Ah yes, the excitement of getting started. After months and even
yearsof planning it's finally a reality that I'm hiking the famous
Appalachian Trail. There's a certain magic of knowing how many
people have taken this route before and what a life changing
experience it has been

Then the reality sets in. Like most northerners, I imagined the south
to be palm trees and sunshine. March is still cold and snowy when
you're at or above 4,000 feet and most of the time you're in the woods.

Slowly you learn to be patient and enjoy the amazing moments
when they happen.

When I got to Virginia I knew that I had gone over the highest
mountains in the worst weather I was likely to face. I knew
that I was going all the way.

Virignia is long. A quarter of the entire Appalachian Trail is in
Virginia. Hikers talk about getting 'the Virginias', the depression
that sets in when the novelty has worn off and the tedium sets in.

Finally, after Harpers Ferry comes Maryland. Many hikers are so
excited they try to hike the forty miles of Maryland in one day.

Then comes Pennsylvania and the dreaded rocks you've been hearing
about since Georgia. There are a lot more eating (and drinking)
choices close to the trail and hikers take full advantage.

New Jersey is a wonderful surprise. Most of it is along the ridgeline
of Mt Kittatinny with wonderful views and a nice bakery en route.

New York had lots of sharp ups and downs despite the low altitude.
It's also the closest the Appalachian Trail gets to a major city
crossing one of the commuter rail lines on its way through.

Connecticut was another surprise. Mostly I liked hanging out in fun
little towns with cool groceries. This is from the northern end where
Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York meet.

Slowly but surely the trail was coming full circle. After starting in the
wilderness and going through the crowded mid-atlantic, the trail was
once again leading back into the wilderness.

The altitudes continued to climb in Massachusetts and Vermont. The
views were now views of mountains not just farmland or long ridges.

Between the Green Mountains in Vermont and the White Mountains
in New Hampshire there's a stretch of lower mountains that tend to
be overshadowed by the great ridges they connect.

Finally. The White Mountains. The fireworks we've been waiting for
with lots of above treeline hiking and spectacular views. The miles
are tougher but it's well worth the effort.

Mt Washington was originally slated to be the northern terminus of
the Appalachian Trail connecting the highest mountains of the north
and the south. Although it didn't end up happening that way, it's still
a significant landmark on the trail and the only peak above 6000' in
the north. Mt Washington's weather can be harsh and terrifying.
I was lucky. The day I went over it was clear and still.

Maine at last. The first 50 miles are easily the toughest on the
entire trail. On top of that I ran into the longest stretch of rain
I had to endure on the entire trip. Even so much of it was truly
beautiful and was a wilderness experience like no other on the trail.

And when the weather finally cleared up, it was so beautiful I didn't
want to leave. I actually wanted to turn around and start heading
back south just so I could stay on the trail.

The feeling of accomplishment after hiking 2168 miles over five
months is hard to describe. It changed my life in ways I didn't
even realize at the time. All in all it was an experience I will never forget.