Date: 2009-10-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This is the time where I must thank anyone and everyone who has helped me in any capacity to continue on my hike safely and happily. If I leave anyone out, it's just that I still have hiker brain. The most important person, my mom-From sending mail drops at the last minute, spending too much money to send a last minute package to a town I'd be in a few days later, for learning about all of my gear and how it generally works for when I'd need some of it sent to me, for cheering me on every step of the way, for managing my bills while I was away, for taking care of the various things I would have had to deal with if I were home, taking care of my dog and making sure he was healthy and well fed, for driving all the way to Harpers Ferry to visit and spending too much money on the hotel room for my friends and I, for coming to NJ to visit and organizing my friends and family to come with more food than anyone could ever eat, even us hungry hikers, and for just being there if I needed her while I was away. You were completely against me hiking, then proceeded to read every AT book I own. Thank you mom, I couldn't have done this hike without your help and support. Kurly and Swansons-For taking me for my first ever backpacking trip having NO hiking experience. I wanted to hike so badly, but didn't make the miles they planned for us since I was not in thru hiker shape, and I now realize how much I must have stressed them out while they were on a thru hike. Planning a meeting with thru hikers is extremely stressful and never easy. Now I know. Jonathan-First, for managing my journal and uploading each and every one of my photos. This was a huge job that was time consuming. Nobody else in my life would have wanted to take this on, I'm sure it was a major pain to do at times. You made it possible that my readers know what's going on in my trail life. Second-for picking us up, bringing us to your house and feeding us a delicious meal and drinks and letting us spend a night off the trail.Joan-For splitting the duties with Jonathan of getting us to his house, feeding us, and giving us free reign in the store to buy any liquor or beer we wanted, complements of you and Jonathan. You are both so generous, and my friends were all strangers to you at first. You welcomed them all with open arms. Rocket-My most compatible hiking partner, and the one person who kept me sane when times were difficult. I emailed her after reading her initial entries on here, realizing we live close by and thinking it was neat there would be other women my age on the trail. We met for a hike and instantly clicked. After deciding to start out together and see what happens, we ended up walking every step together. We always understood each other and supported each other on the many hard to handle days. Most people starting a hike together don't end together, it's very difficult to spend that much time with someone and also fall into the same pace or have the same ideas and hiking style. For some reason, we rarely butted heads. She was my emotional support. Thru hiking is extremely difficult, physically and mentally, having a good friend there is what I needed to get by. Little did I know in the planning stages how important that would be. Rocket, I thank you for putting up with me for 2,178 miles. You are a life long friend and hiking partner, like it or not!Muster-Thank you for deciding to meet back with Rocket and I on the trail after returning from an emotional week off. You could have met with various other hikers, but you chose us. Finishing the hike with both you and Rocket was the icing on the cake. You are one of the most positive people in my life, and you inspire me to be a better, more peaceful person. Subconsciously to you, you are a life teacher for me. Having you around always brought positive energy to an otherwise crappy or hard day. I am thankful to have spent well over half of my hike with you. Good thing for that motel laundromat in Franklin!Persistent-Rocket and I met for the first time on an overnight hike. In one of our various conversations, she told me Persistent's journal was a must read. I was glued to my computer. I emailed Persistent once I had finished it weeks later and from there on out, my first trail angel was born. She gifted me her Pocket Mail which got me all the way to somewhere in Connecticut I believe, until it died a slow death and needed replacing. It made it almost 2 full thru hikes. I picked her brain more than anyone, and every bit of information made the planning stages that much easier. Persistent sent us a few mail drops of snacks and pick-me-up's when she knew we were struggling. She also drove all the way from Michigan and picked up us smelly hikers from the trail so we could finally meet and attend Trail Days. She was someone completely integral to my hike. Persistent, thank you for being so kind and generous to a then complete stranger. Angela/Moss-For surprising us on the trail in CT and bringing snacks, for hiking with us again in MA, for letting us zero at your house, use your car, and have a huge dinner for us, and for hiking with us from northern NH into ME while spending some time in the final leg with us. Having a car is such a luxury when all you do is rely on strangers all the time.Jack-I have no idea who you are, but you were so generous to us. The Jolly Ranchers, which we renamed Jolly Jackers because of you, always cheered us up. The kindness of strangers is endless.Trail Angels-Trail magic is something that every hiker appreciates. It usually came at a time when I was completely starving or just needed a sweet sugar boost, in turn it gave me an emotional boost. The random strangers who would leave coolers of soda and snacks on the trail are completely amazing. Out of the goodness of their hearts, they spend their own money, fill a cooler, drive it to the trail, hike a bit and leave it in an obvious spot. Nobody in the real world would consider doing such a generous act to perfect strangers. Also, never in the real would would I take food from strangers, but on the trail, it's completely normal and ok. Trail angels are not only people who would leave random coolers of snacks, they are also perfect strangers who would drive us all over creation. We've been approached, obvious that we were thru hikers, asking if we needed a ride somewhere. Most times we did. Again, that doesn't happen away from the trail. Trail angels make getting somewhere in a snap possible.Hostel Owners-Thank you for the service you provide to hikers. Most hostels offer a bunk, shower and laundry, and possibly a ride to/from the trail head for around $15-$20. Considering all the amenities, this is extremely cheap. I've also never paid more than $30 for lodging anywhere, including motels/hotels. Maintenance Clubs-There are clubs of volunteers who maintain a designated stretch of trail, every section has a club. See next. Trail Maintainers-It is the hard work and dedication of these people who make the trail walkable. Maintainers are on a volunteer basis, so the trail is obviously where their hearts lie. Without their hard work, fallen trees would remain across the path, erosion would continue in areas of relocations, shelters would crumble, piped water sources would remain unpiped, bog bridges would not exist and we would have to trudge through nasty bog, and privies wouldn't be available. They do so much more, I am sure I'm leaving things out.Ridgerunners-For educating uneducated hikers on the trail, making sure there is no nonsense on the trail, and maintaining a level of safety. They aren't paid much, they just appreciate the outdoors and have a love of hiking and an interest in thru hikers. Most ridgerunners are accomplished thru hikers themselves. My iPod-Although it died often since it's old, there were countless times I needed music to get through my day. I started with the thought that I would only listen to music in my tent since I need to hear what's going on around me. Well, I was always so comfortable and felt like the woods were my home, so I felt comfortable tuning out when I needed to mentally escape for a while. There were certain albums I listened to over and over again, most in which I didn't often listen to at home. Weird how that happens. The Thru Hikers Handbook-This was my bible, without it I'd have no idea where I was and where towns were, and what amenities were in each town. There are various guide books for the AT, but this one provides the best trail information. Hand Warmers-On freezing cold nights, I stuffed these in my socks. Of course, it burned my skin on several occasions (you are supposed to avoid direct skin contact), but hey my feet warmed up. Nike and Under Armor-My absolute 2 favorite brands of clothing to wear on the trail. Comfortable, practical, and never ever let me down with the daily beatings they took. Leki Poles-I fell all the time, but these poles saved me a zillion other times from falling. I wish I counted my falls, I'm sure it's upwards of 100+My winter sleeping bag-It was the coziest and fluffiest thing and kept me so warm on the coldest of cold nights, and I finally named it Clifford, as in the Big Red Dog (it too, was big and red). That's exactly what you were to me, a cozy big dog for me to cuddle up with. Mother Nature-She was a beast for part of winter and the entire summer, but in the final leg we had perfect weather. I learned what it truly means to be uncomfortable from weather alone. I learned that if I can deal with that, I can deal with anything. Thanks for helping me become a stronger person. (Yes, that's right, I thanked a fictitious person!)Perfect strangers who read my journal and left me notes-I probably will never meet most, if not all of you, but I thank you for all of your support and kind notes. The cheerful notes are what helped keep me going on this tough journey. Thank you. USPS-For always delivering my mail drops, nothing was ever lost. Altum friends-For showing an interest and hiking a few miles with me. You are my only friends from home who showed up on the trail and embraced my stench. Lastly, myself-For finally allowing myself to experience this grand adventure. I fought myself for a long time thinking this is just ridiculous to leave a career, friends and family behind for some fun in the woods. It was always scary knowing the risks of leaving a job. It has been ingrained in me to save save save, work hard and save for my future. Who knows what my future holds, life sometimes is incredibly short. I would never want to grow old thinking to myself that I never lived my dream and never did exactly what I wanted. So, I finally let myself know it would be ok, somehow upon arriving home from the trail, it would all work out. Something the trail has taught me is that things always work out, and what you need comes to you. There are no coincidences, everything happens for a reason. So, thank you me for finally realizing my dream and making it possible. I still do not know how this has affected my life, but I know it has in major ways.