Date: 2008-07-18
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Miles today: 0.0

When I started my journey four and a half months ago, I never really knew for sure if I was going to make it. My goal was to hike and just focus on getting to the next shelter. I never thought I would hike with other hikers let alone make friends. My perception of the Appalachian Trail was nothing like what I experienced. Only a few days into my journey I developed blisters on my feet. This problem would plague me for nearly two thirds of the trail. At one point a blister split on my heel and forced me to take time off in Virginia. After two weeks of healing and a new pair of shoes I decide to continue on the trail. Hiking alone wasn't fun for me. I had become good friends with a few hikers I met along the way. We were a team and I wanted to continue to hike with them. This meant I would have to skip a section of the trail to join up with them. I made my decision because I knew I was less likely to complete my journey alone.Getting back on the trail was difficult for me. Leaving my wife for the second time and putting myself through the physical exhaustion of the trail left me wondering if I could do this. For some reason the trail kept pulling me back. The sights you see and the people you meet, it becomes addicting. As the journey went on some of the team members stopped for injuries, slowed down to enjoy the trail more and another stopped for personal obligations. I always thought about these friends along the way and tried to keep in touch with them.The Appalachian Trail changed me in ways I never thought it could. The mental side of hiking can be just as difficult at the physical. I came up with a motto that kept me going through the hard times, "You have to go through the bad times to get to the good.", and it worked. If I would have quit on the first bad experience I had, I would have never made it through the first day. I feel this journey made me a stronger person and taught me to be more outgoing and to learn to except help from others.I've seen a fraction of how beautiful this country is. I wish more people could go and see how wonderful this planet is, if only for a day. I was in total awe when I walked through New Hampshire's White Mountains. I never knew this place existed until I first stepped foot on it. Franconia Ridge and Mount Lafayette, in The White Mountains, is my favorite place on the entire trail. When I was there I felt calm, almost spiritual. It is very hard to describe a feeling like that. Then there was Katahdin.The first time I set eyes on this glorious mountain was 3 days before I summited it. It was very exciting and I almost cried. Not because the mountain was so beautiful but all my emotions I've had this entire journey hit me and I felt overwhelmed. Don't get me wrong the mountain is a marvel but not enough to bring me to tears. I would see Mt. Katahdin a few more times as I traveled closer, but none of them made me few the way I felt the first time I saw it. Climbing to the top was exciting, fun, technical, and challenging. It was my toughest climb on the trail. When I summited I felt relieved. All my worries, all the stress was gone. I hiked this journey for my wife, I hiked it for my family and friends, but most of all I hiked this journey for me.I would like to thank the trail clubs and all the maintainers. Your hard work and dedication has kept this trail from extinction. I hope you are able to continue your work so my kids can enjoy it like I have. I would like to thank my friends and family for their support. It kept me going through those bad times. For all the drop boxes I received I thank you. Reading all the entries in my trail journal guest book made me feel like you were all there with me and I was happy to know you cared.I would like to thank my wife Liz "The Doctor". Without her support and love this journey would have never been possible. These months have been difficult for the both of us but I feel these times have brought us closer together and made our love and marriage stronger. She was there the whole time I was on the trail and I have the ring to prove it. I¢ll love you forever.