Date: 2006-05-01
To: Thank You Friends...
Miles today: 0.0

Walker, Ryan, Why-Not, Stones, Cheesewhiz, FDR, Keystone Dave, Michealangelo, No Falls, 3 Dollar, The Caretaker, Doc Gnarly, Slideshow, Nokia, Livin, Knees, Spaghetti-oh, Weeks, Harley Hog Pit, A.U., Skirt, Flat Bread, Hey Now, Step and a Half, Gus, Davie-Do, Smokin Herb, ATOM, Oly, Crutch, Wonderfoot, Stumpknocker, Mother Nature, Smokestack, Shortcut, Baltimore Jack, Rebel With A Cause, Dirtnap, Southpaw, Bemis, Eagle, Billy Goat, Kiwi, Firefly, Bright-Eyes, Kid Rock, Mala, FishinFred, Gator Aid, Greybeard, Sprocket, Melissa and Daniel, Mark and Betty, Perry and Jason, Ron Haven and Family, Curtis and Maria, Ron and Sam.These are some of the people I have met, hiked with, shared stories with, and have gotten to know. This list is not complete, nor is it final. I want to apologize to anyone not named, I know I met alot more hikers, but if I didn't write down a name, I have forgotten it. It was a pleasure to hike with some of you guys, and to have met you all. Gerry, Mom, Alexa, Tracey, Danielle, Mary Ellen and Woody, Jeff, Darby, Marty, Tom, Sue, Thomas, Heidi, Grace and Don, you are my family and friends that have supported me in this insane trip, and I thank you. Without that support, the 271 trail miles completed would mean nothing.To all that signed my Guest book, thank you again. Some of the notes were real inspirational, and others the tips were invaluable. Some of the reply e-mail addresses did not record (or were not left), but I will try to reply to you all personally to thank you properly.I sit here thinking on something spectacular to write, but nothing comes to mind. I miss the trail, the people I met, and the bond we shared. I feel like I "need" more than "want" to be out there hiking, not to prove anything to anyone, but for my own peace of mind. I have yet to even unpack my gear, in some small hope this is just a layover before returning to the trail. There is no way I can give up the trail now. I have seen mountains the way they looked for hundreds of years, maybe thousands and this has awoken something in me I didn't know was there. I have time, and while I feel the need to be here at home for now, the trail will be waiting for me. The mountains will be there waiting for me.I knew my chances of finishing a Thru-hike attempt were slim, given me being out of shape, and with no hiking experience at all. But, I have no regrets on at least trying it. I now know the freedom of the trail, the kindness of the people living along it, and the companionship of fellow hikers trying to do the same thing. One thing I kept hearing along the way was "This hill looks just like the last one" or "the trail is the same day after day". Not true. I saw a different thing every day, every mountain, every valley and gap. The forest trees would change just from altitude, flowers would bloom when in sunlight, or even bloom only when it rained. I would not ever want to hike the trail if it all seemed the same to me. I would become a mile nazi at that point, and that's not my kind of hiking. The unexpected beauty of the trail was the best part of it for me, as most times I could not see around the next bend, past a clump of trees, over the next rise to see what was hidden from me. But when the view opened up, the trail straightened, the trees cleared, there was always something worth looking at. Thats what made this worth it to me, and I will be returning to see more. Maybe not this year, but I will be back to see more. To live more.I will start to look for work this week, and will unpack my gear, and store it for the next trip. I have run out of things to say, and I am still a little disappointed in myself at the failed attempt. At least, I have gotten to know the trail as well as some other great people on this trip, and look forward to more of the same on future hikes.Thank you all for reading my journal this year, I look foward to another adventure soon.