Date: 2005-07-24
To: Finished!
Miles today: 0.0

I did it, I actually did it.. 4 months and 10 days.. The adventure of a lifetime.. memories that will last me forever.. it's all mine. At 9am, the 23rd of July I summited Katahdin. Exhausted and with teary eyes I ran to the sign and embraced it.. It was just me, and Katahdin.. memories of the past four months filled my mind.. I was in heaven. I had never felt anything like this, and I will not soon forget it. It is simply amazing.I ended my hike exactly as I had envisioned it. I wanted an insane push at the end.. and I got it. I covered over 72 miles within 24 hours to get into Monson, where after calling home I immediately hit the 100 mile wildernes.. then after 2 and a half days of pushing my limits through the wilderness I came out of the woods at Abol Bridge, only 15 miles from the end. The next morning I summited the big K and my hike along the 2174.9 mile Appalachian Trail came to an end. Success.This success would not have been possible without all of my family and friends, and all of the wonderful people I have met along the way. Mom and Dad, thanks for your love and support and for introducing me to the great Appalachian Mountains. Crystal and Tyson, thanks for going way out of your way to pick me up in southern Virginia.. that meant a ton to me and helped me more than you know. Thomas, what can I say.. you're the coolest brother I could ask for.. thanks for going to both Springer, and climbing Katahdin with me.. I know that you look up to me, but know that I as well look up to you. Porter, thanks for all of your loving words over the phone every time I called home.. you've grown so fast, I can't wait to see you achieve great things as well. Grandma and Granddad, your support of my hike has overwhelmed me, I could not have done it without you.. thank you. Aunt Martha, Uncle Mike, and all you little munchkins, thanks for driving all around northern Virginia to shuttle me to and from the trail, and for helping me in every way that you could think.. it meant so much. Kathy and Oakley, and Devin and Daron, thank you for the HUGE maildrop at Harper's Ferry and for taking me to get my new shirt (it went all the way to Katahdin) I miss you guys and I'm sorry I missed Devin's graduation.. I was there in spirit, congratulations bud! Matt "TH" Terry, your kindness is mind boggling.. you and your family have been so supportive I have so many thanks to give you.. all of the food you sent me was above par and always such a nice suprise.. your entries were always hilarious and motivated me more than you can understand.. thank you.. and the trip to get me was more than I could imagine.. thank you thank you thank you.. (you'll be the first to have all the details about the next adventure.. PCT? C2C?). Mr. Manley, thank you for everything you did to help me up the trail, I look forward to returning to Manley's Service. My girlfriend Sara, without your support I couldn't have done it.. Thank you for being there for me, even when I wasn't there for weeks at a time.. Now it's your turn, enjoy El Salvador! Also, thank you to everyone that I met on the trail and hiked with. Diesel, you rock and I was so happy for you when I heard you finished. I hope all is well in Tyler. Webb and Dewd.. I loved hiking with you guys and I thank the Smiths for everything you did for me.. I'm sorry I couldn't catch up to you boys but I know that we will see each other soon. "Flash" Gordon, you're hilarious and "Vlad" kept me pushin' through those steep white mountains.. the chess game was awesome.. I can't wait to start climbing in Boone, NC. Daytripper.. your pace is wicked fast and our constant complaining about everyone kept me going through the tough times. Thank you. Your friends were so involved with your hike it blew my mind.. thanks Kate. Your parents were so kind to me.. taking me in and feeding me godly amounts of amazing food.. and your sister was so cool for sending the teddy grahams and vanilla wafers.. Many many thanks to the Lawrence family. I could sit here for hours and thank you all, but you all know what you have done, and I am thankful for everything. I love the hike that I hiked and I thank everyone that made it what it was.. unbelievable. I now return to the world as a new person.. Stronger, with more confidence than should be allowed in one person. I have endured what nature has to throw at me, now I will give it all that I have to ensure I live my life to the fullest.. tackling every obstacle that I come across and conquering every playing field I step on.. I'm going to live every day as if it's my last.. If I have learned one thing.. it is that life is an adventure, and you only get one.. I'm going to live it... and I'm going to live it well.