I'm nervous about the AT. It's over 2,100 miles going from Georgia to Maine. But I've realized something over the past few days. This experience isn't about how quickly I move or how far I go. It's about enjoying every day doing something that I love. I need to pull myself back into the present moment and not think about what comes after or what I'm giving up. This is the trip of a lifetime.
My first thru hiking attempt was the Long Trail in 2012. I started in the north and made it 3 days before giving up. In 2018 I completed the trail starting from the south. The Long Trail is 272 miles going through Vermont. I'm proud that I went back and faced the challenge that had beaten me.
Now approaching this trip I took a hard hit. I got my confidence shaken and went through a tough time. The people I was with at Silverton didn't handle the situation in a way I'm comfortable with so unfortunately I may have lost some friends over the ordeal.
Yesterday I moved nearly everything I own into a 5x5 storage unit. Part of me thinks 'wow that's really all I have', but I guess that's my style, I don't want a lot. I think about the adventures I've had and how much I've sacrificed in life to do them and every single time I came out a better person. Quitting my job wasn't easy. Moving out wasn't easy. You'd think it gets easier over time, but it's still hard.
There is another part of this trip that gets me excited, I have a business idea. I want to start a company to supply backpackers with food for multi-day trips making planning and resupplying as easy as possible. The name I went with is Para Llevar. It means "to carry out" in Spanish. Working with Spanish speakers in restaurant kitchens they always used the phrase if food was to go. I had the idea for the business when when I was hiking the Long Trail and an AT hiker was saying how much he disliked resupplying in town. I don't know if the business will work, but the the best way I can find out is to go and try. I have a partner who has been a great help along the way. She's done all the things that I'm terrible at, like building a website, and she's preparing to help make it happen.
At this point I have not planned anything past my shuttle to Springer Mountain from Atlanta. I downloaded an app called Guthook that tells how far it is to towns, water sources, and other amenities. I also bought a PDF copy of AWOL, which is another guide. I invested in a new ultra-light backpack and got my base weight down to around 20 lbs. I'm sure on my first attempt at the LT my pack was twice the weight.
When I reserved my shuttle to Springer Mountain the driver, who thru hiked the AT, asked if I knew what I was getting into. I told him I had hiked the Long Trail and his tone immediately changed. He was like "Oh ok, well I heard the northern part of that trail is no joke, so you know what you're getting into." His remarks were a huge confidence boost. I know this will be hard. There will be cold nights, wet feet, and days I feel like giving up. But I'm excited. There is no telling who I'll meet or what I'll learn. Now I'm ready. I wasn't ready yesterday. I second guessed my decision to quit and leave, but that's all fading away. Now it feels like there are limitless possibilities on the horizon.
