AT Photos

So I am home and have very much enjoyed it. I asked Julie to marry me before I even got home! I was welcomed by tons of friends and family at my house for the engagement party. The weekend was full of emotion, from finishing the AT, getting engaged, and just being home and seeing familiar faces. I hadn't seen most of my friends and family since Liz & Corbin's wedding back in June, so I was ready.

Since being home, I have rested and started to unpack...and pack. My girlfri...fiancee teaches in Memphis and I will be moving there. I am living with some guys who Julie knows. Since leaving Knoxville, I thought the "live in a house with 5 other guys college style" was over, but I'll be jumping back into it again. Fortunately, I am excited about it. My house is about a mile from Julie. I am also applying for research/medical jobs which should be nearby too. Hopefully I'll find something soon.

Here are some photos from the trail. I took 1508 pictures total, so this album only scratches the surface (200). It's the same album that I uploaded to facebook. Click HERE

I've never been much of a blogger except for on the trail, but that's because I had something to write about. Now that I am back, I might continue blogging. Now that my friends from college are all dispersed across the world, blogging has been a link into their lives. Maybe mine will serve the same purpose.

Stay in touch, and thanks for your support while I hiked. The past four month were beyond incredible. I'm glad to be home...time to plan a wedding!

Mt. Katahdin: The Final Day!

I was in middle school, perhaps even elementary school when I heard about a trail that extended from Georgia to Maine. I remember thinking I could hike it in sections over many years, but I never really was interested in doing it that way. I never thought I would do it because it was so hard to find time, and it...was just so hard. As college rolled around, the thoughts of thru-hiking surfaced again. I looked into it more seriously and realized after school might actually work well.
I asked Julie, "What do you think about me hiking the AT after I graduate?"
I remember her saying, "You should do it! It would be great."
Perhaps after being apart for almost these entire 4 months, she may regret that answer, but it is finally complete!

Journeyman and I pushed through the 100-mile Wilderness in 3.5 days, celebrating my 24th birthday on Sunday and his 26th birthday Tuesday. We hiked 20, 28, 30, and 33 miles into Baxter State Park at the base of Katahdin. We sat at the shelter the night before and talked about the amazing experience the trail has been: the people we had met, the places we've stayed, the things we'd seen. I tried to capture it in the three (now full) journals I kept daily and over 1300 photos.
On summit day, we were excited and exhausted from the past few days all at the same time. We started up Mt. Katahdin, a 4000+ ft gain in 5 miles. We pushed up near the top and during the last mile, we hiked without speaking. I was sorting through the thoughts and emotions as I took the last steps of the hike. 2,181 miles of hiking was about to end. I saw the famous Appalachian Trail sign in the distance through the breaking fog. As I approached the summit, I just couldn't stop smiling. This was it. I got to the top, rested my hands on the sign, turned and looked to the south where I started 4 months ago to the day (May 15th), and let out the loudest yell so loud my ears were ringing.

I wish I could describe the feeling of finishing to AT, but I don't even know where to start. The descent down Katahdin was slippery and wet, but I didn't even care. The miles of the AT were over, and my thru-hike is done. I'm torn on how I feel. One half is immensely sad that the adventure is done as my mind races through all the memories of the trail. The other half is beyond excited to be back with family, friends, food, and especially Julie. She supported me the whole way and was separated from me during a hard first few weeks of her first year as a teacher. I can't thank her enough, as well as my family and friends for all the support and encouragement. I'm also thankful for all my friends on the trail: AYCE, Peach, Five Stones, Waterboy, Turbo, Jedi, Chef Boyardee, Fish Hook, Mojo, Grizzly, Milkman, Ever Ready, Journeyman, and all others for the company on the trail. I hope life treats you well...

Thanks for following the blog and for the comments along the way. I hope to see everyone soon back home. I will be posting a handful of highlight pictures on a photo website, so if you're interested, check the blog again in the next week or so.

I'm excited about the NEXT chapter of my life, but I am sad to see this one come to a close.

-NEXT ~NOBO•GA->ME '11~

Monson, ME: The Beginning of the End

Through the 2067 miles I have hiked so far, I have crossed through 14 states starting at Springer Mountain, GA. Now I am 114 miles away from the final destination: Mt. Katahdin, ME. I am in Monson, ME, the final town before the 100-mile wilderness before the final summit.

Last night, I sat on top of Moxie Bald with a friend "Journeyman". This was a short but humbling climb which gave expansive views in all directions. We both sat on top of the granite summit staring into the distance. On the horizon past the hundreds of acres of lakes and pines stood a faint blue peak against the sky: Mt. Katahdin. It was our first view of the end, though it seemed so far away. 100 miles of wilderness is now what stands between me and the end of my journey. The end is now in sight.

I hiked through southern Maine over the rocky summits and rainy weather. I've generally been pretty optimistic through the hard times, but the past week was truly a test. I ran out of food sooner than I thought, and the rain just wouldn't stop. I was discouraged to be honest. This trail will test you through and through, both the physical and the mental. However, as quickly as the rain started, it stopped and left blue skies.

I have been hiking with Journeyman for a couple days now, and we are planning on hiking the last few days together. We are currently staying at our last hostel: The Lakeshore House and Pub. The past few days have been really amazing with good company, great sunsets, and a full moon every night. This is truly a week of "lasts". My last resupply, my last hostel stay, my last meals on the trail, and my last steps of the thru-hike. I am planning on summiting Mt. Katahdin on Thursday, September 15th, the exact 4 month mark from the start of my adventure on Springer Mountain.

I am able to use a computer here, so here are some photos from the past few weeks:

Hurricane Irene damage in the White Mtns

Dad and I had to be creative to get back to the trailhead
Summit of Mt Washington, the day after Irene.


Welcome to Maine!

Trail Frog


Morning Fog in the Bigelows

The 2000 mile mark (though it was actually a few miles south of here)

The Famous Maine Blueberries

Night Photography on Moxie Pond with a Full Moon

Moxie Bald with Katahdin WAY off in the distance (camera couldn't pick it up)

"Journeyman" crossing the Bald Mtn Stream...at 7am. Brrrrr!

Journeyman and I hitching back to Monson, ME after our last resupply.

I will have a few post-trip entries after the last day. Thanks for your interest and support. I'm excited to get home to the civilized world once again!

Insane Maine Terrain

I wasn't able to write much on the last post, so I'll fill in some details...

Dad and I hitchhiked back to the trail as far as we could with a friendly hotel employee. We came to a highway bridge that was out from Hurricane Irene. The high water caused the bridge to buckle several feet as if an earthquake came through. Cops and workers were swarming the scene, so Dad and I walked across a nearby railroad bridge when the cops weren't looking. Rebels! We hitched another time, crossed more washed away roadbed, and finally made it to the trailhead (I wish I could post pictures, but I'm using my iPod touch). Since the hurricane threw off our plans, we crunched our 6 day trip into 5. The next two days were spent mostly above treeline with expansive views and dangerously rocky trails. We spend the night at Lakes of the Clouds Hut, but since the park was "closed", we got to stay for free in a warm bunkroom. It was great!

Another hard day over Mt. Washington and all the way down to Pinkham Notch left us exhausted. I was glad to be done for the day but was also sad it was my last day hiking with Dad. Being with him was like being at home in a way, and it made me miss it. I was sad to see him go.

Since then, I have seen pushing through Maine but it has been hard going. The terrain very difficult with slick rock everywhere. The past few days have been rainy and wet, so now I'm in Rangeley, ME getting a good meal, restocking on food, and doing laundry. At the grocery I ate a big bag of potato chips and drank a quart of chocolate milk immediately. I hope the weather is better so I can make it to Katahdin on Sept. 15! I can't believe my adventure is coming to a close...

Almost to Maine!

Here is a quick update from Gorham, NH. I left my dad yesterday morning, and I was sad to see him go. We crunched our 3 remaining days of hiking into 2, so we were completely exhausted. The Whites has brutal trails with no switchbacks whatsoever.

I am now hiking alone, but I feel the surge of energy for this last push until the end. I am about 15 miles from the Maine border and am really looking forward to it. Though New Hampshire has been the prettiest state, it has been the most unfriendly (except the town of Hanover). There are nice people here, but there are equally rude and unwelcoming people. The AMC (club that operates the Whites) was especially cold to us...

I have just two weeks left which I still can't believe...my time on this computer is about to expire, so I must go. I fill you in on the details next post.