Date: 2014-07-30
From: Columbus, IN

To: Washington, DC
Miles today: 0.0

I have been off the trail for a week now, but I want to share a few reflections on thus year's hike before I bring the journal to an end. Somehow it seems appropriate to do this today. I flew from Indianapolis to Washington, DC for a National Assessment Governing Board quarterly meeting. At some point during the flight at about 50,000 feet I crossed over the AT. It certainly looks different from 50,000 feet. The mountains look like bumps when you are flying over them instead of hiking up them. Perspective. This year's hike was very different from last year's. The beauty of the forest and the mountains was the same, even without the phenomenal line of balds that I experienced last year going north from the Smokies. One difference was the rain; last year it was a daily occurrence, I was wet for days and days. Maybe that's what made the higher mile days easier. That was another difference. Last year 10 or 12 miles wiped me out. This year 15 was fairly easy, 28 was a bit of a challenge. I am really not sure what the difference was. Maybe I stayed in better shape. It makes me wonder what next year will be like. The biggest difference was in the people I met. Last year I hiked with other people doing a section hike heading north. There might be a day or two between times when we were together at a shelter, but I felt like I was part if a hiking community. This year, Laura from Asheville (for lack of a trail name) was the only other northbound section hiker I met. Last year other hikers were always asking me what my trail name was, and I had none. This year I had one, and no one asked. I did meet lots of people doing day hikes or loop hikes and I had some great conversations along the way. People at home often ask if I am scared of meeting crazy or dangerous people along the trail. Everyone I meet on the trail and in trail towns has reinforced my belief that most people are genuinely caring and kind hearted, from Grif and Celia who bought my lunch, to Pam at the outfitter store who saved my hiking poles, to Harry and his daughter who shared their bananas foster, to all the people whose names I never got who provided me with water when I asked for it and when I did not. And the people who offered me nothing except a smile and some great conversation about the trail and the day. I spent no nights sleeping in a shelter, which was a big change. I spent only about three nights in my tent at a shelter. I spent more nights in my tent along the trail, usually on or near a mountain top. That provided great views at night and in the morning. It was slightly eerie being totally alone in the forest with all of the night sounds, but it made me feel totally immersed in the forest and in the Appalachian Mountains. It also made me realize I am more of a social person than I gave myself credit for. I don't mind hiking alone all day, but it is comforting to feel connected to other people at the shelters in the evening. I guess the shelters provide a place for social connections - at least when the trail is busier. If only there weren't so many damned mice!I think I will end with the same thought as last year. This seems hard to fully understand unless you have spent time on the AT and you realize you haven't seen a white blaze in a while and maybe you missed the trail and maybe you're off course, and then you spot a white blaze and you feel comfort and relief and you feel like you are making progress and you won't have to backtrack. The trail still inspires me to BE a white blaze for others. Maybe for my students, maybe for other people in my life, but I hope I can let people know they are headed in the right direction. They haven't yet arrived at their destination, but they are headed on the right oath to their goal. Oh yeah, and every time I hear the song or read the verse in Psalms, "I lift my eyes up to the mountains, where does my help come from." it will send shivers up my spine. It was the perfect end to a great hike, and with that I will end my journal - at least for this year.