I Am Returning – The Trek

I am happy to report that I am planning to finish the Appalachian Trail this year. Recall that my hike was halted in Damascus VA last fall by Tropical Storm Helene. Those of us staying in the Broken Fiddle Hostel watched in horror as the town was flooded accompanied by landslides and innumerable downed trees. One look at the surrounding forest convinced Titan and I that we should abandon or postpone our planned hike to Springer. The southern Appalachians were devastated by the storm and sadly, many lives were lost. The AT seemed to be hardest hit in Tennessee. But amazingly, most of the trail has now reopened in time for NOBO season thanks to the dedicated efforts of volunteers supplemented by paid crews.

Although I can claim to have completed a thru-hike because of the storm devastation, I still want to experience the remaining 471 miles I have yet to hike. So, my plan is to complete the hike in 2025 in two sections: (1) beginning in late April at Springer Mtn, hiking north for about 3 weeks, and (2) starting wherever I finish in the spring by completing the hike to Damascus in Sept. Finishing in Damascus seems appropriate, and I’d like to witness first-hand how the town has recovered from the storm. Physically, I have largely recovered from my hike last year. But it’s surprising how long some of the effects have lasted. My gnarled and purple toenails are looking better though they are not back to exactly how they appeared before my hike. The numb spots on the bottoms of my feet have slowly faded. My left knee recovered quickly, but the tendinitis in my right knee lingers to a slight extent. But I believe I can manage this situation. I’m really looking forward to experiencing the mountains of Georgia, the Smokies, and the Roan Highlands. I will plan to make some occasional blog posts as I hike. I chose a late April start date because I would like to avoid the big NOBO bubble that largely departs from early March through mid-April. I am really looking forward to experiencing the mountains of Georgia, the Smokies, and Roan Highlands.

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