Fulfilling a Dream: Hiking the Appalachian Trail

I first climbed Katahdin when I was eight years old, with my dad and two older brothers. Despite the massive blisters I got on my feet and my constant complaining that I think any normal eight-year-old would make toward their dad if they were hiking a mountain like Katahdin, we managed to make it to the top.

I distinctly remember seeing a handful of hikers wearing these massive packs, and they were celebrating by jumping up and down, crying, hugging, etc. I asked my dad, “Why are they celebrating?”

That was my first time learning about the Appalachian Trail (AT), and ever since then it has been a dream of mine to one day complete it. I’m hiking the trail to not only fulfill a childhood dream, but also to get out and simply experience as much as I can. There is so much more to the trail than just hiking. You get to see vibrant communities and meet numerous people from all walks of life. Not only that, but being able to show other hikers my home state of Maine (in a way that differs from the average tourist) is something that I love. If anything, the trail has reminded me of why I’m proud to call myself Mainer.

Below are some photos from my hike thus far. Because I got a late start this summer, I did the first half of the AT from Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia to the summit of Katahdin and head out today to do the other half: Stone Mountain, Georgia to Harper’s Ferry. You can follow my journey at edogg_710 on Instagram. And thanks to the Natural Resources Council of Maine for sharing parts on my journey on their social media platforms.

—by Ethan Thombs of Monmouth, Maine (Trail name: Hermes)

Here I am just before leaving for the trail, surrounded by all the gear I would be taking with me.

Here I am earlier in my hike before I arrived in Maine. I have lost those sunglasses on the trail somewhere…so if anyone finds them…let me know! LOL

I took a break here in the middle of hiking the Presidential Traverse through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, a 23-mile hike.

Maine-NH border sign for Appalachian Trail

Here I am at the New Hampshire-Maine border. So excited to be back in my home state!

This marked my 1,000th mile hiked. It reads “Flip Flop” because I am a trail Flip-flopper. I did one half of the trail and then will go back and do the other half of the trail starting today.

Here is the sign to welcome hikers like me to the 100-mile wilderness, which some consider the most challenging section of the AT. It is maintained by the Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC on the sign).