Coming Home


When I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail, my motivation was to spend six months on a personal journey in the woods removed from the distractions of “normal” living to help me connect with myself and find direction for the last third of my life. Hiking through the Smoky Mountains last week, I realized that I had already succeeded. So I came home yesterday.
I learned a lot over the 800 miles I walked. I’m ready to start this next chapter of my life. I’ll probably write another post later with some details about the deeper learning that I experienced on the trail. But for now, here is the simple explanation for my decision to come home: There are other things I want to do.

Over the last week as I walked through the majestic mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee in the best weather of my entire trek, I was absorbed in the exquisite beauty of the trail. It was as good as any wilderness experience can be. I was no longer thinking about me. I was in the moment. Yet as the days went on, I found myself thinking more and more about other things I’d rather be doing. I composed this list in my mind as I walked:

Things I’d rather be doing:

Fly fishing

Listening to loud music on my basement stereo

Having breakfast with close friends

Going to live concerts at Levitt and Steel Stacks

Writing my novel

Having lunch with close friends

Finishing my camper van and using it

Kayaking the Lehigh and Delaware rivers

Having a beer with close friends

Playing poker

Walking my dog

Seeing a baseball game at PNC or Coca Cola Park

Training to run the Via half marathon

Bass fishing

Having dinner with close friends

Taking a class in the Fab Lab

Going on short trips with Alison to the beach or the mountains

Sitting on my back porch drinking beer and eating cheese crackers



These are the little pleasures of life that I gave up so I could walk in the woods. It was a fair price to pay for ten weeks and 800 miles - especially since I think I found what I was looking for. But each of them has escalated in value with each day on the trail and I’m ready to cash in on those treasures.



The trail will still be there whenever I decide to go back.  





Sunrise from the shelter


This is why they're called the Smokies

View of Fontana Lake from fire tower



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