Sarah Goldsmith- Environmental Interaction on the AT

I spent my Halloween in the Three Ridges Wilderness along the Appalachian Trail. This was the second time I had been backpacking and the first time I had been camping. I quickly realized why people can backpack long distances like the PCT or the AT. While hiking to Maupin Field, I could feel my heart pumping and my muscles working to keep myself moving forward. I pushed myself to climb the mountain and then was rewarded with a decent equally challenging, but different muscles were strained. While the first day I was still learning to really carry the weight of my pack, I was able to enjoy the hike.


When I was leaving the next morning, the rain that had rolled in during the night was beginning to lift. I set on my way back the way I came. I reached the top of the mountain and my heart stopped. The rain was gone and there were only clouds hanging in the valleys. As I walked along the ridge admiring the view on either side of me, my attention was drawn to the rocky terrain beneath my boots. I could understand the call of the trail: the desire to commune with nature, the communitas with others, and the separation from the village. All of these things combined with the physical challenge of the trail is what makes me think that one day I will be able to go on a thru hike.

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