Last Post

Final pictures up: www.flickr.com/photos/theashface

Decided to do one last post, now that I am officially back in Philadelphia.

I finished my trip Saturday, 7 August on top of Mt. Washington. What an amazing end to my journey! HUGE thanks to my Aunt and Uncle who drove up to the top of Washington to pick me up. I spent a few days with my aunt and uncle and cousin, flew to Virginia to spend a couple days with my immediate family, and then drove back to Philadelphia.

Being back has been the most trying part of my journey, adjusting back to civilization. And most days I just think "I wish I were still in the woods." Life out there is simple and uncomlicated, and I believe that's how life is supposed to be. That's not to say I want to live the rest of my life in the middle of wilderness, surrounded by nothing but trees and animals, and live off the land. It just means that I'm in the middle of translating my life on the trail to my life off the trail.


So what did this adventure do for me? It has slowed me down, mellowed me out. It has given me back more patience than I knew I could have. It has caused me to realize that what we want, and what we need, are truly different, and has helped me to see the difference more clearly in my own life. I am in a process of paring down my life to surround myself with what makes me truly happy. The rest is just clutter, and I'm removing it from my life, bit by bit.

All in all, this summer was one of the most important things I've ever done for myself, and could not have been more perfectly timed in my life. It has opened up a whole world of possibility. I can truly do anything if I just put my mind to it. I plan to finish the trail as soon as I'm able, and look forward to more adventures on the horizon. Big thanks again to my family and friends that supported me.