Maine. Or, Finding Just What You Were(n’t) Looking For

I have hiked 252.7 miles of the Appalachian Trail, plus some extra miles on “detours” and side trails.  I started this journey with the goal of being an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, but much like other preparations, you can’t really know what that means until you do it. It didn’t even take all of Maine for me to alter the trajectory of this experience. I no longer plan to be thru-hiker, rather, just an Appalachian Trail hiker. I am not sure what that means yet, as I still plan to continue south, but I no longer am concerned with the thru-hike, from Katahdin to Springer, as I am with enjoying my experience.

I want to be a satisfied hiker, I want to enjoy my time on the trail.  Sadly, I have found that an overwhelming percentage of NOBOs I have met, all within 300-miles of Katahdin, are in some state of discontent. Very few have been as excited as I would have expected to be within days of completing their trek. Some only want to finish, to be done with the trail, some dread every day, and others say they would quit if they weren’t so close.

“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.”
― Eckhart Tolle

There are far too many factors to list every reason for my decision. Most of it is what you read above; the experience has already given me more than I had expected and I want to enjoy my time in the wilderness, not simply carry on each day because I feel like I have to. Other reasons are more personal, such as missing adventures with my husband. I will write more about those on my personal blog, memorymillionaires.com.

~NAMASTE~
Pickles

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Comments 8

  • Your mother : Sep 17th

    Great job Megan! We do all have to find our own meaning to our adventures. I am sad to hear of discontent and expression of just getting it done being common. There were parts of the Camino that were terribly hard and times I was miserable but I never wanted to quit or just get it done. The tough parts made other parts more amazing if that is possible. Enjoy your journey. As they say on The Camino everyone walks their own Camino. Buen Camino to you! Love you!
    Mom

    Reply
  • Your mother : Sep 17th

    PS I still think Detour suits you best…..

    Reply
  • Chris G. : Sep 17th

    Being 300 miles from the end is a very strange place for a AT NOBO to be extremely content with. The minimum mental challenges a hiker has been through at this point are hard also hard to explain. I personally enjoyed every day I was out there. Some days I enjoyed during and some days I enjoyed when they were over and I climbed into bed. I encountered very few people who were 100% full of cheer all the time but everyone out there had their own drive and with 300 miles left NOBOs got a little robotic in reaching their goal. It seemed to be a side effect of time spent in the woods for so long. Happy Trails in all your future adventures!

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    • Megan : Sep 19th

      I understand what you are saying! Still hiking, still enjoying myself (most of the time)! Thank you.

      Reply
  • TBRHiker : Sep 18th

    That’s a healthy attitude.

    Enjoy the woods and enjoy the walk. Good for you.

    I like reading what you write.

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    • Megan : Sep 19th

      Thanks! I get off the trail when I need, and I crave it when I have been away for too long. I’ve been enjoying shorter hikes with my husband in my dog lately and it makes me happy 🙂

      Reply
  • Pam : Sep 19th

    I’m so happy for you. I’ve not had the chance yet to walk the AT. It’s on my goals list for 2019.

    I have watched many vblogs, read blogs and the trek and I also feel like (some) are just pushing through to push through, to say I did it.

    I’m so glad to hear someone say they are fully living it. To see all that there is to see.

    Enjoy.

    Reply
    • Megan : Sep 19th

      I’ve been taking shorter trips on the trail and sharing the experience with my husband (and dog when he can join us). Some day I do hope to complete the entire trail.

      Reply

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