How do you say goodbye?
It's hard to describe how I'm feeling at this point in time. The Appalachian Trail has an odd effect on people. This has been the journey of a life time, something I'll remember for the rest of my life.
It's been a long, hard journey since March 1st, when I stood on the summit of Springer Mountain. For four months and three weeks I've marched through the unforgiving mountains of Appalachia to reach this point. I've marched through snow, sleet, rain, thunderstorms, lightening, and sunshine in the name of one mountain: Katahdin.
But it's not about the mountain, it truly is about everything in between. It's about how you've changed, how you've become a better person. Most people I met this year were not out here because they wanted to climb Katahdin. Most are out to rediscover themselves, and to help shape the rest of their lives. If I wanted to climb Katahdin, I'd simply climb Katahdin and go home. There is a greater purpose than that, there is truly more to it than meets the eye.
The journey has had its high points, and its low ones as well. The trail has tested my physical and mental endurance, and this far I've won the GaMe. Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a feat like no other, it's a stand along accomplishment. Think about it. There are six billion people in this world, and I'm one of only 10,000 people who has thru hiked, that's a small club.
What you must remember is that the trail is 2,176.2 miles long, and you have to earn every mile of it. No mile is given to you. While some are definitely easier than others, you still need to put one foot in front of the other.
What I'm also grappling with is how to re-enter the real world, because I know most won't get it.
This reminds me of a conversation I had with my Dad when I was in Front Royal, Virgina, mile 950 of the trail. I had just told him where I was on the wall map:
Me:"So that's where I am"
Him:"Wow, you have a long way to go".
First of all, I love my Dad and hold him in the highest regard, but this outlines my point. You tell people you are have walked 500 miles, and they say "you still have 1,600 to go". It's as if they can't step back and think for a second "wow, 500 miles, that's a long way".
The plan for tomorrow is to stay at "The Birches" in Baxter State Park. This is the long distance hikers site in the park.
The GaMe is almost over.
And that's the way it was.
Kirby
Ga>ME 2008.
