">
Jobs are calling. I will not go.
Discovering the AT
This is the beginning of a story seven years in the making. For an English project in my junior year of high school, I chose to read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. I had never backpacked or heard of the Appalachian Trail before. The thought of spending months in nature, exploring new places, building community with similar people and the physical challenge of traveling from Georgia to Maine on foot captivated my interest. I decided there and then that I would thru-hike the AT one day.
Looking forward to the AT got me through some of the hardest years of my life.
The past four and a half years of my journey towards the AT have been difficult, but equipped me with the mental fortitude to make it to Katahdin. I started college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with no intention of accelerating my graduation timeline. As the years went by and it became clearer to me that starting a thru-hike in May after graduation would be too late, I adjusted my plans to graduate a semester early. I then added on an extra year of school in order to get my Master’s; it made sense to me to knock out all of my schooling at once so that I never have to do it again. I am emerging from one of the most rigorous engineering schools in the country with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in mechanical engineering. I am proud of this accomplishment, but am most grateful for the lessons that I learned along the way. I built a tenacious work ethic which will help me be a successful engineer, but first I get to apply it on the Appalachian Trail.
I am staying true to myself and answering my call to the trail. However, it hasn’t been an easy choice to stick to, especially over the past few months as I have been wrapping up graduate school and thinking about full-time jobs. When I told my grad school advisor my plans to postpone work to chase my dream of completing the AT, he wasn’t exactly thrilled about my decision. He told me that if I was his son, he would tell me to think long and hard about this decision, and I could tell that if it were up to him I would go straight into the workforce. As I left that conversation, I smiled and laughed to myself. I believe so strongly in myself and that thru-hiking the AT is the right decision for me, that nobody can convince me otherwise. I have worked my ass off for nine semesters and now I get to reward myself for it. I smiled after that conversation because I was glad to see how dead set I am on the AT. I honestly don’t care that I am pushing off jobs for a few months. They will still be there when I finish. Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail is a once in a lifetime opportunity and now is my time to seize it.
Why do I want to hike the AT?
The Appalachian Trail has symbolized freedom for me for so many years. I feel that it is my return to nature after being stuck indoors in school for the better part of my life. Furthermore, it is the first time in my life that I am the master of my future. It is up to me to get to my destination on the trail each day. Gone will be my schooling days because that is what “normal” kids go through. From now on my life is in my own hands.
One of my biggest draws to the Appalachian Trail is that it is so starkly different from my life so far. I will carry all of my life’s needs on my back. I will hike to a new shelter to sleep in every night, or even better, find a spot to camp under the stars. As I travel through Appalachia, I will expose myself to ways of life foreign to how I grew up. This will give me a new perspective on what is important in life. I will cherish the opportunity to explore new places and gain new experiences.
A personal struggle of mine through college was finding friends who share my interests. Especially in recent semesters, I became jaded from the college party culture. I would much rather go to bed early on weekend nights and wake up before the sun rises to go on a long hike. I realized that my priorities just didn’t align with many of my peers. I have been looking forward to my thru-hike because I will finally be around people who are as crazy about the outdoors as I am.
Learning about how our ancestors, and not-too-distant predecessors survived without all of the comforts and technology which we have today fascinates me. I wonder if living simpler lives and having to work harder in some cases gave people a different perspective on life. I feel like thru-hiking the AT can give me a taste of what life is like without all of those luxuries. I am especially excited to take on the physical challenge of traversing over 2,000 miles of mountains.
I understand how John Muir felt when he said “the mountains are calling and I must go.” The mountains have been my sacred place; my place to recharge. The mountains have beckoned me through the toughest years of my life. I am excited to fully embrace them in my life moving forward, beginning on the AT.
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 25
Great choice in delaying your career. I mean that sincerely. Throughout your career you may never get another chance to take off half a year to go hike. Life will sneak up on you, spouse, kids, animals, house,.. responsibilities will make it more and more difficult to hike as the years pass. So, good choice, I’ll be following and cheering you along.
Thank you Chris, I appreciate the kind words!
Just an FYI, do some research on your route. I’m sure you’ve done plenty of research already, but you need to do more. Helene destroyed some parts of the AT, and they may or may not be accessible even by next year.
Thank you for the heads up! I am aware of all of the destruction throughout the southern part of the trail and surrounding communities. My thoughts are going out to all of them, especially the people impacted by the hurricane. I am prepared to take whatever detours are necessary to complete my thru-hike!
Good luck on your hike!
Thank you!
I love this decision for you.
Jobs will be there when you get back! I know civil engineers are in high demand right now and can only assume the same of mechanical engineers. This will likely be the easiest time of your life to take five months away until you retire – my civil engineering job caps leaves of absence at 90 days. The other option is, of course, to save up f*ck-it money at a job, quit to hike, and then just get hired elsewhere afterwards – but that’s a lot iffier than just going now.
Godspeed!
Thanks Casey, that means a lot coming from someone who has gone through what I am going through!
My husband and I quit our good jobs at ages 45 & 47 to hike the AT in 2000. And, we’re happy to have made that choice. Yes, we were in our prime earning years but we knew we couldn’t wait until retirement, even an early retirement, as we didn’t know what the future held in terms of health. And, it took awhile to get career- type jobs upon returning. But we ended up fine, as I’m sure you will. I hired many recent graduates in my life and 6 months on the AT would have been a positive to me. Good luck!!!
Thank you for the words of advice!
Very well said! The perspective and life lessons you gain on your hike will remain with you forever and be an invaluable resource as you start your career, Best of luck and I look forward to following your journey to Katahdin.
Doublepack
Thank you so much!
Great choice. Do it while you can and live life for you. Work should always be second in a race between work and living your life. Enjoy the rest of your life, it would seem that you “get it”. Good luck in all you do
Couldn’t agree more but it is nice to hear it from someone else. Thanks Pete!
JARED! Amazing first blog! Loved every word, but your concluding paragraph is what did it for me: “I understand how John Muir felt when he said “the mountains are calling and I must go.'” This was exactly my experience for my AT thruhike. Answer the call!
Keep any eye out – you may just see yourself and this blog featured in this Friday’s weekly newsletter! 😉
Thank you so much Jess, and for all of your support onboarding me to this awesome team! I am so excited to be part of The Trek family!
I’ve been loving your Instagram posts too, congrats on your half marathon!
Jared, my HERO! I will be living vicariously through you on this hike. As your MAMA BEAR 🐻 and greatest supporter, I could not be prouder of all you have accomplished.
Life is shorter than we wish and taking moments to ENJOY, EXPLORE, EXPERIENCE NEW CULTURES, SEE SUNRISES AND SUNSETS, and integrate nature into our souls is so very important.
You are everything and MORE to me, I love you unconditionally and honor this moment for you ❤️🙏🏼!
Love you!
Hiking the AT should be a great opportunity to explore the country, meet a wide selection of people, put your educational experience in perspective, and consider what you want to do with your life. Go for it and good luck.
Thank you so much!
Graduate and hike! If troubles befall you while hiking, make good decisions. But don’t give up. It might take more than one attempt. I’m glad you have a goal and a plan!
Thank you Sandy!
What is the AT?
The AT is short for the Appalachian Trail. It is a trail which runs from Georgia to Maine and is over 2,000 miles long.
I appreciate the response. How much do you intend to spend on the hike? I would
Imagine things of this nature are expensive. Are you going alone? Feel that may be dangerous.