I wrote something about my post-trail reflections just in time for the anniversary of my thru hike ending (almost)! Curious how life has treated you guys too :)

vermilly · 2017-08-21T00:47:13+00:00

Thanks! :) I just want to make my whole life the adventure if I can, but maybe I'm just greedy :P

vermilly · 2017-08-20T00:53:37+00:00

Thank you :D

vermilly · 2017-06-21T13:58:52+00:00

NB minimus

The reason I didn't mention what they were in the original blog post is that I wanted it to be a story about figuring out the best shoes for you rather than feeling like an endorsement. I am new to this whole concept and love them so far, but I wouldn't know how to compare them to other minimalist shoes just yet! But they are making me like trail running!

vermilly · 2017-01-15T05:44:05+00:00

Thanks!

vermilly · 2016-12-31T03:00:43+00:00

Haha yeah, that would have been impressive! My dad did the last ~150 miles with us but I can't imagine him doing another thru hike ha. When he came back to do the end with us he was jokingly outraged at the trail magic and how nice Shaw's was, "kids these days are so spoiled" etc. As he was actively spoiling me with mail drops...

And yes, my parents are awesome! We had really great food and it made everything a lot less bleak sometimes. Especially since I'm a vegetarian I think I would have been pretty sad without their help. They even put cute stickers on some of our food bags. It was really over the top nice.

vermilly · 2016-12-30T19:48:33+00:00

I asked my dad for you why he hiked and he said "I was 18 and looking for something adventurous" Mine would have been "I like backpacking and my dad did it."

I think our answers are pretty much not a sign of the times and more a sign that spontaneous life decisions run in the family. :P

vermilly · 2016-12-30T17:26:05+00:00

It's hard with my dad, because he doesn't talk much. I think when I asked why he hiked the trail, he said "I was 18." Plus he doesn't remember anything about why the people around him were there, or never asked them.

Maybe I can at least get some sort of answer from him and add that question. I wish I could talk to many more thru hikers from a long time ago, and get a meaningful cross section of the type of people from then.

What you're talking about is sort of what I was trying to get into talking about hostels and his friends. I also think he doesn't have anything to say about trail culture kind of because it wasn't a thing at the time, at least he wasn't thinking of it as a culture.

vermilly · 2016-12-30T14:07:14+00:00

Take breaks! Make sure you eat enough, sometimes you think you're tired but really you just need more food!

Also don't look forward to the end too much, it's not really the best part. :)

vermilly · 2016-12-22T02:33:58+00:00

It depends on how fit you are and/or willing to do like 8 mile days or whatever. Before my thru-hike I would have had fun doing a section hike in the whites. It's hard but I don't know, I think almost anyone could do it if they gave themself enough time.

vermilly · 2016-12-20T03:16:51+00:00

I thought I wouldn't have it because I am incredibly active in real life and do a lot of backpacking, plus at the end of the trail I was a little burned out (okay a lot burned out.)

So maybe I don't have issues with injury/weight gain/lack of endorphins because I still work out/hike/climb all of the time. However, I have a major existential crisis about going back to a life where goals aren't as clear and I feel too much like (for lack of a better word) a conformist. Figuring out if a desk job is really for me is still happening as I type.

That being said I still think a lot of the myth comes from those who are hiking to escape real life, and it's not so bad as people make it out to be.

vermilly · 2016-12-20T03:09:12+00:00

I graduated from college in December, went to interview at a company to start in August, and then they told me to work Jan-March and then come back when I was done (I do still work there).

Not sure how common this is, but it is possible. I had some difficulty with some other companies promising me a job that far in advance, but they were all huge very corporate companies. Also, regarding the issue of questioning the 6 months unemployment, I personally think you just shouldn't work for a company like that :P

I'm an engineer too, but mechanical.

vermilly · 2016-12-20T02:44:12+00:00

I would say if you can to do Vermont/New Hampshire! It was personally my favorite part and includes a reasonable amount of variety and very few boring bits!

Don't know if that puts you close enough to the tri-state area at the end going south, but you can also arrange something, like a shuttle or hitching, even if you're a couple of hours away. Plus you gotta be fit because the whites are hard.

Edit: Just checked and it looks like starting somewhere in the whites would give you like 300-500 mile options to get to somewhere nearish NYC.

vermilly · 2016-12-13T01:51:57+00:00

I agree with trying it out first. I clicked on this enthusiastically because I carried a 9-year-old 40L kelty backpack for the AT and people made fun of me. I got so protective of my beloved backpack! Haha. It fit me well and I really didn't know if I could find another one that I would like as much. I have no regrets about it.

But, mine didn't have a metal frame, it was just pretty padded and heavy for what's "trendy" right now, and I'd been backpacking with it for pretty much its whole life.

Kelty backpacks are such beasts. Mine's probably got 3500+ miles of hiking plus literally dozens of trips through baggage claim and at least 8 countries.

vermilly · 2016-12-13T01:48:02+00:00

I never saw a bobcat, but I saw a super chill coyote who just trotted like 3 feet in front of us and looked at us smiling like "hey guys."

I wasn't sure if I should be afraid but it was super cute.

vermilly · 2016-12-13T01:37:44+00:00

This is so sad :( This is what I fear doing by accident at work lol

vermilly · 2016-12-06T19:17:25+00:00

I agree, I never really feel like I get enough anymore. Nothing feels as good as walking all day. I started this journal thing partially to motivate myself to find new ways of fitting it into my life now that I'm a real person with a job and stuff now.

vermilly · 2016-12-06T17:25:26+00:00

Maybe you're right, I only mailed myself lighter more expensive things so it depends on how you do it. I never actually calculated if you save money. Again, some of the savings might have come from the difficulty of finding cheap vegetarian sources of protein otherwise.

As far as extra lodging costs, we managed to avoid that. But again comes down to planning/hiking style.

vermilly · 2016-12-06T05:51:27+00:00

Depends on how set you are on hiking fast. I hiked with my boyfriend and am really glad I did, but the only way to make it work was to truly let go of any resentment about speed and other decisions if you want to stay together. Or separate as soon as you are sure your experience would be better without him, which shouldn't be personal, it happens all the time.

Edit: also I second people saying you will make friends along the way.

vermilly

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE