Hike Memory Lane to Annapolis Rock

On the trail, hikers often ask why they chose to hike and when they decided to do it. I don’t remember when I first heard about the Appalachian Trail or when I was first inspired to do the hike, but it has been a dream of mine for many years.

Move to Baltimore

After leaving the Peace Corps in 2016, I moved to Baltimore for a volunteer management job I had lined up. I got a car that summer and another job when my first contract ended. At that point, I was already drawn to the Appalachians and was thinking about how I could hike them. I also had no career, no plan, and about $300 in my bank account, so a raise was out of the question.

I did it anyway, just on day trips every few weeks. I put my little dog, Tuna, in the passenger seat, turned on the radio, and drove for an hour to the closest AT trailhead I knew of.

I walked to Annapolis Rock many times during the four and a half years I lived in Baltimore. I hiked south to the Washington Monument at least once, but more often I was drawn to the rocky outcrop and views to the north. The little dog and I travel that path over and over again.

Gratitude for my 25 year old self

This year on my hike, I was really excited to enter Maryland and hike its 40 or so miles, because for me, this is where the great dream of hiking was nurtured, even if its true birthplace remains unknown.

As I walked down the road over a bridge surrounded by fences, I thought of myself ten years younger, making the best of my situation and enjoying nature and the trail as much as I could.

I was a different person then. A little lost, a little complicated and a little emotionally intense. I, then, was taking my first steps in a career that, now, I have just finished. I was dating guys who said they didn’t want to be my boyfriend. I was constantly changing apartments. My dad was still alive!

As I took the familiar path, I thanked my past self for all the growth, trying, and learning I had accomplished.

Solid steps towards the future

My hike along that trail I had walked so many times was light and easy, although a little steep. I think he was even smiling. I didn’t remember all the details of the terrain, but I definitely recognized some.

Tuna and I also walked together in Shenandoah, although the memories there are not as strong for me. I do have a photo of her with the AT logo from 2019 though!

I now have confidence in who I am, my career, my partner and my ability to discover the future. This walk is expanding my comfort zone, teaching me about physical and emotional resilience, and making me an even stronger person.

I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on the past as I move toward the future, trying to enjoy each fleeting day in the beautiful mountains in the meantime.

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