Date: 2011-05-20
From: Katahdin, Summit Day

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

ConclusionIt has taken me a long time to post this conclusion or closure entry for my 2010 thru hike.I have to apologize for not posting it shortly after my hike but my return home was not very pleasant. My wife left me before I finished my hike and I came home to an empty house. You can read more about that in my succeeding journal entry titled ¢End of a marriage¢. After time I thought all was healed and then my hiking partner of over a year, who ended up being more than a hiking partner, left me also for one of my best friends from my 2010 thru hike. It played out like a high school drama.For those of you that need to know more and to put aside all rumors, you can read about my ex-wife and some more towards the end of this post.I have had my bouts of ups and down since my return home from my thru hike. I hope things start looking up for me soon.This is how I feel about my hike and what I would do different if I were to do it again. Other thru hikers will have different experiences with their hike than I had and may also do things differently. This is the results of what I would do different for my thru hike if I could do it again.The first thing I would do different or recommend is for anyone thinking about hiking with a dog is to really think about it and reconsider it. I will not go into all the details right now other than to say your dog should be well behaved. It should not be aloud to chase every living animal in the woods along the AT. Remember the AT is a national park, meant to be preserved along with all the animals in it. If your dog cannot re-frame from marking its territory on other peoples packs, motel rooms and hostels then you should not be bringing it with you. The other major reason to consider is that it puts a large damper on your hike at times. You are limited to the places you can stay or go to with a dog. You miss out on many things because of the dog limitations. You also need to make sure that your dog is well behaved and will respond to commands if you decide to bring it.I slack packed a lot towards the end of my hike, more than I should have and I also missed out on some of the interactive experiences with other thru hikers. If I were to do it again, I would limit my slack packing.I would have managed my money better. I did get over zealous in spending do to the slack packing.I wished somehow the trip could have been longer or lasted longer. I enjoyed all the people I met and hiked with and did not want to leave that community.I would take more pictures of the other thru hikers and people in general. I took a lot of pictures of scenery and objects but not as many as I would have liked to have taken of other hikers. Those that are planning a hike in the future, take lots of pictures and not just scenery pictures, take pictures of other hikers. The hikers you see throughout your hike is constantly changing. You may see one hiker one day and never see them again.I have been asked a few times by good friends through out my hike if the thru hike was everything I expected it to be. To answer that I would have to say both yes and no. I did my research about this hike for many years before attempting it. I knew pretty much exactly what to expect. I knew about the rain, cold, heat, homesickness, the ups and downs, and many other things that don't come to mind right now. The physical part I knew about and I dealt with that on a day to day basis. I also dealt with the mental part of it.The part I did not accomplish was trying to decide my nitch in the scheme of life. I just came to the realization that a person needs to live life and be happy and do what they like doing. Like that saying ¢Life is all about making memories¢.The one thing that I did not expect was to come home to my household the way I did. There was a little trouble on the home front before I left. I did not expect to come home to have the mess being compounded. It all turned out for the best.Other then all this, I would have to say, yes it was everything I had expected. I would not change it by not going. It was one of the best thing I ever did.Here are some questions that I have been asked.Could I have done it alone?I doubt I could have done it alone without the help and support of family, friends and the now ex-wife back home, and fellow thru hikers on the trail. The trail community out here is unbelievable. We all look out for each other. It is like one big family.Would I do it again?Hell yes, I would do it in a second if I have the funds.Would you recommend it to others?Absolutely.What would you suggest to others before attempting this?Research, research and more research. Go light and with the least amount of gear and weight possible but be safe in doing so.What would you do different?1. Reconsider hiking with a dog. Dogs should not be on the trail if they do not respond or listen to voice commands.2. Take more time if possible.3. Spend less time in motels.4. Slack pack less.5. Visit more hostels.A good friend of mine said this once about becoming a thru hiker;- - it doesn't make you better than anyone else, but it does put you in a group of special people who set it as goal and made it. Many have tried but few have succeeded. - - Foot Slogger - -The thing that really surprised me as I started getting closer to my destination(Mount Katahdin) was that many thru hikers were anxious to get to the finish. Some started doing bigger mile days to get there. I was had the opposite train of thought. I wanted it to last longer. I was in no hurry for this adventure to end. I wished it could have lasted forever. My advice is to take you time and take it all in while you can because when this journey is over, it is over.Here is my best of listing.Best mealsCody¢s in Franklin, NCHomeplace in Catawba, VAYetter¢s in Branchville, NJBest OutfittersHot Springs, NCMount Rogers in Damascus, VAOutdoor Trails, Daleville, VAFavorite SectionMcAfee KnobTinker CliffsThe WhitesWaterfallsJones FallsLaurel FallsKatahdin Stream FallsFavorite SheltersPartnership ShelterGentian Pond ShelterPierce Pond ShelterFavorite HostelsHiker Hostel, GATerrapin StationThe Green Mountain House, VTThe Cabin, East Andover, MEHikers I enjoyedPeters MountainMcAffe Knob/Tinker CliffsThere are just to many to list hereHikers I remember not enjoyingThe climb out of Sinking Creek Valley/VA 621(NOBO)The climb out of James River(NOBO)The rocks after Bailey Gap Shelter(NOBO)The climb up Bald Knob(NOBO)Three Ridges Mountain(NOBO)