Hike vs Journey — Finding A Path

One of the questions I always ask if the hikers we meet is “what motivated you to hike the AT?” Every answer is different but I see two main themes in the answers. Either they needed a clean break in their life or hiking the AT has been a long simmering goal. It has gotten me thinking about the difference between a long hike and the “journey” of self discovery we are all on. Recently talking to a young hiker around a campfire, I proposed that it was totally fine to leave the trail if you found/received what you were searching for before completing the hike. After all, the AT is just a very long hike NOT the journey itself.

Charles and Ruth Anne (Blaze) on a bench at the N O C. — Whew, that was a hard 15 miles! Waiting for a shuttle at the NOC after crossing Wesser Bald.