Hello everyone,
As many of you may already know I decided to leave the trail. I didn’t leave because of my knee or the weather or any of the other obstacles that I faced. I had some realizations and I felt that my journey on the Appalachian Trail was complete…for now. I wrote a four page essay explaining all the ins and outs of my decision but I decided not to bore you all with it. There are some things that words just can’t do justice to. All I can really say is that after a certain point hiking the trail wasn’t what I thought it would be anymore. I was still enjoying myself but I didn’t feel the need to continue for another four months. I soaked up all I could absorb. I really want to finish the trail in sections over the years to come. I think that is a great way to experience it in a relaxed and enjoyable fashion. As you can imagine it wasn’t an easy decision to leave, but in the end I felt good about it. I went through moments where I felt like a failure and quitter but I know what I accomplished and how much it changed me as a person. One of the main lessons I learned from this hike was to focus more on my own emotions and let go of the desire to do what I think other people might see as the “right” thing to do. I had to forget about what other people may think of me which isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Hike your own hike, as they say!
So, I may not have completed the entire Appalachian Trail but I hiked for two months and covered 525 miles through five states! I hiked in rain, snow, wind, hail, fog, cold, hot, and everything in-between. I saw a rattlesnake, black bear, coyote, and many other animals. I didn’t shower for days, stank like a rotten sock, and hitch-hiked into town with the windows open while it was raining. I ate oatmeal for breakfast everyday, pasta for dinner, and I pooped in the woods. I had a great trip and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. It was amazing!
I’m in Portland, OR now staying with Emily and enjoying all the great things this city has to offer. My adventure is nowhere near being over. The way I see it, it will never be over. I don’t want to have to leave the “real” world in order to find adventure. I think that my life is an adventure and I am doing everything I can to keep it that way. I am planning to stay here for another month or so and then head back to Wisconsin for the fourth annual bike tour with my dad and two uncles, Mark and Jan. This year we are doing SAGBRAW which is a supported tour across Wisconsin. After that I plan to move out to Portland and hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail. If anyone has any suggestions for the PCT let me know. I was thinking about doing either the John Muir Trail in California or the Oregon section. I’m also starting to look at grad schools to continue my education in environmental science or biology. So much to do, the world is my oyster!
I won’t keep posting on this site but I was happy to hear that my blog inspired my aunt to create a family blog. I will be posting there for family and keeping in touch with everyone else through email. I’m going to miss reading all the comments! They were wonderful! Please keep in touch, here is my email. webermk@yahoo.com
Keep on hiking, biking, running, walking in the park, gardening, kayaking, sitting by the lake, and anything else that embraces nature and makes you happy!
mike
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”
