Appalachian Trail
August 2019
My first backpacking trip was a three-day, 30-mile trek to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, on which I was the youngest participant. Little did I know I was setting myself up for a lifetime of hiking.
My mom and I spent most of July 2019 preparing to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail. After too many trips to the outdoor gear store, too many days packing 50 pounds of food into boxes to be sent to pickup spots along the way, and too many attempts to find transportation to Virginia that took less than four days and cost less than $800, we arrived at the trailhead ready to begin our epic mother-daughter adventure.
The trail tested us. Could we hike for six to ten hours a day in good spirits and protect ourselves from bears? We could, and it made us physically and mentally stronger.
What I did to prepare
I worked out every morning for two months before the trip. I would either run or do a exercise circuit at home. Along with that, my job as a lifeguard also included a daily workout.
What I’ll do differently next time
I’ll pack different food. I knew I’d be burning a lot of calories every day and I’d need to keep refueling, but I didn’t realize just how much food I’d need. Because I wasn’t getting enough nutrition, my energy level was low and there were many times when I really struggled to keep a good attitude. I either went silent or got mean. I now know that I need a constant stream of calorie and protein-rich food going to my mouth.
What I learned
I can do whatever I set my mind to. There were times when my feet hurt badly. There were 6 am mornings when all I wanted was to sleep for another four hours. There were days when another 100 miles seemed like forever. But when I make the decision to do something, I do it. And I did it.