After.

It’s been nearly three weeks since I finished the Colorado trail.

Here are my post-trail reflections:

• I’m not even sure if I even like hiking. I haven’t been able to hike since the trail. I simply can’t do it.
• What I loved about the Colorado Trail was not the hiking but the camaraderie, the challenge, the sense of adventure, the conversations, the feelings of accomplishment, the views, being in nature 100% of the time, and all the junk food I could eat. That’s what I loved. Not the hiking (for the most part).
• I think I want to Triple Crown someday (hike the AT, CDT, and PCT).
• There is no feeling in the world like walking into the finishing point of a 500 mile hike. And I bet that feeling is amplified the further your mileage.
• There are so many ways to do life. All are equally valid.
• Everything is a lot less scary/hard/impossible if you just go out and do it. One step at a time.
• I LOVE FOOD
• And I love sleeping in a bed – but sometimes you need to sleep in a tent for 27 days to get full appreciation for the smaller things in life.

And finally…

“What are you going to remember: staying in town with your friends or hiking that extra 10 miles?”

That was maybe the most important thing I said on the whole trail. Because, damn, it is true. With every soul-touching experience in my life, I’ve noticed one theme:

Community.

It’s the most important thing.

• Stay in town, reach out, make friends, go a bit slower if you have to. It’s the people that count. It’s those memories you are going to remember and miss.

I’ve been surprised by how much I miss the Colorado Trail. Especially because I was so excited to be done! Thru-hiking is the weirdest thing ever. It’s also the best.

I recommend it.

I’ll be out there again, I just know it. It’s just a matter of time.

So, I guess, until then….

Happy trails 🙂