Mission Accomplished!
Well, I did it. On Friday, October 3rd, along with a big group of hiker buddies, I reached the summit of Mt. Katahdin. Backpacking nearly 2,200 miles through 14 states in 204 days, this has been simply the most amazing experience of my life. I hope that through my blog, photos, and videos, I have inspired others to get outside... you don't have to hike 2,000 miles, but just get out there and walk. It is awesome!
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| A beautiful day atop Katahdin with many friends |
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| It was not an easy climb, a 4,000 foot gain over five miles |
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| The views surpassed anything that we had experienced |
Here are some video clips strung together from the last couple hundred miles and to the conclusion:
The last few weeks of the journey featured some beautiful scenery, and for those of us who chose to not rush to finish the trail in record time, we were rewarded by spectacular colors during the peak of fall foliage in Maine.
Life after the trail... for me, it's been several weeks of doing nothing, allowing overused joints and tendons to heal. I'm not sure my achilles tendons will ever be quite the same or if the numbness in the big toes will subside. It is still strange to be back in the city, to wake up in the morning and not have to hike anywhere. But I miss my trail family, and I will always treasure the very special experiences and all the struggles we shared.
I am forever grateful to all the wonderful people who helped and supported me along the way. Without the help of friends, family, and complete strangers, it would not be possible to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. My faith in mankind is restored! And thanks to all the generous donors, we were able to meet my fundraising goal to help out my cousin... A Kidney For My Cousin
I'm working on one last video upload, a compilation of my favorite clips and photos, to be posted in the next few weeks, while I figure out what the next adventure will be... Stay tuned!
Much love,
Fitty Shrimp
