I don't really have a specific answer to this. I have had a love for the outdoors since I was very young and have fond memories of camping and hiking with my parents. Those early experiences taught me there was a lot to learn in the outdoors both about nature and the nature of myself. While I have never been an extreme athlete I think there is one tucked away somewhere inside. The AT to me is a challenge that will test me both physically and mentally. This might be the best answer; it is a way to find out if I have the fortitude to push myself beyond my comfort zone and succeed despite hardship.
Any given section of the AT is not all that difficult technically. This is not extreme mountaineering of any sort. It is only when you take in the scale of a long distance hike that you start to appreciate the difficulties, most of which are mental. Convincing myself to walk 15-20 miles a day for 150 days, endless days of rain, sore joints, sleeping in a test or on hard shelter floor, the daily grind of pushing up yet another nameless hill just to see another one. These are all part of a daily grind that might be exiting on a weekend hike, but become pure drudgery when done months on end.
All of the things that make an AT thru-hike difficult are also what will make it special in the end, the hardships do have a payoff. Seeing the Appalachian range in a way that only a few can appreciate, incredible views, the community of other thru-hikers, having breakfast lunch and dinner in a different place every day and the extreme sense of accomplishment at the end are all things I hope to take away from this. Personally, my day on a daily basis seems to be getting longer and longer, there is never enough time in the day and I often find myself working late into the night even after I am home. I look forward to waking up at dawn and putting in a good days work (hiking) and going to sleep when the sun goes down. This seems pretty simple but its a rhythm that I have lost in an urban setting.
Oh! the other reason to hike the AT is that I need to lose weight! I expect the AT to be a great weight loss plan. Just about all long distance hikers fight the calorie battle. There is just no way to take in enough calories to balance what you have burned on a daily basis. For a lightweight this is a detriment, for me it is an opportunity. If I can make it through the first few weeks while my legs get used to the terrain and my body gets into fat burning mode, I feel I will have no problem completing the hike. If I can get over this hurdle every pound I loose will make me a stronger and more efficient.
So these and many more reasons are why I am attempting an AT thru-hike. Wish me luck!
-Scott
Courtesy HikingBoots.com
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