My Reasons for Thru Hiking the AT in 2016

New Year’s Eve I participated in our local “First Hike” at Honey Creek Nature Center. Once me and 50 of my closest strangers reached our destination and gave each other new year’s salutations, Craig, our park ranger, had each of us find a spot around the creek, turn off our flash lights and meditate to reflect on our past and future year.

I thought about the ups and downs, mostly downs, of the past year.  Then, in that peaceful sound of the creek flowing, it dawned on me…in the midst of all my 2015 turmoil, I really did some amazing things! One thing I hadn’t realized until now was how Andi and I had already started this 5M+ step journey, even before stepping foot on the AT (Well, excluding my 3 day trip to Lonesome Lake)! You get what I’m saying.

Before June of 2015, we had never camped out on our own or hiked more than 3 or 4 miles! Since my decision to Thru Hike the AT, Andi and I have hiked at 14 State Parks, to include part of the White Mountains! Andi and I are up to comfortably hiking 13 miles in a given hike. We, well I (Andi had been doing the treadmill for several months now) started a fitness program, making me a more fit me!

During this quiet time of self reflection, I realized I needed to start focusing on all the cool things I’ve done /do instead of the usual “Woe is me”.

So, instead of New Year’s resolutions, I wish to share with you my reasons for Andi and me thru hiking the AT.

1. Let Andi be a dog again!
2. Figure out my life
3. I am at peace when I am alone with Andi
4. Learn how to tolerate people, Or not, and be okay with it
5. Do something that scares me
6. Learn how to like myself
7. Learn to be flexible
8. Enjoy the little things in life
9. Learn how to believe in me
10. Figure out where I am with others in my life
11. See the world one step at a time
12. Live SIMPLE
13. Because I told others (Now you) that I would be doing this

Enjoy the Pics from my midnight “First Hike” at Honey Creek Nature Center, TX