Date: 2018-03-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

In conclusion.......It was explained in an interview with Baltimore Jack that an online journal ceases to be completely honest when written for an audience. While i certainly haven't or wouldn't air every little secret, i did try to be honest about what was going on..... As it has been said before, Nobody hikes alone" i did not make it to Millinocket purely under my own guidance. I need to thank the Lord first for the re-route in my life March 16, 2016. I think, i know, there was some protective boundary placed around me while i hiked. I was way too fortunate, too well protected this entire hike.  Many thanks to those who helped me along the way.  I had a good supervisor at work, Fred. A lot of respect for him. Special thanks to Kayli "Bubbles" and Brian "Shaggy" Slack.  A great time if we could hike again.  Thank you both.The AT is work. After awhile, it stops being "another amazing day hiking" and it turns into simply getting mileage. If your long term goal is not Katahdin and that dern sign, forget about it. The good thing about it is that if you are a worker, someone who has punched a clock before, you will do fine on the AT. It is a job for six months.  And when it totally feels like a dam job just remember it started as your dream.  That is the only common denominator i could see, you have to be a worker, a non quitter. Basically someone that is willing to keep going. Dont wait until the perfect time to hike. I waited possibly 12, 13 years for the perfect time to hike, and probably a little for the confidence to do so. But i met people who had been thinking of a thru hike for just a year, and read plaques to people who dreamed of hiking it for 40 years. Don't wait. There will never be a perfect time to take 5, 6 months off from work, family and do something like this. As soon as you think you might have things close enough, go for it, take a chance. Don wait, or you will end up waiting and waiting and waiting........ Do not hike on a budget. If there is one thing you can control on this hike, its how much money you plan to start with. After that, there is very little control left up to you. I would guess that i spent $6000 on this hike. But keep in mind, this is a six month vacation. So save up. Thru hiking is very difficult, and if you want off the trail for a nite to get a shower, some laundry done, a pizza, some ice cream..... you need to take those breaks, you need those allowances. The last thing you want to worry about is "can i afford a town stop" ? What kept me going were those breaks. (Make sure any location that provides a wire transfer via Western Union can also cash that check)  Get in the best shape you can prior to hiking. The start of the hike is really tough. Im not sure if its the trail, although GA is rough, i think its because 30 minutes on a stairmaster three times a week can not prepare for you for 10 hours a day six days a week. Nothing can. However, the better shape you are in will help your body handle this inital shock much better. Start slow! Do not worry about schedule, mileage, your pace until the VA border? The last thing you want to do is injure out.  Hike your own hike (HYOH) or at least try. You are gonna meet faster hikers that seem to just blow right by. I can think of a couple hikers that were much faster, one did not finish, and i don't think the other did either, unless he flipped? Both were great hikers. But we all have different circumstances to deal with. Stay the course. Remember, not only did the turtle finish the race, he actually won it. Do your best to not get caught up with who is hiking when or where and you do whats comfortable for you. The couple times i violated this policy i knew it.  Hiking the AT is hardcore. It is work, but it is rewarding. Extremely. Every morning when you go to work, put a pack on. That is your work day. Get ready for work in the morning, get ready for camp each nite.  It can be cool. And boring too. But when its not, its exciting. and its amazing what you find yourself accomplishing. Everyday is full of optimism. Everyday is a mystery as to what tomorrow will bring. Its a long working vacation. It still kinda blows my mind a little bit when i recall how intense that life was for a 154 days.     The AT is a big part of peoples lives for a time, and then its not. And that's okay. This was a dream of mine for years. I am glad i was able to finally get a chance to make it to Springer Mtn in GA and go for it. Maybe i can finally close this chapter.