Date: 2003-10-14
From: Mt. Katahdin

To: The Gathering
Miles today: 0.0

We sat in a large hall at Dartmouth College.....500 hikers, backpackers, trail maintainers, and lovers of the Appalachian Trail. The emcee called for those who had hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and we watched as they stood to cheers and applause. Then the Continental Divide Trail, Triple-Crowners and section hikers. One by one, groups stood to recieve accolades for their accomplishments. Then they called for AT hikers, Class of 2002....2001....2000, all the way back. As the years were called, the room got quieter and quieter as one or two hikers would stand. To see a grey-haired hiker slowly rise when his or her year is called is to see the history of the Appalachian Trail unfold before your eyes.   Then, we heard a voice cracking with emotion,... "I would like to introduce to you, the Appalachian Trail Class of 2003". With tears in my eyes I stood to take my place as a member of the Class of 2003. Whoops, hollers, and cheers rained down as Bumpkin and I embraced, on our feet in the middle of the celebration. It was a moment years in the planning and dreaming, and finally come. Thus ends my journey. Six months, 700 miles, and an infinite number of mountains, both physical and emotional. The next three days were filled with classes, seminars, and celebrating with trail friends. I saw thru hikers from the last six months and had a chance to finally hear their stories in person. Some of the highlights of the Gathering include:-seeing old friends like Trisha and Daria, without whose support, I would never have been able to go as far as I did.-Running into my fellow hikers, Liteshoe, Hotdog, Hopeful, Footslogger, and others. They were always ahead of me, and it was nice to finally catch up! -Having a man come up to me, grab me by the shoulders and say, "You did great, Mud Butt! Good Job!!". I have no idea who he was, but he made my heart swell with pride!-Seeing the clinicians and ALDHA members that went out of their way to inspire and inform me last year, and showing them that their efforts were not in vain.-Meeting Big Red, a thru hiker from two years ago that I followed in Trail Journals. I got to throw my arms around him and tell him what an inspiration he was to me! His smile will stay with me forever.-Taking part in a panel discussion to answer questions for next years thru-hikers. I can't believe that I not only have an opinion, but that it is a qualified one! -Meeting Stephen Jones, the winner of the ALDHA Photo Contest. His winning photo shows a man carrying a string bass through the White Mountains, and when I fell in love with the picture, Stephen, out of sheer kindness, signed it and gave it to me! How wonderful!-Meeting Bill Irwin, a man that hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. Did I mention that he is blind and that he did it alone, with his seeing-eye dog? The word 'inspiration' doesn't even begin to cover it.- and finally, attending Cesar and Maude's presentation on 'Thorough' Hiking. I walked out of there knowing that I was not finished dreaming big, and that I had everything I need inside of me to make those dreams become a reality.   So now, in the words of my mom, I am thinking home. As I write this, the miles are speeding by as I head south. People have already started asking me what I have learned, and to tell the truth, the answers to that question would take months to compile, much less convey. However, I can tell you a few of the big things that I learned....   I learned that people are kind, generous, and huge-hearted. If you have lost your faith in mankind, hike the AT. You will be amazed at the good will that is out there just waiting for a place to fall.   I learned that turning a dream into a reality is much easier than one would think. It's not just that I made my dream a reality, but I have been surrounded by thousands of other people that did it also. It happens everyday! And along those same lines, if you dream big, people will close ranks around you to support you and help you. All it takes is sincere commitment on your part and the world will move in the most unexpected of ways to move you toward your goals. It is really quite extraordinary.   Finally, the biggest thing that I have carried away from this hike is that, like the David Roth song says, I still have so much to learn!    As I head home, I am full of conflicting emotions. I am happy to be going home, sad to be leaving the trail, elated over my acomplishments, and a little nervous about re-entry. I am concerned about whether or not I squeezed every bit of experience out of the last six months that I could. I am completely aware of what a gift this opportunity was, and I want to make sure that I didn't squander a single second of it. Most of all, however, I am excited! Excited about moving forward in my life, setting new goals to work towards, and simply living at a higher volume. This is the last email update that I will be sending out. I will post a couple of post-hike entries on the website, but for now, it is time to close the book on this project. First, though, I have to send a thousand "thank you's" to my unwavering circle of support. The next time you see my mom, dad, or brother, give them a huge hug and know that you are in the presence of the most wonderful parents and brother that a woman could have. They were the center of it all, and they believed in me when I couldn't find that belief in myself. Known by the other hikers as the ultimate trail angels, they truly made this hike a family affair.   When it comes to other avenues of support, the care packages, emails, letters, and phone calls have been the single most important aspect of that which kept me on the trail. So many of you don't even know me, yet you went to such lengths to help me on my way! I have spent the last six months overwhelmed with gratitude, and have spent much of that time thinking of the different ways I can return the good will that has been poured on me. It is with complete sincerety that I tell you, I could not have done it without you.So, thank you, thank you, thank you.   Happy trails to you all.......Love, Anna aka Mud Buttwww.trailjournals.com