Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Introduction My name is Ben. In 2015, I decided it was time to fulfill my childhood dream and go on a very long walk-along the Appalachian Trail, or “ A. T. " The A. T. connects the Appalachian Mountains, in the eastern United States, along their highest points. Completed in 1937, it was and still is the world's longest hiking-only footpath. The A. T. begins in Georgia and travels over 2, 000 miles (3, 000 km) north. It goes through fourteen U. S. states and ends in Maine.

Hiking an entire long-distance trail in one year is called thru-hiking. Thousands of people try to complete an A. T. thru-hike each year, but only a few hundred, like me, succeed. Most thru- hikers begin in spring and hike north, as I did, since it's already warm down south.

Preparation Is Key I spent several months preparing for my thru-hike. I practiced hiking while wearing my heavy pack, even in poor weather. I got a job at an outdoor store to learn about hiking gear and tried to save money. I took my first step on April 4, 2016, from Springer Mountain, Georgia. The next few days were some of the hardest. My body and mind had to get used to the daily challenges of hiking.

The Trail Community Ever since I heard about the A. T. as a child, I wanted to be a part of its trail community. People of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities hike the A. T. each year. Many people hike to help them recover from sad events. I even met families hiking the whole trail together. Everyone was on the A. T. for a reason. Some thru-hikers hike with a group, but I hiked alone most of the time. I enjoyed meeting different people and keeping my own schedule. Whenever I felt lonely, I could always find friends in other hikers.

Daily Challenges One of the most difficult parts of hiking every single day was just that-hiking every single day! Most days on the trail, I woke up at sunrise, hiked until I reached my daily goal, and got to camp just before sunset. Like most thru-hikers, I ate food that was lightweight, was easy to prepare, and didn't spoil. The number of miles I hiked daily depended on the weather and terrain as well as my personal goals and how tired I felt. I tried to stay at campsites with a lean-to shelter, a water source, and an outhouse. Otherwise, I set up my small tent.