Epilogue of Sorts

This is probably a little scattered. I wrote the majority of this throughout the last few nights on the trail.

 

Here’s to Josh for picking me up from the Atlanta airport, to taking me to Varsity for one last meal before hitting the trail. (Side note: Josh was also at the summit of Katahdin the same day that I was – he did a flip-flop hike, we also saw each other again in Portland, ME) Here’s to Springer, Mt. for reminding me that this wouldn’t be easy. To the Stover Creek shelter that informed me that Georgia is indeed cold.

Here’s to Ivan and Purple Heart who still probably don’t know how much they helped me in those first few weeks. To Franklin, NC for my first zero day. Here’s to the Smokies who taught me that my phone isn’t waterproof. To Max Patch Bald for teaching me to always check weather reports. To Cool Hand and Ontario for doing a 33 mile hike with me. Here’s to Roan Mountain for providing a day of snow. To Damascus for a couple days of rest.

Here’s to meeting Pickle, Wheels, Bulls Eye, Tuna and Wilco who I would hike with on and off for the next 1,500 miles. Here’s to the hotel rooms that four of us would share throughout Virginia. Here’s to hitching in Bueno Vista with a guy with a snapping turtle in his car. Here’s to Missy for helping us throughout PA.

Here’s to hiking through New Hampshire, giving me a whole new perspective on my home state. Here’s to Lucas/Jamie and Jarod/Claire for getting married this summer and getting me back into society for a few days.

Here’s to David Nail’s album “Fighter” (highly recommend) for keeping me going. To the Bobby Bones show, especially the Friday morning dance parties. To Zach for allowing me to blog.

Here’s to resupplies, to calculating calorie to ounce ratios.

Here’s to the tears, the rain, and the blisters that almost, almost made me stop. The cold nights in the Smokies, the heat throughout NY and CT. To all of the day-hikers that would stop and give me words of encouragement.

Here’s to my boss who didn’t laugh at me when I told him I was going to walk from Georgia to Maine.

Here’s to sunrises and sunsets, to majestic forests and golden farmlands. To mountains that humble you and then make you feel like a rock-star. To changes, to making me realize that sometimes the first step is indeed the hardest.

Here’s to the miles, the dirt and the smiles. The quiet nights and the windy ridge tops. To all of the views, and the photos that come with (sorry Facebook for posting so many photos).

To the trail for teaching me that it’s not always what’s in your pack, but how you handle situations. For teaching me what’s really important in life.

To everyone that supported me along the way. To my parents who have been my operations center for over a year. They didn’t complain once when their living room turned into a hiker supply room. To Janis and Moe for dehydrating all my dinners for me, for all the help throughout Maine and for being second parents. To all of the celebrity hikers that took time out of their busy lives to come hike with me (Aunt Peggy, Dad, Mom, Janis, Jarod, CK, and Luke). To all of my family that came and saw me throughout New England, who brought me food, cold drinks, and warm smiles.

Writing this has made me realize just how much work and how many people it took for me to accomplish this dream. I am grateful, and will never forget anyone that helped me along the way.

Here’s to crazy dreams, to following those crazy dreams. Oh, I haven’t mentioned how much I need to thank my parents?

One last note. I am still going to do a follow-up to my “Get and Hike” blog, so no need to worry.