Thus marks the northern terminus of an extended stroll through the wilderness.
I thought I would feel more. No real sense of accomplishment or even finality; no grievance, no relief...I honestly feel sedated, numb, and the calm euphoria that accompanies carelessness.
I cannot account for this, nor do I even have any real theories about it. Maybe the magnitude of completing something so huge has not yet sunk in? Maybe I am mistaken that this event is indeed one of magnitude? Maybe it is all about the journey, not the destination (though that sounds like such a cop-out...)?
What I do feel: I do miss the woods, but I do love clothes, food, etc. I am overjoyed that the Sox are doing so well. I feel changed in some way, though I cannot put my finger on it...the best way to describe it is that I feel quieter. More like a reed than the wind.
I think that adventures such as thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail are perhaps no different than the walk through a day in the life--we are all people, living in this reality that we can't be positive even exists, so why differentiate one journey from another? Yes, I am in love with the trail. Yes, it was an incredibly important experience for me to have. I do not mean to minimize its impact. But in a sense, all experiences can be treated thus.
And so, I'll just say again that thru-hiking the AT is but a section-hike on the thru-hike of life, and the trail ALWAYS provides.
