Date: 2019-04-25
From: Curley Maple shelter

To: Cherry Gap shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 32It was that perfect day for hiking today. As the precursor of tomorrow¢s storm, today was overcast with sprinkles here and there. So the temperature was low, and there was no hot Sun beating down on hikers. In morning at a place where the trail took almost 350 degrees turn, I didn¢t saw the turn but kept straight on an use trail. It led me almost bushwhacked to a top of a hill with large rocks. The view was great. But there was no more trail to go. Checking my Earthmate, I noticed it was off the main A.T. by about 0.2 miles. So I had to retreat my footsteps to get back on the main trail. Later at Indian Grave Gap, the trail angel ¢Brother Tom¢ told me there have been other hikers missed that turn too. It was funny that with my concentration on getting back on the main trail, my knee can do all the maneuvers without feeling any pain. This reminded me of a hiking guru I met two years ago. This man from Fresno, CA can hike up to 64 miles per day. When I asked him if that made his feet hurt. He answered ¢Yes. But I just ignored it. It¢s all in your mind¢. Hiking on the long distance trail let me experience the most treasured ideas of American: ¢Liberty as in freedom, Equality, and Fraternity as in universal love¢. Freedom as that I can do the things I believe in, with proper preparation and my hard work, that I can achieve my goal. I am not limited by my gender, age, educational background, or my family¢s status. I observed other hikers with the same determination and enjoying their freedom too. As an immigrant to the US, this freedom means extra precious to me. Equality as all the hikers are facing the same challenges and getting awards from trail equally. They hear the same bird songs every morning. The wildflowers bloom the same way for all.  To reach their goal they put the same one step after another walking the same pathway from Georgia to Maine. Regardless what they were before, regardless how much wealth they have, the trail let them to discover themselves, and gave them the same dignity. Love as expressed by looking after each other everyday whether they knew the other before or not. As expressed by trail angels who provided trail magic out of pure kindness to strangers. I have asked many of them if they take donations. All have said no. Some told me the best donation we can give is to do the same trail magic for next year thru-hikers. Some said that if they could not afford this, they¢ll not be doing it. It is all just helping people with their needs, the love without any expectation of return back to the givers. This is the best of American values. This is the American that I always wanted to experience and introduce to people. I felt very lucky to be able to do this long trail. It is not something a weekend backpacking trip can provide. I am the privileged few who have the means and the supports to take on this journey. To the forefathers who created this trail and to the people who worked tirelessly to maintain this trail, I am always grateful. Either the A.T. , the PCT, CDT, or the Great Redwoods Trail in the making, they are bringing the best out of American people.