Home Appalachian TrailAT Continental Divide TrailCDT Pacific Crest TrailPCT
author photo">
Jul 4, 2022 : Beth Feret Uncategorized

Day 97

I had the most wonderful Independence Day.

Struggling to celebrate a day honoring freedom after the most recent SCOTUS decisions was tough for me this year, so I chose instead to celebrate the righteous spirit of our treasonous forefathers by enjoying the radical freedom of the Trail.

There is no freedom quite like Trail freedom.

How many people get to rise each day and choose their adventure?

AT Thru hikers do.

And that’s a freedom entirely unknown to me before this hike.

So I celebrated by doing whatever I felt like doing today.

I sewed my patches onto my hat, which I’ve been wanting to do for ages.

My Teacher Tribe. I’m carrying them all with me!

My sister sewed the patches onto my backpack for me before I left, but I changed out my pack and hadn’t gotten around to sewing them on again. I decided the hat was a better place for them since I’m definitely not trading it out any time soon.

I relaxed in the hammock while I sewed, and I listened to a “Stuff You Should Know” podcast about the AT.

Some of the other guests and I picked blueberries for the amazing dessert our hostess had made for us.

Then a delicious (as always) dinner.

The boys, Animal and Mayo, did some painting on the porch, and I did a crossword puzzle.

I had a lovely chat with a nice couple who stopped by to check out the hostel. Their 17 year-old Eagle Scout is both a blacksmith and an accomplished woodworker, and I was quite impressed. Also, I tried hard to convince one of them to hike the AT. (C’mon, Tara, you’ve got this!)

I said goodbye to my new friends, and some of us gathered in the grass for daily yoga, which I think helped my back a bit.

I checked out some of the farm animals.

Mayo built a beautiful fire, Phoenix scrounged some marshmallows, and we finished the day with fireside fellowship.

Today was a perfect day of freedom for me.

The world is not perfect, and our country feels broken, but today I chose to celebrate quietly with kind, generous-hearted, welcoming folks who respect each other and the planet we live on. Nothing has renewed my faith in the goodness of the world like hiking this trail.

We’ll be okay, everyone.

I’m sad for us.

I’m sad for Highland Park.

But I refuse to lose hope in mankind or to give in to despair. There’s just too much good still in the world.

Twice a day, before meals, we gather in the yard here and we find gratitude. I encourage you to do the same.

It’s there, that gratitude, residing closely near hope.

Hold tight to joy and goodness and light. Joy and goodness and light and hope fuel activism and positive change.

It is the only way to vanquish darkness.

I wish you all peaceful, happy trails.

Affiliate Disclosure

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.

Beth Feret
Jul 4th : Beth Feret
Author Page
Beth Feret's Bio

Hi! My trail name is Tree Hugger, and I’m thru-hiking the AT after a 32 year wait. I first learned about the AT during Spring Break of my Sophomore year in college. My college sweetheart and I spent a week in the Smokies, and we ran across some hitchhiking thru-hikers. That’s when I learned about the trail and determined to someday complete it. Well, life intervened, and my path veered away from the trail for some time. I married and raised three amazing kids, but never stopped dreaming about completing the AT. I started backpacking again once the kids were grown, and got into the best shape of my life with the help of a personal trainer and a lot of hard work. Then, in November of 2018, I took a bad fall while night hiking up to a remote spot in the Hoosier National Forest. I suffered multiple physical injuries, including a pretty nasty TBI that required almost three full years to recover from. But with the great support of my friends and family, a team of medical professionals (particularly one extraordinary functional neurologist), I regained enough cognitive ability and balance to backpack again. I entreated my superintendent (I’m a high school teacher) to grant me a Leave of Absence to hike the AT while I’m still able (who knows what the future holds?), and my request was granted. I spend all year teaching my students to “seize the day,” to reach for their biggest goals, and to live out their dreams. It was time to practice what I preach, and so here I am on the AT. It really is a dream come true for me. It’s been difficult and challenging and uncomfortable, and really, what more could anyone ask for?

Comments 3

  • Tammie gear : Jul 5th

    Sounds like another perfect day on the trail! Love you, sis!

    Reply
  • Ray : Jul 5th

    Thank you Beth for sharing your helpful perspective. I have been physically sick over the direction of the SCOTUS lately, but you have given me ideas about how I can get started back to being positive. I too will do the things I love as I think I have grieved enough over the loss of our liberties. Thank you so much
    Ray

    Reply
    • Britt : Jul 5th

      Beth, I came across your blog because it was in my Google feed and I just spent half the day reading all your posts. I just want to say thank you for writing your experiences down and sharing them. They are incredibly beautiful, moving, inspiring, insightful, etc.

      Also thank you for maintaining your positivity and hope during these confusing times, you’re so right that that’s how we make it out better, all together! Sending you so much love and safety prayers and can’t wait to read the rest of your experiences!

      Reply

What Do You Think?