One Step at a Time

“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” –Edward Abbey What am I looking for? Not only did I ask myself this while dragging my impossibly heavy feet over mountain after taunting mountain, but I questioned it even in the months leading up to my second Appalachian Trail section hike. I remember the shear exhaustion of hiking in North Carolina.. making progress as slow as is humanly possible, swearing that I’d never do this to myself again. I describe it as being similar to the high one gets after a race, the absurd endorphin filled urge to sign up for another one despite hating yourself for the majority of the mileage. But I think it’s more than that. I was asked, “What are you looking forward to the most on this trip?” After short contemplation, I replied, “I have no idea.. something amazing.” In short, I have a great life that I’m not trying to run away from. I’m not trying to find spiritual enlightenment. I have decid...

To be honest, I'm not exactly sure where my fascination with the Appalachian Trail began.  Like everyone else, I've seen the terrible Bill Bryson movie but that wasn't it.  Maybe a documentary, as that seems to be where I spend most of my Netflix time.  Either way, I ordered the book, "Lost in the Woods" by Kyle Rohrig and instantly knew, I had to go there. Since I don't have months of time to spend away from my job or family, I knew section hiking was my only option.  I had to see these views that the books and documentaries talked about.  I needed to meet thru-hikers and hear their stories.  Who are these people and what possesses them to walk for months, sleep in rat infested shelters, and basically seclude themselves from reality for an undecided amount of their life?  After convincing my wife that I wouldn't die and persuading one of my life-long best friends, Jesse, that this is a great idea, we set our sites on a spot halfway between our h...