That is undoubtedly the most common response when I tell people that I am going to hike the AT.
Actually, among those who know me well, the most common response is, “but you hate hiking!” Which is actually sort of true, and begs some explanation, hence this post.
I don’t understand hiking without purpose. Well, that’s not entirely true. I understand it from an intellectual, theoretical standpoint, but would never be motivated to go and walk around all day, just to end up back where I came from.
To which you may think, “So you’re going to drive down to Georgia, walk to Maine, and then ultimately end up back where you came from… how is that any different?”
Some of the major differences are:
- The length of time
- A clearly established goal
- The lack of shortcuts
- The hiking community
I’m sure there are others, but I will explain these ones as some of my major motivations for choosing this hike.
The length of time
We will be almost completely removed from the comforts of our regular lives, and only have access to the things that we carry with us. Doing this for an extended period of time will put in perspective those things that are really important in life. I will gain a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities by living for so long without the ‘stuff’ that I currently hold so dearly. In preparation for the hike, I am going to be getting rid of a lot of the things I currently own, and keep in storage (aka my mother’s basement) only what is actually necessary for when I come back. It will be an effective way of starting with a clean slate as far as my possessions are concerned.
A clearly established goal
The goal is pretty obvious: Katahdin. Of course, we’ll have to break the trail up into sections for mental mini-goals, so that we don’t go crazy, but that is the ultimate goal. Walk until you get to the end of the trail. Having that goal sets it apart from a day-hike or hiking in a circle (for some reason, that is a huge mental block for me). I am definitely a goal-oriented person. Defining a goal, and then working to achieve that goal, is the best way for me to mentally structure my life. When I don’t have a goal, I am likely to become very lazy and apathetic, which is not who I want to be. Setting and achieving such an extravagant goal will be monumental in my own estimation of what I am capable of accomplishing.
The lack of shortcuts
Sure, there may be some places where the trail splits, and we will likely choose the shorter path. But looking at the big picture, we are going to be travelling from point A to point B on foot, and the only option to get there faster is to walk more. I have a tendency to try and find the most efficient way to accomplish any goal. Though that is usually a good thing, it means that I often shy away from hard work. If something doesn’t come easily to me, I usually don’t see it through. This will be an extreme exercise in perseverance and determination. And one of my goals is to really enjoy the trail, so I hope to take my time and really live the experience.
The hiking community
I cannot stress enough how important this point was in deciding to hike. The people who do things like this are really, incredibly cool people (see what I did there?). I am so looking forward to meeting other hikers, and getting to know their stories, and the reasons that people decide to go on an adventure of this magnitude.
So all this to say, I’m not someone who you would expect to pack up and hike for half a year. But I’ve given it a lot of thought, and am excited for the challenge and the rewards that will come with accomplishing this goal.
Five Million Steps 