Mark and I made it back home and were forced to adjust to life among the civilized. It was a difficult adjustment! I didn’t flush toilet for a while, I still looked in my drinking water for particulate matter and I continued to eat like I was still hiking 15 miles a day. Needless to say, I missed the Appalachian Trail. Indeed, the best six months of my life.
I would return to the Trail many times. I went back to Virginia in 1988 with my brother to finish the section I missed. In 1989, I hiked 800 miles of the southern section a second time. The Appalachian Trail is a part of me now and I will always feel that need to “reconnect”. Over the years, I would make many short trips along that path and will probably do so for the rest of my walkable life.
I recommend this trek for anyone who can make it. It was an experience unlike any other. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about that walk. The Appalachian Trail is a unique piece of America that showcases the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. There is no better way to experience our world than to strap on a pair of hiking boots, shoulder a backpack and start walking. The Appalachian Trail is a great place to do that walking. Happy Trails….
Learn more about the Appalachian Trail HERE [link]
