Date: 2005-11-10
To: A month later
Miles today: 0.0

As promised here are my reflections of my thru- hike in the year of 2005.My dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail of ten years has finally come true.It all started when my dad showed me an article in the Springfield Union News,Travel section. It was article about people that were hiking the AT in a calendar year. After reading the article it really inspired me to get out and do some hiking on the trail. I instantly fell in love with the trail and realized that someday I would hike the entire trail from Georgia to Maine.When I first mentioned it to my parents and friends that I was going to hike the trail everyone thought that I was crazy. I talked about this adventure for a number of years, but never got the courage to drop everything and do it. After a while no one really thought that I would do such a thing. I was all talk and no action! It bothered me to the point that I was just sitting around and not living my dream. I decided in October of 2004 that I would tell my parents my plans of hiking the AT. At first they were taken back, but realized that this was very important to me. So Mom and Dad thanks for all of your support and the encouragement over the past 7 months. With out your help it would not be possible to have accomplished my dream. If anyone were to ask me if they should attempt a hike of the AT. I would say just go for it. You may love it and you may hate it, but you will never know until you try it. Thru-hiking of the AT is not for everyone. You may realize that in a very short time, or it could take you some time. You may end your attempt, because of a number of reasons. It could be an injury, boredom, loneliness, or weather. There are so many factors that enter into the equation of a successful thru-hike. For me thru-hiking the AT was by far the most difficult thing that I have done in my lifetime. I will always look back at the AT as some of the best times and as some of the most trying times of my life. I can recall that I had more good days than bad days. I can remember that I had so many more sunny days than rainy days.The AT was not just about hiking and taking in the beautiful views along the trail it was a great deal more. There was another part, and that part of hiking the trail was the number of great and wonderful people that you meet. Not only the people from here in the United States, but people from all over the world. The people that you meet on the trail are interesting, generous, caring and helpful people. The trail becomes a small community of hikers that have a common goal of eventually reaching Katahin. These people become your immediate family and are very willing to help in every way possible. I will make an effort to mention the folks that played a big part of my thru hike. On the very top of the list, it has to be my Mom and Dad, thank you with all of my heart. These two individuals were with me from the very beginning. Dad picked me up on the MD-PA line and got my feet straightened out. They met me in New Jersey and gave me support and a night in a hotel with great food.. I have even hiked a few feet with my Nephew JJ in Williamstown, MA. I also had the opportunity to hike with my Dad twice, both times in Vermont. The other two members of my family my older sister Karen and my younger sister Amy were the very best with their constant encouragement as I moved along the trail from Georgia to Maine. A big SHOUT OUT to some of the cool people that I met on the trail. Tank and Eric along with Turtle the first night on the trail it seemed so long ago, to be exact 8 months. I will mention all the good folks that I met along the way. Please forgive me if I forget someone. Proteus, Buttah, Levi, Chuck, (Rich) Waistdeep, Rodeo, Sparticus& Rainbow, Mateo, Lojack, Tinkerbell ,Giggles & Box of Fun The Laugh Factory, Treetop, Seeker, Poet,Scholar,Free, Serenity,Mouth,Three Cats Debra),Quinn, Private Joker, Jax, Vision Quest, Pacer, Deep Sea, Eaglefoot, Nimblefoot, Jersey Jones, Noworries, Rabbit, Bear Trax, Fallout ,Wandering Bull, Highwayman, Mike, Greybeard, THX, Lady Scarecrow, Crazy Horse and English Bob and Silent Paul. To all of you, a big thank you. I enjoyed all of the hard times and the good times with you. The best Chubster.