Time for some lists.
1. The people. I ran into fellow hikers throughout my SOBO hike. Less in the beginning while in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont but a lot more in Southern Vermont where the Appalachian Trail is shared with the Long Trail. All were gracious. Some were really interesting. One was naked (and yes, that was weird). I really felt like I was part of a community out there, even when I was alone for stretches at a time. I remember one encounter as I was hiking the ridge line along Mt. Mansfield with an older hiker who recognized my unkempt look and full backpack and asked, "Are you hiking thru?" I said, "Yes, I am." And she wished me well. Such a cool moment. That happened a lot. Sometimes I'd have extended conversations with fellow hikers during short breaks. Other times it was just a simple hello and "happy trails." Young, old, male, female, quite a variety, all with one purpose. Hiking the trail.
2. The solitude. While I ran into people every day, there were plenty of hours when I was hiking by myself, and stayed at one campsite where it was just me and the wilderness. It was glorious. No deep thoughts, no "trying to find myself", just peace and quiet and a time to be present. I've always been a bit of a loner and am quite comfortable being alone. I enjoy it. The trail gave me just enough of that with plenty of opportunity to socialize at camp at the end of the day if I so chose. A great blend.
3. The simplicity. Life can be hard. It can be overwhelming at times. There's no getting around that. But on a thru-hike, you've got one job: walk from point A to point B. Everything you need to survive and thrive is on your back. Walk, eat, sleep, repeat. Simple.
4. The routine. I'm a routine guy. I do better with routines. Hiking for days on end lends itself to developing a solid routine so you can take care of business and then relax. I had a system for packing my gear in my backpack so I knew where everything was and that everything was present and accounted for. I had a system for setting up my campsite, where everything had a place and a purpose. I had a list of camp chores that needed to get done and a certain order in which to do them. It ensured I was set up for success each day.
5. The workout. I haven't been the kindest steward to my body over the years. So when I was trudging up these mountains, it dawned on me that I was doing my body some good, even when it was not pleasant. I was elevating the heart rate, working my muscles, and getting a sweat on. I came to appreciate the work I was putting in and didn't take it for granted or turn it into a negative. It wasn't all fun but, in the four weeks since I finished, I've felt the best physically in a long, long time.
6. The accomplishment. I'm not going to lie. I was pretty stoked completing this thing. Yes, it's just walking (it really is) but I'm not young anymore. And it takes planning, perseverance, and enduring some pain. Yes, there's suffering involved. My feet hurt, my knees hurt, my hands hurt. At times I was cold, wet, and miserable. I was dirty, smelly, and hungry. But not so much so to outweigh the good days or make me think of cutting my hike short. Most of the days were good, some were really good. I needed a little challenge, a little adventure. And I got it done.
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