Epilogue
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In my last shelter log entry at Jenkins shelter I listed 3 things that I
would take with me from the
At left, Bill & Chris at Jenkins Shelter, the last shelter
on the trip. 1) A deeper love of the beauty of nature and the outdoors. 2) A greater respect for the Creator of all that I saw. 3) Memories of the genuine goodness and kindness shown by those that I met both on the trail and in the towns that I visited. I also learned some things about backpacking in general that I will put into practice in the future: - Weight, weight, weight. The lighter the load that you have to carry. The faster that you can hike and the more distance you can cover. I still won't stop carrying any MRE's, just less of them. - Cotton kills! I saw first hand how cotton shirts and pants can retain water and make you miserable. Synthetics like fleece or polyester are far superior. - Good gear lasts. The 4 things that one should spend the most money on are your tent, your sleeping bag, your boots and your jacket. The items that I bought that were the cheapest just didn't last.
- Take days off. I didn't plan to take any days off. However,
I found that you get a mental lift by
- Hike your own hike. Too many people (myself included) were miserable because they tried to keep up with another individual or group. It is good
At right, Nancy and I reunite after 2 and a half months. to have a partner. However, if you hike at different paces, that's OK. You'll meet at the end of the day or at the major towns. I don't think that I could be a Thru Hiker in the strictest sense. I don't think I'm focused enough to hike the trail in one year. However, I will do another 50 miles in about 3 weeks, get Virginia done within the next 7 years and hopefully, the whole trail by age 65. Thanks to everyone that made this trip one of the most memorable events of my life. I enjoyed the last 2 and a half months. If you have a dream like hiking the AT, go for it. Even if you only get half way, like I did, it's better than never getting there at all. |
