Date: 2017-09-15
To: Conclusion of four year section hike
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

One person I met asked me if my hike of the AT met my expectations. At the time I did not know how to answer this. What were my initial expectations?  I expected a physical challenge that if I kept putting one foot in front of the other, I would eventually finish, very similar to a longroad trip but walking. Hiking the AT was so much more. I probably met over 1000 people in my hike, many of which I had very meaningful conversations to me personally. Some of those conversations were life changing. I learned countless life lessons such as don't sweat the small stuff, people give what they are willing/capable to give; they do not and will not give what they are incapable of giving; ask people who are able togive; I am stronger than I thought; I learned to accept my limitations.  They are limitations at this moment in time. Tomorrow may be different. I intellectually knew these life lessons but now I have lived them.  A woman new to hiking the AT asked for some advice. So many things come to mind. Stretch after each day of hiking and persevere. After hiking for two weeks, hiking the AT becomes much more than a physical challenge while you look at pretty views. I have found what motivates me when it rains continuously for two days, when I am hungry, tired and lonely and sore or in pain, when I wonder why I am doing this when it would be so easy to quit, when the average American walks 9 miles a week and I hiked twice that today, when it seems every one is passing me and doing more miles, when I look up the trail at the Wildcats and it is a rock climb straight up for 6 miles with almost no break. I have a few motivators. "Are you going to do this or what?" "I can't stay here. I need to get to water before I camp." I praise God and thank Him for all the things that are going well. I sing hymns. I imagine teaching my granddaughter how to negotiate this or how to camp and break camp. Talking with someone as I hike. There will be obstacles. Those that finish overcome them.After I got home I started crying.. For me the tears are similar to a woman crying after giving birth. Yes there is pain involved but it is much more than that. It is the bringing to fruition the dream to have a child, the months of the child growing inside and now the dream is reality. The unbelievably awesome reality of what I have just done. I and the world I live in are forever changed.The scene I pictured when the tears would come is me sitting on one of the many outcroppimgs of rock, facing west as the sun sets. McAfee Knob would work. My back is to the camera. The song Hills and Valleys is playing softly as the narrator speaks my response to the newbie. The song ends. The credits roll as the song I'm going home where the streets are golden. Every chain is broken plays. Almost without notice, I get up and hike on while the camera stays watching the sunset til dark.  *************************Hills and ValleysTauren WellsLyricsI've walked among the shadowsYou wiped my tears awayAnd I've felt the pain of heartbreakAnd I've seen the brighter daysAnd I've prayed prayers to heaven from my lowestplaceAnd I have held the blessingsGod, you give and take awayNo matter what I have, Your grace is enoughNo matter where I am, I'm standing in Your loveOn the mountains, I will bow my lifeTo the one who set me thereIn the valley, I will lift my eyes to the one who sees me thereWhen I'm standing on the mountain aft, didn't get there on my ownWhen I'm walking through the valley end, no I am not alone!You're God of the hills and valleys!Hills and Valleys!God of the hills and valleysAnd I am not alone!I've watched my dreams get brokenIn you I hope again!No matter what I knowKnow I'm safe inside Your handOn the mountains, I will bow my lifeTo the one who set me thereIn the valley, I will lift my eyes to the one who sees me thereWhen I'm standing on the mountain aft, didn't get there on my ownWhen I'm walking through the valley end, no I am not alone!You're God of the hills and valleys!Hills and Valleys!God of the hills and valleysAnd I am not alone!Father, you give and take awayEvery joy and every painThrough it all you will remainOver it all!Father, you give and take awayEvery joy and every painThrough it all you will remainOver it all!On the mountains, I will bow my lifeTo the one who set me there (to the one who set me there)In the valley, I will lift my eyes to the one who sees me thereWhen I'm standing on the mountain aft, didn't get there on my ownWhen I'm walking through the valley end, no I am not alone!You're God of the hills and valleys!Hills and Valleys!God of the hills and valleysAnd I am not alone!You're God of the hills and valleys!Hills and Valleys!God of the hills and valleysAnd I am not alone!And I will choose to say "Blessed be Your name, yeah, yeah"And I am not aloneSongwriters: Chuck Butler / Jonathan Lindley Smith / Tauren WellsHills and Valleys lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing *******************Home by Chris TomlinThis world is not what it was meant to beAll this pain, all this sufferingThere¢s a better place waiting for me In heaven Every tear will be wiped awayEvery sorrow and sin erasedWe¢ll dance on seas of amazing graceIn heavenIn heavenI¢m goingHome, where the streets are goldenEvery chain is brokenOh I wanna go, oh I wanna goHome, where every fear is gone I¢m in Your open armsWhere I belong HomeLay down my burdens, I lay down my pastI run to Jesus no turning backThank God Almighty I¢ll be free at lastIn heavenIn heavenI¢m goingHome, where the streets are goldenEvery chain is brokenOh I wanna go, oh I wanna goHome, where every fear is gone I¢m in Your open armsWhere I belong Blinded eyes will finally seeThe dead will rise on the shores of eternityThe trump will soundThe angels will singHallelujah, hallelujah!I am goin¢Home, where the streets are goldenEvery chain is brokenOh I wanna go, oh I wanna goHome, where every fear is gone I¢m in Your open armsWhere I belong HomeWhere I belongWhere I belongI¢m going home I¢m going home I¢m on my way home! I¢m goin' home!