">
Committing, Thanks to Badass Women
I started pouring over the Appalachian Trail Data Book in 2011, imagining how I might section hike the AT over many years. I never even thought of thru-hiking, because there were meetings to lead, cupcakes to bake, and bills to pay. Since then, I retired, gratefully and gloriously, from corporate life and watched my children become independent, self-supporting adults. Thanks to a lifetime of skipping the fancy coffee, lawn service, and expensive haircuts, we realized the dream of paying off our mortgage. All the responsibilities were gone, and I began to think about a thru-hike.
There was one, minor detail that needed attention – I’d never backpacked before.
Runner Coming Through
I knew that I loved the idea of hiking the AT, I just had no idea how to live in the woods. Since I didn’t have any close friends who were backpackers, I decided to go on a group hike with the Blue Ridge Hiking Company, based in Hot Springs, NC. I hadn’t bought any gear yet (except my hammock and Hokas), in case the trip turned me away from my plan, so I spent a few hours in the local outfitter looking at the vast array of products they carried.
Midway through the first day, we were hiking up Walnut Mountain when we had a remarkable encounter. A young woman, cheery and energetic, ran past us to deliver the caution that a runner was behind her. I didn’t get it because this cheery woman was a runner, so why did we need to be warned that another was coming? It turned out that the runner coming through was none other than Tara Downer. Four days later, she became the fastest human to complete the full 2197.4 miles of trail. No wonder she looked so tired when she passed us!
Tara’s forty day record meant that she ran approximately two marathons per day, every day, for the duration of her trip. I was awed by what a human body could do and felt galvanized that my less-lofty goals were achievable. Those three days in the woods helped me gain the confidence and inspiration I needed to commit. Even more important, my brush with Tara and her crew helped me realize that this journey is about more than digging deep; it’s about having a plan for nutrition, self-care, and rest.
We rolled back into Hot Springs on September 19 and promptly hit the local taco joint beside the river. Less than a week later, Helene destroyed it all – outfitter, taco joint, everything.
Her Name Was Emma
Many people who hike the trail look for inspirational reading in advance. Grandma Gatewood’s Walk is among the most common books recommended on all the lists that recommend such things. When she left her Ohio home with her new Keds and homemade satchel, the 67 year old grandmother was determined to finish the whole trail. I was so struck by her bravery, humility, and strength – if she could do this, so could I. While, mostly, I feel inspired by her story, I also feel a little guilty about how many conveniences I’ll enjoy relative to her journey in 1955.
Emma completed the trail without any of these things:
- Maps!
- Modern, lightweight gear
- Guide and data books
- Weather apps
- Trail alerts
- Community
Some things haven’t changed:
- The rain, mud, cold, and heat that Emma described are still companions to every thru-hiker on the trail
- The trail is a refuge for people who crave a break from the real world
- Hikers benefit from the kindness of strangers
- There will be nay-sayers and fear-mongers who need to be ignored
I’m grateful for all I learned on my first backpacking trip and feel emboldened by these two women whose lofty goals make mine seem more achievable. I’m done waiting for other people, for arbitrary milestones, for stars to align. Now is as good as it gets.
This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!
To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.
Comments 5
Those two women are such an inspiration, and it’s so cool you got to see Tara getting it done!
It’s awesome that you’re grabbing your chance to accomplish your dream. There are a million reasons not to do the things we want to do, to wait and wait and wait for the perfect time, a time that may never come if we don’t prioritize those dreams once in a while. Good luck out there (Badass) Fun Size!
Love that combo of inspirational women heroes for you, perfect pair for the AT. I had a similar duo for inspiration on my 2022 PCT thru. Read “Thirst” and “Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart” in 2020 and they lit the flame. Heather ‘Anish’ Anderson (overall self-supported speed record holder at that time) provided in “Thirst” the superwoman’s experience of the trail, extraordinary and inspiring but not much like what I was going to experience, while Carrot Quinn provided the everywoman experience. Both taught me valuable lessons. Tara and Emma provide similarly balanced examples of how strong women are and how we can thrive in this setting. You got this!!!
Great post – good advice for everyone – have a plan. But remember: ACCEPTANCE, ADAPTABILITY, PERSEVERANCE – Once you accept an unplanned situation, you can adapt; if you can adapt, you will persevere.
And best of all: Absolutely, ignore the nay-sayers and fear -mongers! Hike Your Own Hike.
Hi, Fun Size! Grandma Gatewood is one of my inspirations too. Every time I hit a rough patch, I think of her without her glasses hiking on. I am so excited that you had a brush with Tara! We watched her entire FKT hike. I was amazed!
Grandma Gatewood was such an inspiration to me, too! She has a memorial in Hocking Hills here in Ohio. I love to give it a pat and send her a quick thank you whenever I visit. What a woman!