The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How I Hiked The Appalachian Trail

I am sure there are many questions as to why someone would want to walk 2100 plus miles thru 13 states for a period lasting 4-5 months. This thought to some is quite insane, for others, they know because they have been there. I thought the best way to answer some of those questions was to use the who, what, when, where, why and how that law enforcement use for investigations.

THE WHO – My trail name is KrispyKritter. A trail name is a nickname that people call themselves or earn while hiking, by which they are known to other hikers. I got the nickname in the early 1980′s during a former life as a firefighter, when I was a member of a group who camped and paddled Fisheating Creek in Florida. One night, while sitting on the banks of the creek around a campfire, someone asked what I did for a living. After my brief description someone stood up and announced to the group, “All those in favor calling Wayne from now on KrispyKritter say I” It was then I was baptized “KrispyKritter”.

THE WHAT- The Appalachian Trail began in 1921 by Benton MacKaye. Mr. MacKaye, a Massachusetts citizen, “who wrote a proposal to preserve the Appalachian crests as an accessible, multipurpose wilderness belt as a retreat from Eastern urban life”. By 1937 the AT was a continuous footpath from Georgia to Maine. In 1968 the United States government passed the National Trails System Act to protect the corridor of trails from environmental destruction and mankind’s greed. The AT was given the distinction of being designated the first of 8 national scenic trails. Today, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (or, the AT to hikers) is a footpath that extends continuously for 2179 miles, through 13 states. The AT is part of the National Park System and is maintained by 31 affiliated clubs of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy(ATC).

THE WHEN – Beginning in the Spring  months of March, April and May most hikers starts in Georgia and end  in Maine (known as NOBO – Northbound hiker) or, a small number will start in the summer months of  June and July in Maine and walk south to Georgia (known as SOBO – good guess, southbound hiker) in one continuous walk during the same 365 day period.

THE WHERE –   I chose hiking north for both thru-hikes starting at the southern terminus at Springer Mountain (the first hike I started at Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia on the Approach Trail). I wanted the thrill of hiking the mountains of the northeast and having the epic feeling of climbing Mt. Katahdin,  Baxter State Park, Maine as my final feat. Sobo’s do this the first few weeks of their hike and finish their hike on a less dramatic ending on Springer Mountain.

HOW- I carried a 25-30 pound backpack that  supplied me with the basic needs of survival: shelter, water and food. For the next 5-6 months I replenished my supplies by periodically re-entering the civilized world. The trail is marked by a white blaze to let the hiker know they are on the Appalachian Trail.

THE WHY – Ever since I was a teenager I have had a love for the outdoors. Each year during my youth, weekend family camping trips were taken with the big camping trip planned for the summer. This trip Involved 3 to 4 weeks on the road, visiting states between Florida and the backbone of the United States, the Rocky Mountains. The oldest of five children, my parental units (today, one must be politically correct) would inspire each of us to love and respect nature, as well as one another.

I had already hiked the trail once. Why again, you ask? I have two answers. My first answer comes from a quote:

“When you have to rely on yourself to survive, you find that inner strength we all have so much difficulty finding in our daily lives. Once you’ve discovered it, you get such a sense of satisfaction, such a sense of being alive.

We all want to take time off to think, to concentrate on that one thing we really want to resolve in our life. But that time is very difficult to take in the modern world. There’s always someone around you, always something to do, always a phone ringing. Now imagine all that is taken away. All of a sudden you find yourself with so much time that you say, the only thing that I can really do today is look at myself. That is the freedom that we’re all looking for that we can never find. Being alone gives you the freedom of choice, the freedom of thought, a moment to have bold ideas.

I’m not doing what I do for the risk or to die. I’m doing it to live.”

Mike Horn – Taken from Outside Magazine, April, 2009 page 38

The second answer for me is simply described by Colin Fletcher in his book The Secret Worlds of Colin Fletcher.

To “just muck about.”