End Thru Hike? - Appalachian Trail

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#1

I’m thru hiking now and am at Damascus now. I like hiking, I’m having a pretty good time out here but not a great time, I don’t understand the people who say they’re having a blast, or fantastic time, or time of their life. So anyway, I’m doing okay out here.

Physically, I’m doing well, no problems at all really. First couple of weeks I was hurting like everyone else, had a week of blisters in the Smokey’s, but now I’m doing great physically. My problem is all mental. It may not be a problem though. As I say, I’m having an okay/good time hiking but I would rather be at my house eating good food, reading books from the library, going to the theatre, playing ultimate frisbee, hanging out with my friends. I’m just hiking 8 hours a day, that’s all I’m doing out here.

Should I say, I’ve had some fun out here, but I think it’s time to end it and go home or is this part of the hardships of the hike and I need to keep going? I’ll tell you now that I’m leaning towards stopping.

One more thing… if I stopped now, I wouldn’t end it yet. I’d want to go to NH, hike NH and Maine and still end it at Katahdin. Someone just told me the flies in Maine are awful now, comments? Also, comments on where I could fly to in NH near the trail or how to get to the trail from the airport?

thanks a lot in advance, i definitly appreciate responses on this very important topic.
danny

danny

#2

and also, if i fly to NH, where is an airport near the trail?

danny

#3

Many NOBOs get what we know as “The Virginia Blues.” You just got yours a little early in the deep south of Virginia. Don’t sweat it.

Take a few days off, and see if you miss Trail Life. Don’t necessarily go home–just stay in Damascus or go somewhere not too far away. Many hikers do this and find that they really want to be back on the A.T. and can’t wait to get there. But some are happier off the Trail. You won’t know until you try.

If you think you’ve got the blues now, going to NH and ME during black fly season is not likely to make your mood any better.

“Skyline”

#4

Good advice from Skyline. You REALLY need to sit down and think about things before ya leave. You might get home and realize a week later how much you really miss trail life. Don’t get off on a whim–make sure that’s what you really want. Writing my thoughts in my journal helped for me on the “not-so-good” days; list out the pros, cons, and reasons you initially started your hike and make sure those reasons still stand.

But hey, let’s face it . . . long distance hiking isn’t for everyone.

Cap’n

#5

Danny, like Skyline said give your self some time. Maybe if you go up to Waynesboro, hike the SNP north to Harper’s ferry, then head back down to finish Va. New England is real nasty during black fly season. If you are into history, maybe a trip to Williamsburg would help gain perspective. I have gotten off the AT’s path sometimes(like in Roanoke or Buckcannon) and worked for a week,met many different people, then enjoyed the trail even more. It sounds like you miss some culture. If you want to listen to the best bluegrass music in the world(no kidding) head over a few mountains to North Wilkesboro,Fri,Sat, Sun for Merle Fest. Merle Fest is a festival in honor of Merle Watson, the late son of guitar virtuoso Doc Watson. Tickets are avail. and its only about 60 mi from Damascus. Folks there would be interested in your hike and you could probably connect with some folks for housing. Flipflopping and going SOBO for a few hundred miles may help as well. Look at your maps/guidebook, some sections in VA are better southbound and it gives you a different perspective. Get a cd player and when in town, get hooked up with the interlibrary loan program if that helps. Take care and give yourself some distance from the trail and see if you hear it calling for your return, Peace, 2 spirits

2 spirits

#6

Yeah. . . MerleFest. Great time, fantastic bluegrass. Been there many times including my hike. Just be ready for tens of thousands of people. If that doesn’t make you crave solitude, I don’t know what will.

Cap’n

#7

I love the sense of truth & caring in the prior posts. Many folks find that the build up (“it’s a life changing experience”; “the best time of my life”:wink: can create unrealistic expectations that ignore the unpleasantries of this endeavor. This occurs on “off the trail” adventures too! People forget about the less than stellar parts of hiking; (Black flies, loneliness) of hiking or any other endeavor that has some expectations to it. As mentioned, give yourself some time; maybe ask yourself any of the following ?'s: 1. what am I REALLY missing? Can it be got by cking out options around me? (eg youre lonely, how about scouting out a hiking partner) 2.How will I feel if I do go home? (relief? sadness? it’s all a guess tho) In 5 yrs will I accept that ending this was the best thing for me to do? As mentioned, write out the answers, taLk them out; etc. THEN let it all sit for a day or 2. Don’t make a quick “reactive” decison. And if you do decide to leave the trail…it’s ok; HYOH; or not hike! You are the best expert on you & your life; don’t hike just cuz you said you would. Remember that you can change your goal; to section hike the whole AT in 5 yrs, for eg.:cheers Personally I hope that you stay on; but if you don’t, good luck to you!!!

'Lizbeth

#8

Danny,

I’m not usually one to convince someone to quit a thru-hike. I definately agree with the 3 day rule advice. A lot of hikers I met had a day or 5 minutes where they wanted to leave. Most of those people had a temporary lapse and rebounded and finished a happy camper.

However, one extremely wise thing Wingfoot has always said was to thru-hike the AT only if it is the most imporant thing to you at the time. If not, go and do something else. I’d agree with that. The AT isn’t something anyone HAS to do.

A-Train

#9

How come you can’t find any good food on the A-T? What’s going on down South anymore after the Colonel died. What are you saying, all you can find is Moon Pies and grits?:slight_smile:

Greg

#10

I agree with all the above…

Take some time off the trail. Do you miss it? Is it calling your name? Do you feel the draw to get back out there?

If not then maybe a thru-hike isn’t for you. If it has become an 8 hour a day job and the only thing that gets you through the miles is to get to the next town not a good sign. Nothing wrong with section hiking.

When I was out there I ran into a guy that really wanted to be home. I asked him why he didn’t just go? He said he was to embrassed to quit and be called a failure. That is nonsense. Six months on the trail is not for everyone. The sucess is in the journey, the adventure that YOU had for what ever time YOU are on the trail. If Damascus is your point, @500 miles, just think if it as the begining of 3 more 500 mile hikes.

I’m advising you to quit. It could just be the BLUES. But if you find that it isn’t then know there is no shame in going home. It shows you are an independent person who knows their own mind and doesn’t just follow the crowd becaue they have no spine.

That all said, good luck and peace with whatever conclusion you come to. Sue/Hammock Hanger:girl

Hammock Hanger

#11

Should read I’m NOT advising you to quit…:eek: Sue/HH

Hammock Hanger

#12

Danny, Haven’t you been ill recently? I’m just wondering how much that has to do with spirit not being into it. What you described about your physical illness would certainly knock the wind out of my sails. Perhaps some time to allow your body to recover would change your mind? It’s all connected.

Melissa

Justhikes

#13

What everybody else said. All good advice.

Exile

#14

Being from NH I can tell you that you don’t want to come up here just yet… and it isn’t because of the black flies. I just hiked Moosiluakie on Saturday and there was over 2 feet of snow still on parts of the trail. If you come up here now, you will need all sorts of cold weather gear and be willing to hike and posthole in deteoriating snow all day long. Its fun for a dayhike, but it can get really old after a few days.

Take a couple of days off, get back on the trail again, enjoy the Greyson Highlands and try to meet some new people. If that all doesn’t work, then jump up to NH in a few weeks.

Chomp

#15

If you DO decide to get back on the Trail, maybe go north and hike back to Damascus so your arrival will coincide with Trail Days. TD can be a real boost.

For one, SOBO through the High Country is a bit easier. But more importantly, you’ll reconnect, albeit briefly, with hikers you’ve met before. And you’ll meet new folks.

After TD, jump back to where you started your trek toward Damascus and hike NOBO again. You can meet up with some of the people you already knew and those you met during your SOBO hiking.

For some, establishing and maintaining a few close friendships on the Trail means a lot–and can help to beat the Blues. Of course, not everyone needs or wants these Trail friendships. Just my $.02.

“Skyline”

#16

Perspective of a hiker who may never see those beautiful mountains again.Danny,I agree with the posts that say you need to take a couple zero days and refocus on what made you want to be there.By getting to Damascus your body should be in good condition.So work on the NOW conditioning of your mental state.By dwelling on the things that you miss doing,just overloads your thoughts about ending your hike.In my opinion,just about every backpacking person(at one time or another)looses focus on why they wanted to be there hiking.The ones that are successful are able to focus on the NOW ,realize why they wanted to be there and continue on.If after taking a couple zero days to refocus,you decide not to continue,the AT will always be there for you to section hike.Good luck with your decision.
I wish I were able to be there in the NOW.:boy

Bill Harris

#17

On my thru-hike I dislocated my shoulder in SMNP and spent two weeks in Cherokee, NC. I never really considered quitting although I had lost the friends I was currently hiking with and I knew hiking after the shoulder injury was going to be painful. But for me having the journal here helped because I felt I was doing it not just for myself. Still I searched to rationalize going back on the trail. But a Ranger for SMNP took me back up for my pack after two weeks and he dropped me off at Newfound Gap right in front of a lady waiting for some hikers sitting in a lawn chair drinking iced tea. But she took to me probably just because I was thru-hiking and talked about what I was doing. After I got my damp pack straightened out and had some tea another lady came over asking me if I would talk to a bus load of disadvantaged kids. So I put my pack on a trashcan so I could get it on, thanked the lady for the conversation and tea and walked over the bus. I stepped up into the bus, had a little Q&A with the kids, said goodbye to them and walked over to the trail as it starts back up from the gap. On the way over I ran into another thru-hiker and we traded the usual hiker information as we hiked through the crowd. He hiked ahead of me and eventually I came to a bunch of strangers at the first shelter north out of Newfound Gap. Within those strangers were people I ended up hiking with off and on all the way to Katahdin. I guess what I am saying is that the trail is a culture and you are a part of it. You’re not hiking it alone and the post in this thread bear evidence to it. For me my hike was bigger than me but I’m not saying hike for anyone else. Just realize that the support for you doing this is plentiful from people that have no idea of who you are and they will always be there.

Two Scoops

#18

“And in truth, I’ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline…I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle.”
-Vince Lombardi

May your battlefield be Mt. Katahdin. Hang in there brother! :cheers

leeki pole

#19

danny. MSgt. Bilko here. You set yourself a goal, now go out and achieve it. You knew it wasn’t going to be easy. You said you were doing well physically, keep going. Being able to motivate yourself is the key to success. You set yourself a healthy , realistic goal keep working to achieve it. Self motivation helps you focus on your goal. Being successful means you are willing to set aside short-term fun to achieve important long-term goals. Sometimes that means missing out on some activities with your friends. Give yourself a little reward right now, you have made some good progress, buy yourself something that will help you on the trail, or buy something that you have missed. Achieving goals requires planning and effort, which you have done both. Achieving a goal can give you a great sense of accomplishment and pride. You need to stay out there and accomplish your goal. Anybody can quit now, and I know you are not just anybody. A lot of people don’t have the time to do what your doing, a lot of people don’t have the physical ability to do what your doing, a lot of people don’t have the means(money) to do what your doing. Being a little bored is no excuse. Go out and achieve your goal. Bilko

Bilko

#20

Danny, just wanted to tell you that I started my first AT hike on 6-11-o2 at Springer and hiked up to Duncannon, then completed it on 9-14-o4 at Kathadin. Done the trail 3 times but all in long sections. If you have been sick,that can effect your mindset. Maybe some slackpacking might help or spacing yourself inbetween several hiking groups so that you can hike with a variety of people. The AT, mi for mi. is difficult but the people make the difference(think about Two Scoopes exper.) Peace, 2 Spirits

2 spirits