Trail-er Trash: Thoughts On an Appalachian Trail Thru-hike

I knew I would hike the Appalachian Trail. My dad took me on my first backpacking trip when I was 16, and I instantly fell in love. Backpacking isn’t easy, but it’s simple. Perfectly simple. I draw extreme pleasure from being able to survive with nothing but what I can carry on my back. You establish a baseline of comfort, and from there you are free to wander and wonder. Something in my 16-year-o...