Date: 2004-03-23
From: Mount Pocono, PA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Happy 1 year anniversary to me!!!!!!!!!!! And to all my other trail friends that started on the same day (Switchback, Silver Lining, Big Red, Starbuck, Cookie, Tadpole, Neuroma, Moose, Elisabeth, and many many many many others!!!!!I've noticed alot of future thru hikers on trail journals asking what people do with their life after the trail. I had 6+ months to contemplate my next steps and all I can really say is that situation wise, I pretty much ended up back where I was.I got a job at a pharmaceutical company doing what I was doing before I hiked the AT. I am pretty sure I got desperate as my money was pretty much gone by January. I could have done temp work or maybe stocked the shelves at Wal-Mart, but for some reason my brain wants good things and instead of waiting and figuring out what I wanted, I went with what was easy.That said, the new job did bring me to the Poconos to live. Can't complain about that one. Mountains, trees, wildlife and snow. And it is a pretty snow, not the depressing stuff that falls, gets dirty and turns to mush like it is closer to the cities.Since I've summited Katahdin I've had 2 root canals. What would I do different if I ever thru-hiked again --- floss everyday!!!!! All I can say about this is thank goodness for Cobra insurance, without it I'd be toothless or poor or both!!I've mastered the Eskimo roll in a kayak (ok so it was only in a pool, but hey I can do it) and I've got my own kayak now too. And master is a loose term, I can do it and in my mind that makes me a master.Right after the AT I started working at a local gear shop in Philadelphia, The Trailboss. For some reason I was a jynxx to the store and on the days that I worked I rarely saw a customer. Even with Christmas around the corner things seemed quiet. But I learned about the gear business and met alot of sales reps. Some day, my own gear shop will emerge. But that takes money, which is why I went back to work at a real company.Also, I was scheduled to take the PA Civil Service test for park ranger and park manager trainee on Dec. 23. On the 22nd, I became violently ill with a nastly flu or stomach virus. Either way, I was holed up the rest of the week and I reverted back to trail comforts. I stayed in my down sleeping bag 24 -7 until I got better. That bag is my security blanket. It is so comforting. So for some reason the man upstairs did not want me to take those park ranger tests. And again, back to the pharmaceutical world I went.I've been pretty lazy. Went on a couple hikes. But hopefully this summer will bring hiking back into my life. I got a new pair of Javas that are itching to get dirty.I've kept in touch with alot of my trail friends. I owe many of you a personal letter, but for some reason I've been busy with a job, apartment and the TV. I can't get away from the boob tube. (maybe that explains why I've packed on 15 of the 25 pounds that I lost). I just hope the weather gets nice before I pack on the other 10.Since Katahdin I hiked a day with Turtle in PA. And I went to DC and saw Last Minute. Other than that I have not seen any of my trail friends.And today especially I am thinking about all of you and wishing we were back out on the trail having some fun times.Hopefully I will see many of you at Trail Days!So that was the long version of my life after the AT, situation wise.Emotionally, it is a roller coaster. I thought the AT would be a stepping stone to something better. but I never figured out the better. So now what? Well, I keep dreaming up new adventures and wishing that I had the time to actually make them happen. I question myself for reverting back to the golden handcuffs and 2 weeks vacation time. For people like us hikers that simply isn't enough. One day I will figure things out, until then I am going to enjoy the Poconos, dish out some trail magic around Wind Gap and the Deleware Water Gap, and hopefully hike the Shennies this year.Physically, I am fat and lazy. Not really, but for the first month or so I could not stop eating. If I skipped a meal or a snack I'd get faint and almost pass out. My body was in shock from not being in constant motion and constantly fed. My appetite eventually evened out, but now I am so accustomed to "town food" it is disgusting. My soda and sugar cravings are insane, worse than ever. That is something I hope to change. My knees also hurt now. Lack of exercise is to blame for that.And the big questions everyone asks:Do you regret anything? - Not at all. It was an experience of a lifetimeWould you do it again? - No way. Once was enough. although I wouldn't mind section hiking my favorite spots. I think month long adventures are plenty long for me.Do you miss it? of course- I miss the simplicity of having everything you need to survive in a small pack. no choices of what to wear, limited choices on what to eat, no cell phones, tvs, microwaves, etc etc. Just nature and good friends.I also miss the exercise and how good I felt after the easy and the hard days. I miss the sense of adventure and the excitement each day brought with a new mountain to climb, or river to cross. I miss how comfortable I became sleeping outside, the sounds of nature, the sound of rain on my tent, waking up in fresh air every morning. And I miss my AT friends.If you did hike again what would you change?pack weight, floss every day, keep my warm sleeping bag longer, take more time to enjoy it and explore absolutly everything that I wanted to see