Three Days Until My First Overnight Hike on the Appalachian Trail
July 1, 2020
In three days, I’ll be lacing up my hiking boots for my first overnight hike on the Appalachian Trail. I’ve day-hiked a few sections of the AT close to my home in Northeast Georgia, but those were no more than 8 miles each. This feels different. This will be five days on the AT. Five days without a shower, no communication with the outside world, and lots of miles to cover.
I’m really excited. During quarantine, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to audiobooks like *Thru Hiking Will Break Your Heart* by Carrot Quinn and *Wild* by Cheryl Strayed. Although these books are about the Pacific Crest Trail, I’m fascinated by the magic of long-distance trails—and the Appalachian Trail is no different.
I know a few friends who have thru-hiked the AT, and I follow plenty of people on Instagram who are currently planning their own hikes for 2021 and 2022. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to complete a thru-hike, but my goal is to section-hike the entire Appalachian Trail, one chunk at a time. Maybe, one day, I’ll go all in and trek from Georgia to Maine, but for now, I’ll take it one step at a time.
There’s something about putting all your belongings in a backpack and stepping into the wilderness. When I’m on the trail, I feel free. Free from worry, free from responsibilities. It’s a time to reflect and take in the beauty of nature—something I already experience on my day hikes in the North Georgia mountains. But I know that being out there for five days, without having to return to “reality” every night, will feel different. I won’t be completely alone, though. I’m going with my mom and my brother, both of whom also love to backpack.
The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of planning. I’ve been mapping out routes, gathering my gear (most of which I already had, but it’s always fun to acquire a few new pieces!), and booking our shuttle. I’ve planned all of my meals and gone through my packing list at least three or four times. The result? A mix of excitement and anxiety—am I packing too much? Not enough?
I’m not sure how many opportunities I’ll have to section-hike the AT each year, especially with the uncertainty in my industry. So, the sooner I hit the trail, the better. One place I’ve always wanted to visit is the Grayson Highlands in Virginia to see the wild ponies. That seemed like a good place to start.
The plan is to get dropped off at Massie Gap and hike south for a few miles before cutting north and looping back around to Massie Gap. After that, we’ll head south again for 30 miles, ending in Damascus. This will be my longest section hike yet, and the most miles I’ve ever done in one stretch. Back in May, I did an overnight on the North Country Trail and covered 16.5 miles in 24 hours, so I think I’m ready for this. The goal is 40 miles in total—10 miles a day. Should be easy, right?
Last night, I carefully went through my checklist and finally packed my bag. I even walked around the house with it on my back while eating a frozen pizza, just to make sure everything felt okay. (I’m sure my Airbnb guests thought I was a bit of a weirdo.)
I sprayed down my pack and shoes with permethrin while waiting for the dehydrator to finish drying my chicken. I packed my food bag, carefully placed it in my hiking pack, and cinched all the straps tight to make sure everything was secure. I was ready to hit the trail... until I realized I’d forgotten to fill my water bladder. So, I had to unpack everything and start the process over.
Tomorrow, I’ll be getting my house ready for the pet sitter (a good friend of mine who’s kindly agreed to watch my animals and host my Airbnb guests while I’m gone and out of cell reception). There are a few other chores to take care of—cutting the grass, feeding the chickens, and so on—but for the most part, the countdown is on.
Three days. The excitement is building, and the nerves are starting to kick in. Can I actually do this? If not, will I ever be able to attempt a thru-hike? Well, in three days, I guess we’ll find out.
Gear I Packed (live links):
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