coming to an end

It's funny, when faced with the end of a journey, how you suddenly truly understand the magnitude of how significant that journey has turned out to be. I'm sitting just shy of 2 weeks from having to get off the trail, and I feel like my eyes are more open than they have been the last 15 weeks. As odd as it sounds, it's quite a gift to see so clearly the truly life changing path I've been able to be a part of.

I'm in Vermont now. Absolutely beautiful. And absolutely muddy. So muddy it's dubbed "Vermud." It has quite possibly been my favorite state so far though. Views are good. We're getting back into real mountains. The people in towns are super friendly. It definitely makes me think the Long Trail will be my next distance hike I attempt. I certainly have plans for more adventures after this :)

We'll be in New Hampshire in just a few days, and then into the White Mountains. One of the toughest parts of the trail. It's a little nerve wracking, such beasts of mountains, but at the same time, I'm not scared or worried. One thing this trail has taught me - one foot in front of the other - and you can get to the top of the mountain. And then to the bottom of the mountain. Which obviously goes for anything in life.

I'm running out of things to talk about, and there will likely be no more updates other than photos. The trail is beautiful, often so beautiful and amazing I cannot even put it into words, and I encourage every single person to hike some section of the trail - any trail. A day, a weekend, a week, whatever you're capable of. When I was at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harper's Ferry, WV, there was a quote from Benton MacKaye about his vision for the Appalachian Trail, and its purpose:

"To walk. To see. And to see what you see."

And that about sums it all up.

Happy Trails.