I’ve been spending my time preparing for what i think will be the greatest adventure of my life, an AT Thru-hike. Most posts on the forum focus on pre-hike preparation, but i’m curious to know what is in store for me post hike. What should i expect to come to after having quit my job, spent most of my savings, been homeless for six months, and practically having to start all over again from scratch?
Bigfoot
How 'bout a hike? That sounds like a good way to kick-off post-trail life 
-Howie
Hungry Howie
Well Bigfoot, you are right about expecting your thru-hike to be a fantastic adventure. Every day will be an adventure in itself with something new to see and experience, plus you will be continously challenged both physically and mentally. You’ll make some lifelong friends on the trail and meet some really “country friendly” people when you visit the nice towns along the way.
When you come to the end of your hike you’ll feel a sense of accomlishment and have a lot of great memories… unfortunately, if you are like me you will also feel a great sense of loss and it will take you a long time to settle back into “normal” life again. Things will never be quite the same as you will always be thinking of the trail and want to go back. But don’t get me wrong, for it’s all worth it, just remember when you finally reach the trail to cherish every day as too soon a thru-hike comes to a close.
Good luck with your planning, the planning and expectation in themselves are a lot of fun.
Downunda
If you read Wingfoot’s thru-hiker’s Handbook, it has a write up with good advice on after the hike. After being on the trail for 6 months there is a definate readjustment period that needs to happen.
Peaks
Things change. With us, many things that were important are no longer important. We don’t like “things” that are in a hurry and all this “stuff.” We don’t need as much “stuff!” The first thing that we noticed was that we had difficulty multitasking with “things” and “stuff.” When you walk, eat, sleep and come back to the “real” world, thinking or dealing with more than two “things” at a time became difficult. It is amazing how much “stuff” the all-knowing media tell us we have to have to “live” in the “real” world. Let me put it this way, we are now shrinking our “needed” assets to a more simple way of life.
Papa Smurf
I suppose it hits everyone a little differently. It immediately (after leaving Baxter St. Park) became surreal…did I really spend the last 6 months of my life hiking a trail??? Nah, I couldn’t have! Definitely “things” and “stuff” became WAY less important…and just got in the way. We spent a lot of time catching up with family and old friends, and reconnecting with some of the same. We went back to Maine the next year (we thruhiked in '95)and hiked thru it again, but more slowly…canoeing ponds, reading paperbacks, etc. Of course, we retired in '94 so we had different things to thing about than some folks who finish the trail. We took our experience international, and spent 2 months backpacking around New Zealand the next year…wouldn’t have done something like that without our AT thruhike.
Savor the experience…it is definitely life-altering!
Mrs. Dilbert
Dos Dilberts
My experience is that Papa Smurf is right on target. I had been back inside my house for about 10 minutes when I asked out-loud “Where did I get all this Crap?!!”. I spent the next year simplifying my life, job, relationships, time, etc. The trail gave me a profound shift in a lot of my priorities. After hearing the mantra of “consume, consume, consume” for 40 years, I finally had the moment of clarity to ask “why?” and to examine if my life before the trail was really making me happy. It was a great pause and a chance to examine if my actions were leading to the goals I wanted to accomplish with my life. That’s just my experience. Everyone’s own mileage may vary. In any case, it is my belief that the person you come back as Will be different than the person who starts up that first mountain. The degree is just subject to your own experience and inclinations. Peaks is also correct about the advice in WingFoots book being sound. I still can’t walk by a well-manicured lawn without thinking that there is a GREAT place to pitch a tent.
Double Stuff
Read my post-hike entries. It ain’t easy, I swing between giddy memories/elation at finally accomplishing my dream and deep despair over how to incorporate this into mid-life with a husband that didn’t experience this?? For this reason alone, I wish he’d come on the hike with me, at least we might be in the same place now mentally. I’d sell everything and live in a one room cabin if it were up to me. Don’t underestimate how much this can affect you post-life and the fact that most people, like a death, assume that you’re “over it” in a few short weeks or a month. My work has no idea how desperately unhappy and unmotivated I am, only that I’m “different”. I wish I could just start over, be homeless and find a new venue, but instead I had a complete life with job waiting to step back into. It hasn’t been easy.
Bluebearee
I am with bluebearee but my wife does not. I would move to a one room cabins and live in the woods of Alaska for a while if I had my way.
Darth Pacman
Yes, there is a definate change in the way you look at life.
As others have posted, some parts of life on the trail have carried over to my everyday life. Like, if I can fit all my needs into a 4000 CI back, then why do I need a 2000 SF house?
The people along the AT have revitalized my belief in human nature.
I realize that I have a tremendous obligation to give back to the Trail. I’m working on that.
I’m looking forward to my next great adventure. I recently finished the New England 4000’s. Now to finish the 46’ers. Then the Northeast 111. I’ll be going to Philmont in August with a crew of outstanding young men. I also go back on the trail now and then for a quick section hike. I look forward to going back to some favorite places on the trail.
I like to tell others about my adventure. Get me talking, and I’ll talk all night.
Peaks
This is the 115 peaks in the Northeast that are above 4000 feet. It includes all the 4000 footers in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, the Adirondack 46’ers, and 2 peaks in the Catskills.
In the beginning, there were 111 peaks, but after they resurveyed the White Mountains, Galehead and Bondcliff got added, and after they resurveyed the mountains in Maine, Spauling and Redington got added.
So, right now, I have 10 to go for the 46’ers. I plan to bag 7 next week. That leaves 3 in the Adirondacks plus 2 in the Catskills.
Peaks
Here is a ‘post’ entry on my trail journals site… its pretty long, so instead of cut and pasting it, here is the link.
Peace :boy
Werewolf
Werewolf, that was a good post, with a lot of really good points. Thank you for sharing that.
As has been said, the amount of adjustment varies from person to person. A lot depends on what else you have going on in your life. If you can replace the goal of reaching Katahdin with another large but realizable goal, it can be a bit easier. I have known folks who started school, or a new career, or a marriage, and were able to fill the hole that finishing the trail can leave. For me, that only worked for a while. After each of my two AT hikes, I moved to a new city and started over. For a while I had the excitement of exploring my new location, finding work, friends, etc. But sooner or later, the call of the trail returned. The difference between the simplicity and beauty of trail life and the insanity of city life was and is really frustrating. Some people go back to their old lives with barely a ripple. I think the retired hikers can do that most easily. Perhaps because they feel less trapped by circumstances that those of us who are doing the 9 to 5 gig. For those of us who hiked because there was something essential missing in our lives to begin with, going back to the old environment just isn’t workable in the long run. I am very happy when I am in the woods. I love to hike and to spend time traveling, exploring new places and peoples. I love to be surrounded by trees and rocks and wildlife. Unfortunately, job and family issues require me to live in cities (for now) with only occasional breaks. Every 5 years or so I manage to take off for a long hike, but I miss thruhiking all the time. As you said, talking to other hikers helps – the Gathering is great for that – but it also hurts to watch others take off for their hikes each spring and know that it will another 3 or 4 years before I can get back on the trail again. As you said, even those who love you won’t understand what you are going through. That is one reason I encourage hikers to bring their spouse, if at all possible. Long distance hiking is a different world. I frequently feel like an exile. I know that that other world exists, I just can’t be there right now. But I will be back.
Spirit Walker