Wednesday, November 5, 2008




It is quite a task to summarize our experience for the last five months of our lives. It was definently the hardest thing we have ever done physically and emotionally: from bouldering over slippery rocks in Maine, to a record wettest July in Vermont, to drought through PA, NY and VA, to an unexpected snow in NC. These plus grimy living conditions were only a few of the obstacles we faced. The trail definitely gave us more than we bargained for, and we quickly learned along our trip to seperate our A.T. "experience" from hiking. This trip was also one of the most rewarding undertakings of our lives. To climb to the top of a mountain for a breathtaking view using our own physical strength was more than rewarding. Eat your heart out Bill Bryson, you lazy bum. We won't soon take modern conveniences for granted. We were also very fortunate to keep good health along the entitrety of the trip. We are walking away from this experience with a better understanding of each other and memories that only Andrew and I can understand. So many people helped us along the way, especially our family and friends. There are simply too many people to thank over this blog. Thank you to all of you who found a way to encourage us along the trip. The trail community/environment introduced us to some of the most generous and hospitable people either one of us has ever met.
Our next endevour is to find a place to live and jobs in our fair city of Chattanooga.


Family and friends paraded up Springer Mountain behind us for our last mile.

We checked the log book to see when fellow hikers finished and to leave our final thoughts of the trail.


On November 1, 2008 at 11:30 A.M. we completed the roughly 2,178 miles of the Appalachian Trail.


Hooray, we finished the trail!!