Back to the Beginner’s Circle

Starting Late 

There’s something about being back here at amicalola falls that makes me feel like I’m hiking the trail all over again.  The kids were asleep in the back seat as we parked the car and I got my pack out.  They wanted to see me off so my girlfriend and the kids hiked up to the first steps of the falls with me. I continued on and they turned around to get the car so they could meet me at the top.

The hike up the Falls was nothing compared to when I hiked it in 2023. Back then I was 313 pounds It had been six months since an old lady ran into me and totaled my car putting me in months of chiropractic therapy. Needless to say, I was not in the best of shape. This time however, I’m 275 pounds and I’d hiked to the top of the fall without issue. I probably did it in half the time. I think this hike is gonna be much easier for me than my first one was. Possibly even faster.

“You hiking the Appalachian trail?” A man asked me at the top of the falls while I waited for Becca and the kids.

“Not this year I hiked it in ‘23, this year I’m hiking the BMT.”

“What’s that?” He asked puzzled.

“It’s another trail.” I responded

He walked away confused to learn that there was more than just the Appalachian trail when it came to long trails. There are dozens of long trails all over the United States. So many more than you would think possible. Only of handful of them are popular enough to be known to the general public.

The kids ran up to me and we said our goodbyes. No one wanted me to leave but the sun was dropping low and I had miles to hike. I gave Becca one last kiss goodbye and I hit the trail. I’d hiked this same trail two years ago but it was in March with no foliage. This time of year the green is everywhere. The trail felt like a new discovery and an old friend at the same time.

Back at it Again

My thoughts went back to meeting Pioneer and CBS on the approach trail. I didn’t hike with them often but I hiked around them all the way up to New Hampshire. The sun was sinking lower and my head lamp was already out. I needed to make it to black gap shelter tonight. I’d intended on 16 miles today but time wasn’t on my side.

I felt like a completely different person in a completely different body hiking the approach trail. As the sun sank lower time seemed to stretch to a halt and the headlamp turned on. It’d been awhile since I’d seen a sunset that beautiful. Or maybe I was just appreciating it more because I was out in the woods again where everything seems to slow down?

It was dark by the time I’d reached black gap. Voices hit my ears before the sign for the shelter crossed paths with my eyes. It was nine o’clock. Camp set up came smoothly to me. Knowing what to do was a matter of waking up old muscle memory that I hadn’t used in two years. The hammock went up without a hitch, and I was cooking dinner at the community table soon after. There were a few people there cooking dinner also. Some college age guys were out for a weekend hike up to Springer. One man named Chase was the talker. He’d started chatting me up as I cooked.

Emboldening New Hikers 

”are you thru hiking the Appalachian trail man?” Chased looked at me and his friend was cooking some stew. 

“Nah I attempted it in 2023. This time I’m going for the BMT, the Benton Mackaye Trail.” I answered. A new person joined us. It was a woman named Lauren who I learned was attempting a LASH (Long Ass Section Hike) to Albert mountain or for people who don’t know 100 miles. Albert mountain is the first 100 mile land mark on the AT. 

They sat and listened to me talk about my hike experience from two years ago. 

“That’s so cool man I wish I could do something like that. I Gotta wait for the right time though.” Chased said.

“Man you’ll never get to it thinking like that. It’s never going to Be the right time. You have to make time for it or it’ll never happen. That applies to all of life.” I responded. 

“Any advice for me?” Lauren asked me in return when chase was too busy thinking about what I’d said. 

“The best thing I can tell you will be the most over used phrase you’ll hear on trail, and that’s to hike your own hike. Everyone is going to say it, and it’ll get annoying to hear but it’s true. You’re hiking your own hike and no one else’s. Enjoy it, hike how you want to. Sleep in until nine in the morning if you’re feeling it, hike until midnight if the mood strikes. Take midday siestas if it feels like you need to or want to. Do your best to not let someone hijack your trip.” 

Lauren shook her head like she understood. She’ll get it in time it’ll make sense soon enough. I didn’t get it at first when I’d first heard it on trail but it made sense to me as the days passed. 

 Brushing and flossing my teeth at the fire pit I thought back to being here at Black Gap Shelter the first time two years ago. So much has happened since then it’s Ike my hike was a different lifetime ago. I locked my food bag and smellables in the bear box and was in bed before I knew it. There was a huge difference between hammocking with a blow up pad and an under quilt.  I’ll take the quilt any-day. Blow up pads limit your sleeping positions but my quilt did not. I managed to sleep almost flat swinging in the breeze. Sleep overtook me in the dark in minutes.