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I’m Off the Appalachian Trail
First things First
Hurricane Helene has brought widespread destruction and suffering to so many people in the Southeast. Individuals’ lives and their communities had been devastated in ways great and small and for many these impacts will last far into the future.
As someone who is not there, I cannot imagine what life is like there now. All I can do is offer my greatest sympathy and wishes for recovery and moving forward. We all can continue to support those impacted with financial support and whatever other resources we have. We also can continue to best prepare ourselves and our own communities for such increasingly destructive natural events.
Why I’m Off the Trail
When Hurricane Helene hit, I was off trail with family in DC for the weekend. By the time I got back on the trail, the ATC had put out guidance closing the AT from Rockfish Gap in Virginia (the southern boundary of Shenandoah National Park) to Springer Mountain in Georgia, essentially the last 850 miles of the trail. They advised people off the trail for their own personal safety and to not impede rescue and recovery efforts in the affected areas.
As I got back on the trail and began hiking again towards Harper’s Ferry, I was of a mindset that I would keep hiking south, Rockfish Gap was more than 200 miles away, and hopefully conditions would improve and more positive guidance would come from the ATC.
Despite my habitual optimism, as we have all seen, each passing day brought more reports of the devastating impacts of the storm. Particularly troubling to AT thru-hikers is that names of famous and beloved trail towns such as Damascus, VA, Erwin, TN, and Hot Springs, NC were now being mentioned as places that were severely affected.
Within a couple of days I began to face the reality that completing my southbound trek on the AT was not going to be able to happen. Despite this, I continued hiking for several days trying to process this reality and think how I should best proceed.
On Thursday October 3rd the ATC put out updated guidance recommending all SOBOs to get off the trail at Front Royal, VA, the northern boundary to Shenandoah National Park. The concern was that while the trail was passible through Shenandoah, the services in Rockfish Gap were being stressed and would not be able to handle more SOBOs arriving and needing to get off the trail and get home.
I saw this guidance the next morning as I was preparing to hike into Front Royal that day. I went around in my head several times figuring out what to do, but it didn’t take long to come to terms with the fact that I was getting off the trail and this was my last day hiking south.
Despite lots of feelings and emotions, I was happy with the decision once it had been made. My enthusiasm for the hike had been fading during the past week as I came to realize that completing the trail was not possible. Thru-hiking is hard, particularly the mental part, and my main driver always has been completing the trail. When this was no longer an option the miles and days became less fun and more of a struggle.
I quickly made some calls. My wife Laura is always a great sounding board to check and push my thinking. My son Dylan is always ready to help with a rescue and lives nearby in DC. And there was a hotel room to be had for the night in Front Royal.
Twenty-four hours later I’m off the trail, in DC, and making plans to fly home to Massachusetts. For traveling home, my pack is the lightest it’s ever been as I left my spare food in the hiker box at the hotel and no longer need to carry lots of water and other trail necessities. And I bought a pair of ‘town’ shoes rather than walking around DC and traveling in my crocs or hiking shoes.
So, What’s Next
That’s a big one! From the trail perspective, the ATC also put out guidance that SOBOs who could not complete their thru-hike because of the trail closure could resume their trip in the future, when the trail was reopened, and had a year to complete the trail from their resumption date to be considered a thru-hiker. (ATC’s standard policy is to be considered a thru-hiker you need to complete the trail in a calendar year.) I have completed 1215 miles and have just under 900 miles to go to finish. My plan right now is to be one of those who comes back to finish what I started when the trail is ready for me.
What’s next from the everything else perspective is more complicated. I retired right before the trail. I thought I had a couple more months of walking to figure out what I wanted the next part of my life to start to look like. Now I’ll just have to start assembling this puzzle in the concrete world and not the world of the AT.
What’s next from The Trek and this blogging perspective? Well I have one more weekly update to post, week 15. I’ll hold off on my promised end of trek gear review for a more appropriate time. And then I’ll pick this story back up on the other side.
Thank You
I leave the trail proud of what I accomplished! Thru-hiking is hard! 1200 miles of getting up each day, putting one foot in front of the other, and doing it again the next day is not nothing! And, it is a privilege and something I am so fortunate I have been able to do. Once again, thank you sincerely to everyone who has supported me along the way. As I always say, and as my trail name emphasizes, I’m ‘Lucky’ to be out here!
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Comments 8
I have been thinking about all of the AT communities and about the thru hikers. It’s an unfortunate setback, but hopefully it is a temporary setback. New England trails and leaf peeping might be a good way to decompress from this disappointment. Take care.
I’m sorry your through hike was cut short but you are wise to understand the southern states are suffering from Helene and it would be hard for you to continue. I’ve enjoyed your posts and progress, and I know one day you will be back. Enjoy retirement.
I am sorry that some folks are not going to be able to finish their treks at this time. and I hope for good news out of the affected areas.
Some of you do not seem to understand that the Smokies at over 6000 feet in Oct and Nov can be very cold and windy and wintry and icy. Yeah, all of those. It happens in the spring and fall too up that high. So stay abreast of the weather while you are off and see what you are missing! Maybe you’ll be glad on a couple of days that you didn’t have to hike thru some gruesome weather.
Sometimes, You have ambitions, other priorities keep You from completing. I hope You get, to complete Your Hike.
My big dream, was to bicycle The TransAmerica Trail; inaugurated during the National Bicentennial in 1976. The trail, runs from Astoria, Oregon; to Yorktown, Virginia; mostly on paved, little-used roads.
I had hoped to bicycle the entire Trail, and still do; I began in Portland, Oregon; in 1977, at the airport, made an abortive attempt, to ride down The Columbia River, on The Washington State side, but had to return to Portland; at that time, Bicycles were not allowed, on Interstate 5, in Washington, and I didn’t know the side roads, well enough, to map out, an alternate route, paralleling I-5, but on back roads. I spent the night, in Portland, then rode Alternate U.S. 30, and old U.S. 30; to Ranier, and Astoria, on the Oregon Side, which was just as well, as the Oregon Side offered views, of Mt. St. Helens; as it was, before The 1980 Eruption.
The Route proceeds down U.S. 101, and some side rows, across the Coast Range, through The Van Duzer Corridor (Oregon Routes 18, and 22), then South, through The Willamette Valley, to Eugene. There is a “spur”, from Eugene, to Reedsport, but I opted to continue east, following the Main Route; generally Oregon 126, across MacKenzie Pass, to Prineville, then east, across Oregon via U.S. 26.
That Year, I rode 1080 miles, in 18 days, approximately 60 miles, per day, bikepacking, and staying in “Mom and Pop” Motels. I somehow contracted Dysentery, and had to quit, that Year, at Missoula, Montana. The following Year, I “picked up”, where I had “left off”, and rode, from Missoula, to West Yellowstone, Montana; but developed Altitude Sickness, and had to quit, at West Yellowstone. This became an “ongoing problem”, because I was used to lower altitudes, and much of The route, from Sula, to Pueblo, Colorado, is above 5000 feet, and a lot of that, is above 6000 feet. The following Year, I rode, from West Yellowstone, through Yellowstone and Grand Teton, National Parks, then southeast, again following U.S. 26, and U.S. 287, to Rawlins, Wyoming. Had Altitude Problems, again; and stopped, There.
I returned to Wyoming, the following Year (1980), started from Riverton, Wyoming; then returned to Rawlins, via Lander, on Wyoming 789, and U.S. 287, then followed Old U.S. 30, to Sinclair, then South, via Wyoming 130, and 230, then Colorado 125, South to Walden. I did ride, as far as Kremmling (Altitude Sickness, again!), but accepted a “lift”, from some friendly people, to the top of Muddy Pass, so I have a “25-mile gap”, there, that I will have, to “cover”, if I decide to continue. I took a Greyhound Bus (one of The Last, as I understand it), from Kremmling, to Denver, and returned Home.
I have, just one more (two more) Rocky Mountain Passes, to conquer (Muddy, and either Hoosier, or Tennessee), but that trip, was 44 Years, ago, and I may not be able, to “finish the ride”, partly due to Family, and other, obligations. I did manage to ride the Western third, of The Trail, (and then, some), and visited five States, with memories, to last Me, a lifetime. Perhaps one of My Step-Grandchildren, will “pick up”, where I “left off”, and finish The Journey; I wish them, well.
Oops! Small error. I forgot The Washington State part, so I actually bicycled, in Six States (30 miles, in Washington).
I’m really sorry about you not being able to complete your thru-hike right away. However, I want to thank you for being open to the idea that many communities are experiencing genuinely the hardest times of their lives right now. I’ve seen many SOBO hikers decide to continue without any regard for these trail towns and angels that have all helped us for so many years in the past, and I’m sure once again in the future.
I am from one of the states that were hit pretty hard and we have so many people already here ready to help out for a year, the damage is so severe. I’ve tried to warn several people that decide to keep pushing along hoping for better conditions, and I get it, we all want the communities and trail to once again be repaired and flourished as they once did, but it’s going to take a long time and a lot of man-power!
So thank you again for taking the time to prioritize your health and safety and giving these areas time to recover. Best of wishes and luck to you, hopefully we’ll see you down here in the near future completing your hike!
Your decision to pause your SOBO hike shows understanding & compassion for those who severely affected by the hurricane. . .and another is on the way!
This is all part of your story, magnificent & courageous. . .well-done to this point & hold fast to your dream of hiking to the end.
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It’s heartbreaking to see the damage. It’s apoplectic. I made 4 runs of supplies to some flyboys I knew here in Houston flying to NC and TN to drop off supplies. There are so many neat Hostels on that Southern stretch,. Uncle Johnny’s, Sunny Bank Inn. Mountain Harbour Inn has the best breakfast. I saw pictures today, of David Hill working on his Hostel house. He already has the frame built. Hill people are tough. 2013 Grad-SOBO. How was the blowdown? Creek crossings have to be a mess as well. ATC and the AT Southern states are still worried about landslides. God Speed and hope you get back on the trail soon, Lucky
Signed,
Trail Name, Couyon