A return to the north: the walk

That’s the universal reaction I get when I tell my friends and family that I’m taking six months off to hike the Appalachian Trail. I usually have to assure them that I have not suffered a recent brain injury and that I am not currently hallucinating. All joking aside, it’s been great to explain my «why.» While I have spent countless hours preparing for this trip, that “why” has changed (or perhaps just become clearer) as my departure date approaches.

Before explaining the title of this post, let me introduce myself.

Hello, I’m Adam. I’m a dad to two amazing teenagers, a partner to the most amazing woman I’ve ever met (Hi Tracey!), and a dog dad to two furry friends. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, I own a residential mortgage brokerage firm and a construction company. I am 51 years old.

Hey…how about you walk home to Maine too?

I was born in Bangor, Maine. For those in the know, that means I’m a Northern Mainer through and through. When I was a child, my father died of a sudden heart attack. Life circumstances moved my family from upstate Maine to central New Jersey, and college eventually brought me to Charlotte. I bounced between Washington DC and North Carolina before settling into my second season here in the Tarheel State.

For most of my life, I have been naturally drawn to nature. Whether camping, hiking, fishing, or kayaking, I have always found a specific type of calm outdoors. As I crossed the 50-year mark, I began to reflect on my life, my relationships, and my work. While all of these things are blessings, a part of me still felt empty. When I close my eyes, I can still hear the grebes calling over the lake where my grandfather lived. I finally realized what I needed: I needed to come home.

Memories

I often wonder if my memories of “home” are just fragments in my mind, cobbled together from the drama and pain of my father’s death. I’m curious if the loons are really as beautiful as I remember them. Only time will tell. I’m incredibly grateful to finally have the time to figure it out.

photo courtesy of “20120914 13 MB. I fell apart» by Davidifolson1949 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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