Dreaming is one of many things that I do well and I can’t seem to keep my head out of the clouds. Thru hiking the Appalachian trail was one of many dreams that appeared to me in April of 2020. Never in a million moons did I think that I’d even be a hiker but once I discovered the forest, I found my calling. Thru hiking the Appalachian Trail suddenly seemed feasible. Nature had changed my life and has given me a new perspective of appreciating the smallest things that we may take for granted. such as a water source, sunlight or a cool breeze giving relief on a very humid day. Preparing for the AT has given me so much knowledge. Over the summer one of the most important lessons I have learned is the power of perseverance.
Hanging a bear bag is the most aggravating but critical task that I must do while camping in Black Bear country. Any act of carelessness and laziness typically results in the Bear getting relocated or euthanized and the loss of one’s food. Bears were strangers to me and I feared that they lurked around every corner, waiting to reach their claws out like a blood-thirsty ravenous monster. The reality is these large beautiful mammals have no grievances with us but rather they want our scrumptious human goods.
The Bear Necessities
Patience is truly a virtue and I’ll admit, I am not the most patient person. After hiking 12-14 miles on any given day, nature taught me you still have to persist. Thru hiking the Appalachian Trail was a game of persistence. July brought many opportunities to camp beneath the stars and learn the basics of camp life. One night my friends and I set up camp at Harriman State Park in Sloatsburg, NY and were greeted by a group of young men who were also camping. Night spring upon us rather quickly as we were drinking ice cold beers and enjoying the scenic views of the mountains around us. A meteor shower was taking place throughout the night, with prime views around 1-2 AM. Of course with every show, I wanted to keep eating my snacks.
Then came the time to hang the bear bag that I waited until the last minute to address. I must have thrown this rock over twenty times with no success and the darkness lent no mercy. Blood started to boil in my body and I began to grind my teeth from the frustration. Another hiker I was with told me that I should give up and just wrap it around the trunk. I refused. With my mentality on thru hiking the Appalachian Trail, I knew I could not falter. With hard work, eventually success comes and I got a proper hang. Elated, I went into my tent and fell into a deep slumber. Morning came fast and the sun peered her head into my tent and so did my friend.
“Shilletha, there’s a bear in our camp.”
Excited, I ran out the tent to see the commotion that everyone had seen. Sure enough, a 500-pound bear was having it’s fill of the other hikers’ food who neglected to do a proper bear hang. Observing and learning from others mistakes is one way that I have grown in this journey.
thru hiking the appalachian trail: Nothing goes as planned
We all make mistakes and there will be mistakes that I will make on my thru-hike even with planning. The thing about the AT is that nothing will ever go as planned. Boxes, boxes and more USPS boxes lay stacked up against my wall waiting to be filled with a variety of food, hand warmers and snacks. Planning over thirty mail drops is ridiculous but it is a necessity for me. Without knowing my official pace or mileage, dropping resupply boxes will be a pain. Tastes change but the key to my resupply boxes are that no two boxes contain the same meals or snacks. It’s a learning process but the key is to go with the flow just as the river does. “Don’t overthink it”. Everything will work itself out and the trail will provide. Have faith.
When I first started hiking, I was too timid to be on my own. Everything was new and scary as hell, especially the infinite darkness and the sounds of creatures scurrying around my tent. My stomach churred like butter and my body quivered at the thought of being alone. I joined groups to hike with but eventually felt inadequate because I could never keep up with a 4-lb pack and all of its contents inside. I knew that on the AT that there would be times that I wanted to be alone and would have to combat other fears that I had. Night hiking, winter camping and learning to tolerate thunderstorms through listening to them before bed every night has given me a plethora of confidence.
Camping alone taught me that I could stand on my own two feet, I can backpack alone and I know how to use my gear. It gave me the confidence to realize that I don’t need anyone to hike or backpack. Many women ask me how I can hike or do the AT solo and it comes from the confidence of pushing past those fears and doing it over and over again. Fear can limit me or fear can move me and I choose to face fear head on, when I used to cower to it. Solitude can be terrifying but also liberating. There are no time constraints, no pressure to walk a certain pace and while in camp, I found that reading books on my E-Reader with a nice down pillow from SeatoSummit makes any night worthwhile. Being comfortable is extremely important to me and I refuse to trade out comfort for weight or warmth.
embracing challenge as a narrative
Challenging myself has been my constant narrative of every hike when preparing for this thru-hike because the AT is a mental game. A few months ago, I chose to hike a section in PA because it is one of the most challenging states but I wanted to know how I would deal with it. Painful jagged rocks plunged into my heels, boulder scrambles awaited me like a thief in a night and the scenery was dull and unappealing at times. My morale suffered a severe blow and my body cried for relief that never came, this was the breaking point. Right, left, right, left repeated like a song in my head . I kept asking myself why I was doing this.
Thru hiking the Appalachian Trail was not going to be a easy feat. Quitting a thru-hike isn’t a thought that crosses my mind and it never will. I only have two options to “cry or continue”. Bad days in the forest are better than the worst days in an office. The Appalachian Trail is part of my destiny and has called me by name. It has and will continue to be a great teacher and mold me into a better person. Everyday is a day to learn and grow and I plan to take full advantage of every lesson that nature will throw at me. The AT isn’t all sunshine and rainbows but I am going in with a positive attitude, a smile on my face and a mind that is focused on making it to Katahdin.
