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A Beginner Hikes the CDT: Heading Home
I decided to leave the trail a few weeks earlier than planned. Nothing is wrong, I’m not physically or mentally in any danger or pain, but the right thing for me to do is to head home. I’ve tried to write this blog as forthright and honest as possible. I’ve included countless mistakes that I made along the way and challenging days and times I’ve had. I’ll try to do that with this post as well. However, this is a bit more challenging as I don’t yet have the words.
Where it started
About five years ago, well before I knew exactly when I was going to retire, my boss at the time was retiring and buying a class-A RV and driving around the country hunting ducks. I thought that was an incredible idea even though I’m not much into duck hunting. But I thought what a unique opportunity Air Force Officers have when we retire and then take a break between our next career. Then and there and decided I was going to do something similar.
I talked about this during my first or second post, but I chose the Continental Divide Trail as my adventure for a number of reasons. I don’t have a rank order for those reasons, but some of them include spending time in nature, alone time, challenging myself physically and mentally, and doing something that timing-wise lined up with the end of my Air Force career. This adventure gave me all of these and more. The CDT offered me a ton of time to reflect. If I had not done this trip, it would have taken me years of 20-minute meditation to do this much reflection. The value of personal reflection is immense and will pay dividends in the future. It left me with peace of mind about my Air Force career and a vision for me going forward. Even with curtailing this adventure, it scratched every itch and then some.
I did not do this alone
There are so many people for me to thank. Above all, my wife. 24-year-old Jon Carter said he would never get married. 24-year-old Jon Carter was an idiot. She’s supported me through my Air Force career and made these last few months possible. The words of encouragement she gave me often brought me to tears. I genuinely believe that some of the other hikers didn’t think what I said about her was true and they doubted that you could have a relationship like we do. She encouraged me to continue and cheered me on throughout the adventure and made countless sacrifices to allow me to do this. 
My kids. It’s a lot to ask of kids to just up and leave. But again the encouragement they gave me along the way made me feel like they were talking about someone else more accomplished. I hope I’ve inspired them to cut their own path and do their own adventure someday.
So many people helped me on the trail from getting a ride to Lordsburg, advice about thru-hiking, trail magic, rescuing me after I lost my phone, or giving me a place to crash and dry out after 3 days of rain. I hope I’m able to pay all this generosity forward. All of it has left me feeling like the luckiest guy I know.
Finally, those of you who have read this blog. There are many of you I’ve never met and some of you are close friends and family. Thank you for reading. When I started the blog I thought I’d get dozens of readers and I could stop a week into the trip. But there were hundreds of readers with every post and writing every night became a habit. I hope this brought you as much value as it brought me. 
The trail has been so good to me. I’ve had very few bad days and no bad weeks. I looked forward to getting up every morning and hiking, finding what was next on the trail, and hitting the next trail town. I hope that was reflected in my writing.
Was this a success?
Most definitely. I learned an incredible amount about myself. And got to do things that I never thought I’d get a chance to experience. A couple of moments stand out.
Summiting Gray’s peak. The highest point on the CDT looked impossible the night before. With the combination of a narrow ridge and snow, I was freaking myself out before I even started hiking. Eating Cheetos at 14,000 feet felt pretty good.
The 10 miles between Copper Mountain and Breckenridge. I’m not a skier, but I have many friends who do, so this climb just fed my ego a bit. I didn’t need a ski lift to get to the top. 
The end was never the destination
It was never about finishing the trail. I know that I could finish and frankly defining finish on the CDT is pretty vague. Finishing and taking a picture next to the northern terminus doesn’t change who I am. I’ll still be a husband, Dad, son, and brother, whose values are integrity and leadership. I know it feels like I was close, with only Montana left, but the adventure was on the trail, not at the end of it.
If you’re dying to stay in touch, you can find me on LinkedIn. Thanks again fo
r reading and I’ll see you down the trail.
Daddy Warbuck$
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Comments 35
Well done, Jon.
Hiking your own hike includes choosing when, where, and how you finish.
Happy trails in all future adventures.
Otter
Thanks Otter. I often struggled with hiking my own hike. Thanks for reading.
I am a retired AF cilivian old guy and have greatly enjoyed reading all your blog posts. Thank you for your honest and forthright portrayal of your thru-hike experience. Congratulations on your great accomplishment, and I wish you well in your future endeavors. I’m happy you could experience the Winds. Wyoming and the Winds are God’s country!
They are. I’d love to go back.
Thanks for allowing us to vicariously experience the trail through you. I enjoy hiking but doubt I could do it for a sustained period of time with my home on my back as well. Best of luck in your next adventure. As a well known crooner once said “Happy trails to you!”.
Thanks for reading. It was an incredible adventure and I’m glad I was able to share it with others.
Well done indeed Jon! Happy to hear you are safe and happy you got so much out of your Journey. ‘The end was never the destination’ – wonderful statement
MN Awaits you
Thanks Lammer. Lunch or beer soon.
I have read all your blog, and while I didn’t agree with some of your opinions/thoughts expressed, I enjoyed living this journey vicariously through you. You’ve done more than less than .0001% of humanity has or will, you should be proud! I am proud of you. I will be tackling the CDT SOBO in ’25 June as an old battered Marine. I hope to finish, but I know my limits. Congratulations and as a part-time Montana resident, I hope you come back and finish this state when you are able and have the time, you’ve missed the best part! Good luck on the job hunt/choice and enjoy your time with your family!
Michael
Thanks Michael. I think this trail is meant to be hiked SOBO. 80% of this year’s NOBO’s flipped at some point.
Following you from the beginning of your hike.
An inspiration from one middle/older person to another.
Will miss your posts.
Thanks for reading!
I for one am so glad you are done and coming home, even if I can’t be there to give you a hug. You accomplished so much and have before and will continue to. I am so proud of you and so happy you are safe and of course know that you are always loved. LYFE Mom
Thanks mom.
Congratulations Jon,
Thanks for sharing your adventures and insights.
Thanks for all the support Chav.
Just like “Unbranded” (The Mustangs CDT Movie) leave a few miles unfinished to fill in with your children and grandchildren!
Thanks, I like that idea!
Amazing story. An amazing adventure. I’m glad I had the opportunity to share with you through your stories. I will be looking forward to your next adventure.
Thanks man. Coffee invite sent.
Jon, Melissa and I have enjoyed keeping up with your adventure the whole way through, so cool! Congratulations!!! Al’s on me when/if you swing by the Det after getting settled back here at home.
I’m looking forward to some Al’s. I’ll hit you up soon.
So happy that you completed your journey! I really enjoyed reading about your adventure! Thank you for bringing us all along. Take care and wishing you many blessings in your life!
Thanks again for reading.
Bravo! You are leaving the trail in order to go forward on your journey through life. This is what wise people do- they know what is important and they act accordingly. I am sending you my best wishes for the days ahead.
I appreciate that. Thanks for reading.
Welcome Home, Flatlander!
Great to have another Vet back in the Hood.
I’m Gifting you the Perfect Yard Maintenance Device for your Rapid Trail Pace.
B😎
When you’re done, you’re done! Congratulations on finishing YOUR hike!
Thanks Jeff!
Happy Trails and many wonderful adventures ahead! Glad we crossed paths out there!
-Poet
Poet! I hope you’re doing well. I bumped into Happy Endings a day or two before I got off the trail.
I join others in sending you a Thank You for sharing your adventure through your BLOG posts and the GPS track. Your descriptions of the Trail, your experiences along the way, and your feelings about hiking and working on your future plans brought this amazing adventure to life for me. I won’t hike the Trail, nor probably even segments. But I will think of you when I day-hike on sections of the CDT, however short, as I continue Hiking in New Mexico (the title of my BLOG, pngyoung.com/Hiking). My best wishes for your future as you navigate your post-AF career.
george
Thanks for following along George. I’ll check out your blog.
Awesome to read your posts. Thanks for taking us along. And thank you, Sir, for your Service!
Robert, thanks for reading.