My Appalachian Trail adventure

[choneofakind]

A nap. Treat yourself to a nap.

[ally99]

I treated myself to a year off work, so I have more time to play. with no money to play with, I've gotta be creative.

[ally99]

Hit below 100 miles today! After a 21 mile day, I'm down to 85!

[accumack]

AWESOME! Ally keep it going almost there! You should write a book about your adventure. I'm sure there are a few but I think yours could be unique.

[ally99]

Really? How? I'm struggling to figure out how. Not sure I have a unique angle.

[ally99]

Thank you for your encouragement, Accumack! Happy Thanksgiving!

[Jono]

Originally Posted by ally99

Really? How? I'm struggling to figure out how. Not sure I have a unique angle.

Who knows, but here is the title, Ally's Adventure: From Ninjette-rider to Thru-hiker.

[ally99]

...Who Can't Wait to Have her Ass Back on her Ninjette!

[VaFish]

Originally Posted by ally99

...Who Can't Wait to Have her Ass Back on her Ninjette!

Now you need to ride from GA to VT and back in a weekend.

[choneofakind]

**** that, go visit alex.s and the SoCal gang one weekend. That's likely easier than all the walking you've done!

[ally99]

I did it!!! Appalachian Trail complete. My legs carried me over hundreds if mountains from Maine to Georgia with all of my belongings on my back. Thank you all for being a part of my journey. It was fun sharing it with you!

[greenaero]

Congratulations!!!!! Wonderful that you were able to do this!

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by ally99

I did it!!! Appalachian Trail complete. My legs carried me over hundreds if mountains from Maine to Georgia with all of my belongings on my back. Thank you all for being a part of my journey. It was fun sharing it with you!

Gratz Ally!



Been waiting to give you that one for months and months, lol.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Go get yourself a pedi!!

[allanoue]

[NevadaWolf]

Bravo!!

[VaFish]

Congrats, and thanks for sharing your journey with us.

[ally99]

Pupper reunion! I'm home!

https://youtu.be/s1dZdBbh-fU

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by ally99

Pupper reunion! I'm home!

Link to original page on YouTube.

Very happy and protective dogs

[ally99]

Lol! Yeah. She was good to him. Just caught him hiding behind a tree.

Thank you all! As good as it is to be home, I miss the trail already. Glad I have a 2 night 30 mile hike planned this weekend!

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by ally99

I did it!!! Appalachian Trail complete. My legs carried me over hundreds if mountains from Maine to Georgia with all of my belongings on my back. Thank you all for being a part of my journey. It was fun sharing it with you!

Congratulations, Allyson !!!

Did this epic journey teach you a lot about your destination?

[accumack]

Congrats Ally we knew you could do it!

[ally99]

When you have 11 minutes, check out Clarity on the AT part 1, from WV through CT.

It's been a whirlwind since I got back home. I miss the AT already!

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e444d7a4e544d7a4d6a453d0d0a&blogview=true

[ally99]

Oops, worked earlier. I'll work on it...thanks Al!

[ally99]

I think I fixed it:

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e444d7a4e544d7a4d6a453d0d0a&blogview=true

[SLOWn60]

Originally Posted by ally99

It's been a whirlwind since I got back home. I miss the AT already!

This is understandable. It's similar to "The Stockholm Syndrome".
The best therapy to cure the condition is to pitch your tent in the backyard and wean yourself from the illusion.

You will be drawn again soon enough to the call of the wild. Meanwhile; enjoy clean sheets, sodium laden meals from other than a foil pouch, soap & hot water showers!

I believe there still remains for you; the Lewis & Clarke route, the Continental Divide (which starts in Alaska and can end at the tip of South America) so there's still plenty of adventure ahead!

As for "What more is there to write that hasn't been written before?"; it matters not: this is your adventure and storyline. Who including you is to say it will not be the most interesting, informative and passionate account ever written before?
This is banged out on my phone so please forgive any shortcomings of my prose or message!

Congratulations on your accomplishment!!!

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by ally99

When you have 11 minutes, check out Clarity on the AT part 1, from WV through CT.

It's been a whirlwind since I got back home. I miss the AT already!

Absolutely beautiful pictures!

“Not a single bird makes its first leap from a tree without faith, and not a single animal in the jungle begins its day without faith. Faith is the flame that eliminates fear, and faith is the emperor of dreams.” ― Suzy Kassem

Thank you !!!

[ally99]

Thanks Motofool.

Hey guys! I'm officially an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker! It took 6 months and 2 days (with the days off I took this week to come home for a while)! My hike concluded with my perfect little pup and my brother, ending with a summit with my little trail family. It was a 65 degree, warm and sunny day. Picture perfect ending!

[accumack]

WOOHOO! What's your next adventure?

[ally99]

To get a job I guess. whoo hoo.

I do have an idea for a pretty cool business venture though...

[accumack]

Originally Posted by ally99

To get a job I guess. whoo hoo.

I do have an idea for a pretty cool business venture though...

Don't you mean boohoo? lol

[ally99]

Hey all! Part 2 of my journey is scrapbooked with pictures and a few video clips. Check it out if you have 10 minutes! This covers the AT from Massachusetts through Vermont.

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e444d7a4f4463774e446b3d0d0a&blogview=true

[accumack]

Originally Posted by ally99

Hey all! Part 2 of my journey is scrapbooked with pictures and a few video clips. Check it out if you have 10 minutes! This covers the AT from Massachusetts through Vermont.

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e444d7a4f4463774e446b3d0d0a&blogview=true

Very cool Ally thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

[ally99]

I've enjoyed taking y'all along!

[allanoue]

Did you do a lot of the hike in flip flops

[ally99]

Lol! No. A flip flop hike is one where half is one direction and half is another. My first half was north bound, second half was southbound.

[ally99]

Part 5 of Clarity on the AT - TN, NC, GA (made my roommate cry :P )

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4...&blogview=true


2,100 mile journal entry - Final thoughts after an incredibly rich journey

Lessons of Clarity
The main purpose of my undertaking in attempting what only 790 people accomplished last year has always been in search of clarity…open-minded and eager for the trail to teach me anything and steer the lessons in any direction. The cloudy years leading up to my pilgrimage required a large dose of sunshine to burn off the fog and provide clarity, the ability to see things clearly. Upon learning the story behind my trail name, people often ask me if I have found clarity on my journey. Every single day, a resounding yes. Everyday living out of only the contents of a backpack, physically exerting oneself and pushing harder mentally than ever before, exercising mind over matter every step, spending every hour of every day for six months nomadically residing in the forest of the humbling Appalachian Mountains, breathing deliciously clean mountain air, drinking from pure mountain springs, and associating with others who all have purposes of their own…every moment is significant and brings bits of clarity if you simply take the time to notice and reflect on them. Here they are…a few of my bits of “Clarity” on the Appalachian Trail:
• Very quickly I understood pure happiness and felt a sense of home on the trail. This was a place I could be me; in whatever mood I found myself, never did I have to cover up how I was really feeling. I was accepted for exactly who I am without judgement by other wanderers on trail. With only 35 pounds of belongings, having very few luxuries, I felt happier than ever before. Finally internalizing the true difference between wants and needs is happiness. Often people buy “stuff” to give them a brief, passing feeling of something resembling happiness, however, it is the realization of just how small we are, and how insignificant lots of stuff is, and the joy of experiencing the moment within oneself that brings happiness.
• Postponing living until retirement is a flawed way of thinking. Yes, planning and saving are of high importance, but there’s a fine line between working to live and living to work. Remedy? Find a way to make money doing something that makes me feel alive! Ideas are in the works…
• Nature, in all its glory and in all its fury, is peace defined. The music in its silence and in its dancing creeks…The rhythm of nature pelting tiny ice crystals as if it’s playing darts and one’s tent is the bullseye. Or the din of wind so loud it leaves no room to hear anything else. Nature’s ever-changing moods bring stillness of mind and sharpness of thought. Stress is suspended and days of the week forgotten. Peace. Defined.
• People are still kind. For a few years, my faith in caring, benevolent souls was shaken. The piece of clarity most valuable to me, the lesson drilled into my head in each and every repeated instance, was that people are good. Random acts of kindness do still exist out there! It was refreshing to experience so many people, strangers and not, who readily stepped in to help bring a little comfort to a weary, bedraggled thru-hiker, for no other purpose than to make someone’s day.
• It is not possible to move forward if continuously gazing in the rearview mirror. A painful crash is inevitable if one looks back for too long. It is also possible to look too far ahead and lose sight of right now. As I set out on my journey on June 5, my brother’s final words to me were, “One step at a time, Ally. Just take it one step at a time.” This exact moment, this current step, are all we have and the only things that ever really matter.
• It’s not always about getting there fast. Experiences and moments more easily become lasting memories when savored. Quality over quantity.
• A sunrise or sunset is always worth it. “It”, here, is defined as absolutely anything.
• I may not be able to move mountains out of my way, no matter how badly I might want to. But I have learned that I can absolutely move myself across them. Don’t fight the mountains, work through them. Learn their lessons.
• When we really exercise mind over matter, humans are capable of much more than we realize.

There are myriad other moments of revelation that happen in six months walking over thousands of miles of mountains. Did I find what I was looking for? Yes, but I may need another trail or two to find all of it. I’m not done yet…

[accumack]

I understand a lot of where you are coming from. In 2011 we lost everything in a wildfire in Bastrop Texas. It was really cleansing to find what was really important and needed. We were fortunate in that we had saved to retire early and did so after the fire. We looked at as an opportunity and not as a disaster as many people did. We moved on with life and are enjoying each day as it comes as no one is guaranteed the next one and are happy each and every day. I'm glad you shared this chapter of life journey with us. It is easy to get caught up in the rat race and is amazing when you slow down to enjoy life.

[ally99]

Hey guys! Guess what? The Beer Advocate magazine has shown interest in possible 1200 word article about beer on the AT.

Trying to decide what kind of spin to put on it. Thinking of trying to sum up all beer experiences on the AT from trail magic to breweries, to trail town pubs and even hobo drinking when none of the above is available. I want to try to write a humorous yet factual piece. Pretty psyched, but not going to stress. If I play with words and make something happen, cool! If not, that's ok too. This will be a first for me...writing for a wide audience feels different than writing for myself and then sharing with people.

[csmith12]

Ally,

Focus on the trail first, throw in a few cool brews and local stops along the way that had great bear.

The peak of the article will be if you took one unopened to go and enjoyed it at a destination with a view or profound meaning to you. Write with heart first, feeling second and attention to the small details without being too wordy and it will be a great article. After doing much writing, it's the little flaws that make it REAL and THAT is what connects to the readers.

Since your soul searching, why not make a blog?... call it "Beer in the Wild" or something of the sorts. Get paid to review beers while enjoying your journeys. Find a niche and be an expert in that area.

Good luck, best wishes and happy holidays.