Goal of the AT

Earl Shaffer: tried to forget the war, walked it all the way!

The Appalachian Trail is a place where people come to escape, learn and connect to God. Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a spiritual experience, but also a challenging experience. It requires determination and faith in order to make it through to the end. It has so many challenges. Between bugs, hard rain, exhaustion and blisters, it is quite the journey.  Mental preparedness is key to making it through the Appalachian Trail. Hiking the AT is a very relational activity. According to one journal entry we read in class, the hiker said, his family grows bigger every year that he hikes. By this he means that love and fellowship increase on the Appalachian Trail. There are registers every 10 miles or so inside shelters. In these registers, the pilgrims can write what is happening along their journey. The trail also requires lots of patience. Every once in awhile someone you are hiking with will carry your pack. This allows you to regain strength both physically and mentally.

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