correct.
…that running downhill with a backpack is exhilarating enough to justify risk of injury.
…that taking a ‘gap year’ later in life should be a thing.
…that I am surrounded by magnificent people.
…that music lays bare my soul.
…that watching the news is unhealthy.
…that the profession most suited to me is Wandering.
Before I leave you with a final set of pictures and videos, I mentioned some months back when I was off the trail injured that I am compiling an audio/video scrapbook of my hike with sights and sounds of the trip. I will post an announcement soon when it is uploaded to YouTube, in case anyone is interested. It has been a tremendous pleasure to share these life-changing months with so many. I’m still undecided as to what steps I’ll take next, but hopefully I’ll spot a white blaze now and again that confirms I’m on the right path. My love and best wishes to you all and thanks again for your indulgence.
Michael- and now, forever, Max.
Ducky, Freight Train, Dirty Bird and me, four days before finishing
Back-to back, comparing packs: Freight Train’s giant vs. my mini
The rain really greened things up during the final two weeks
My hike plan for the final 10 days, to which I added a day off on 4/25 to summit when Ducky and Dirty Bird could drive me to the Atlanta airport
With Mello and his dog Yello at the Top of Georgia hostel
Early morning as I was leaving the last hostel: Mountain Crossing at Neel’s Gap
Neel’s gap, 32 miles from Springer. A tree of shoes and boots purported to be cast offs from early quitters
Blood Mountain shelter from a cliff above
Blood mountain, sweat and tears: feeling emotional on my second-to-last morning
Ice cold trail magic from a couple of former (and current) thru hikers at Unicoi Gap
Me on a Georgia peak, second-to-last morning
Same view without me in the way
One of the last of the 80,000+ white blazes on the AT
Bidding farewell to the trail and to my shadow companion
2013 PTC thru-hiker badasses Kimchi and Storybook: their first night on the AT was my last. They fed me like a king!
Smiling like a man with less than a mile remaining from a 2200 mile hike
Overwhelmed and speechless at Springer, Yello in the background
Me and Yello, photo by Mello. Best hiking dog I encountered on the trail
Enjoying my last trail magic apple on Springer Mountain
Savoring the conclusion of the hike in relax mode, shirt courtesy of Mellow
My entry in the final trail log at Springer Mountain. The cut-off quote from the bottom left: “And yet sometimes at night I dream, he’s still that hairy man, shodowboxing the apocalypse, and wandering the land.”
Back in Minnesota enjoying a Sunday afternoon waterfight with two of our brood (Jerry and Art) and grandson Jack