Ten Year Anniversary

Today marks the ten year anniversary of the start of my Appalachian Trail thru-hike. In honor of this momentous occasion I went for a day hike in Split Rock Lighthouse State Park which I described in my previous blog post. The most shocking part of this anniversary however, has been the similarity in the weather I experienced today in northern Minnesota and 10 years ago in Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia. Both days were very warm with overcast skies.

Ten years after the big hike I often contemplate back on it and wish I could go back again. I don't think that I ever will though. I just miss the feeling of utter feeling that I experienced while hiking every day. While I know that I do not have the time and money to go on such a long hike at this point in my life I have made the decision to go on a mini long distance hike on the Superior Hiking Trail.

My plan is to hike the 200+ miles of the trail from the Canadian border to the section of trail that ends outside of Two Harbors. I've already hiked the "Duluth section" of the trail, and the trail is not yet completed between Duluth and Two Harbors. In effect, when finished with my trip I will have walked every section of trail that is at that time completed and open to the public.

The tentative start date for my hike is May 2nd. I hope that the early start will let me avoid the worst of the mosquitoes and other biting insects. This start date also allows me to finish in time to start my new seasonal job at Gooseberry Falls State Park. In addition, I plan on keeping a journal of my hike online at Trailjournals.com.