How do I get home from here?

«The hikers are surely a special type of people. We adapt to the daily effort, we become hiking machines and if we tell other people, they consider us strange (a certain level of madness is necessary to make a walk).» – Rocket Man (’25 class in – Novo)

On August 11, 2025, I officially became an hiker when I accumulated Mount Katahdin, 150 days after leaving the amicallala cataracts in Georgia. He is quite wild when I think about it, since I am only 51 years old, of corporate America, who loves the open air, the backpack and the AT. This trip has been surreal, and I am still processing my experience, but these are some of my immediate thoughts.

My tramily

I never walked with a plot, but when I reflect my trip, for me, my tramilia was ‘PBr’ and ‘Kenai’, not because I walked the path with them in the traditional sense, but because I met them both the first day, I remained in constant contact, and my relationship with each one grew up in the course of the road. PBR is the hiker who walked/camped more, approximately 800 miles, all before the New Jersey state. Some nights were only we two, and dinner conversations were genuine and honest, not only on the path, but life. It was a lot of fun, I learned a lot and it is no accident that my favorite days along the way were south of the Delaware water gap. There was a brief moment in which I thought our paths would cross again in Maine, and I had Summing visions together, but hurting my ankle forced me to leave the road, quickly ending that potential. Everything happens for a reason, and it was probably the best, since I could never have maintained PBR’s rhythm in the difficult land of southern Maine.

PBR in Spy Rock (VA)

I literally walked through the arch with Kenai, and although we did not have long amounts of miles together, we connected to various points in multiple states, including GA, NC, TN, VA, NY and, more recently, the north of VT with NH. One of my best days on the road was to enter NH with Kenai. There is no better feeling than navigating until the day of a town, and on July 4 in Hanover had all the characteristics of a perfect day: good weather, delicious breakfast, showers, beers, hamburgers, beds and, of course, the camaraderie of the hikers, with more than 1,750 miles under our belts and visions of Katahdin in sight, laughter and the stories were plants.

PBR and Kenai are strong and fast hikers, capable of crushing miles. Honestly, I never thought that I would see any of them after the first week on the road, and in reality I said goodbye to Kenai in Gooch Gap on day 3. When my way crossed with them, each often decreased the speed to walk a couple of miles with me. I always realized. And I always appreciated this. I am better for my time along with each of them and I hope to follow their future successes both on and off the road.

GOCH GAP – Day 3

What I learned

Who am I?

I learned a lot here, about hiking, backpack, people and cities, and of course, about me. Many hikers are in a transition period, GAP years, retirees or trying to meet, discovering what follows. I was in a different position, taking a sabbatical year of work and life to reflect. What I learned from myself is that although I am not perfect, I like it. I like who I am and the people around me, my family, friends, my work. I feel blessed and I am grateful.

I can do anything

This has been the most difficult and challenging I have done. Physics, mentally, emotionally. It is easy to understand why hikers do not succeed. It is a marathon with steroids. When you hit the wall, you don’t have 8 miles left, you have 8 weeks! There are many valuable skills that can easily apply to anything that has the future. Perseverance, planning and adaptation are useful skills, even if you are not walking.

Saddleback MTN (I)

Goodness is the king

The culture of the path is special. People are friendly and care and want to help you. Complete strangers let you enter their homes, feed and pick you to take you to places. It is completely different from working in New York, where we are literally taught to cross people. It always seemed strange that my desire to walk from Georgia to Maine, while so trivial in the great scheme of life and the world, it was so important to others that they would take some time from their lives to help us, support and support us. The experience in the last five months has given me confidence in humanity again.

Meat Magic Trail Dhoke (21 in student) – Maine

Simple = happy

They are the little things that took me so much joy on the road; Food, beds, bathrooms, showers, chairs. I hope to remember how happy I was entering Dalton, ma: 6:45 am3 miles and walk in 90 degrees of heat. Entering the convenience store of the service station was like Disney World: A/C, drinks and ice cream! Taking my purchases outside, without any place to sit, you simply feel on the floor and start consuming breakfast for breakfast. I was so happy and I couldn’t care less what someone thought of me.

A town is needed

Arriving from Georgia to Maine requires a lot of support and help both on and off the road. Each blog would thank those who helped me on the way: the Trail Angels with whom I crossed. They are special people, always making a difference in my day. But the support received from my family and friends, as well as strangers who read this blog, has been incredible. Breath notes always seem to arrive at the exact necessary moment, thank you all for thinking about me. I would also like to thank God for keeping me safe and giving me strength to make good decisions along the way. Finally, I would like to thank my employer who supported me with the concession of a sabbatical. There are many reasons why achieving a successful walk is difficult, but the available time is crucial.

Visit my family when I went to NJ on Father’s Day (June)

What follows?

I am not a life hiker. I just pretended to be one on the way for 150 days, but I completely enjoyed my walk shiting, Camping and Mackpacking, but I don’t feel like walking the PCT, CDT or anything similar again. I would love to make smaller trips: two, three or seven days, but there is no long path in my future. I will miss the legs of my path and the hunger of hikers that accompanies him. I will surely miss the arrogance of walking towards a city, the kindness of all people and, of course, I will miss my fellow hikers and the accompanying camaraderie. Nothing can overcome that. I love the community and seek to give back through Trail Magic next year and the coming years. But I will not miss exhaustion, socks and wet shoes, or injuries. My body needs to rest, heal and recover, and I hope you forgive me.