Why Hike the Appalachian Trail???

Every year around the months of March and April about 2,000 hikers head toward Springer Mountain, Georgia in hopes of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Every person who steps foot on the trail, whether as a thru-hiker or not, has their own individual reasons to be out there. So what happens when it has been storming 3 days straight and lightning is flashing all around? You can't stop due to having no food and it is 12 miles into town to get your next resupply. Most people would eventually make it into town, but their morale will be at an all time low. When hikers hit this low they ask this very simple question. 

Why am I hiking the Appalachian Trail?

Thru-hiking the trail has been said to be 20% physical and about 80% mental. The mental aspect is a huge factor why most thru-hiker hopefuls end up folding and going home before making it to the end. In my preparation I came across a book named Appalachian Trails by Zach Davis (former thru-hiker). This book focuses heavily on the mental aspect of the trail. It gives you guidance on how to not only successfully hike the entire trail but enjoy every minute of it. In chapter 2 of the book, Zach suggests to make 3 lists. I was hesitant to make these at first, but since making them all my doubts of not going on the trail have gone away. I will share these personal lists with you.

Appalachian Trails By Zach Davis

 The first list is titled:

I am Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail Because....

• I need to believe in myself more
• I need some adventure in my life
• Where else will you have the freedom to poop pretty much wherever you want
• I want to prove to myself and my parents that I am not a quitter (something I've been labeled all my life)
• I want/need to get closer to God and what better way to do that by experiencing the beauty he has given to us

The 2nd if the 3 lists is titled:

When I successfully thru-hike the Appalachian Trail I will...

• Have the story of a lifetime
• Have more confidence in myself than ever before
• Have a renewed sense of faith in God and myself
• Know how to manage myself better
• Scream and shout and praise the lord

The 3rd and final is titled:

If I give up on the Appalachian Trail, I will...

• Settle for less and not live up to my true potential
• Have a huge loss in my confidence
• Have to explain to everyone why I failed
• Feel like a quitter as I always have when things get tough
• Feel as if I'm mediocre 

Hey look my copy is signed by the one and only Zach Davis

 These 3 lists have been a huge factor in helping myself mentally prepare for this journey of a lifetime. I feel more motivated than ever, and in just 14 DAYS I WILL BE ON THE TRAIL!!! I couldn't be anymore excited.One last thing for any thru-hiker in planning, I highly recommend Zach Davis' book. Reading this book has put my in a postion where I am extremely confident in myself and I know I have a higher chance of completing the trail with the knowledge this book has.


On that note, I thank you all for taking the time to read this!


Happy Trail!!!

Lucas Varnadore

Discovering the Appalachian Trail

The year is 2007 and I am about 13 years old at the time. My Family and I are driving up to Vermont for a family reunion. My family loved camping so on the way up there we decided to camp rather then stay in a hotel. One of our stops was in Shenandoah National Park. This place stuck out to me, it is such a beautiful place and was by far my favorite place where we camped on the way up to Vermont. As my family was packing up and getting ready to get back on the road we stopped at a gift shop. There I saw a sign that said Appalachian Trail and a path that led into the woods. Being the curious person that I am I asked my brother Patrick what the Appalachian Trail was. He told my that it was a trail that went all the way from Georgia to Maine and that few people ever hike the whole thing. That's when I said, "Well one day I'm going to hike the entire thing.".


Fast Forward to October 2012...


A couple of my close friends decided we wanted to go on a camping trip in North Georgia, since one of the friends was going up to college up there at Young Harris. That's when I found out that Young Harris is just a few miles from the Appalachian Trail. So I suggested we go backpacking and that was the plan. Long story short both my friend Mike in Tallahassee and Sarah in Young Harris as well as myself got to busy with school so nothing ever came of that trip.

Fast Forward March 2013..

Sitting in my friend Mikes living room a conversation sparked up.

 Mike: Lucas remember that trip on the Appalachian Trail we were planning?

 Me: Yeah, Whats up?

Mike: We should totally do it next 3 day weekend we have in school.

Me: We most definitely should I've been wanting to do it ever since the last time we tried.

So we both began doing some research and a couple minutes later I made a decision.

Me: Hey Mike I'm going to hike this whole trail next spring.

Mike: Dude you should totally go for it!

That was that. We ended up going on our section hike with Sarah too in late May from Woody Gap to Unicoi Gap in Georgia and boy did I learn a lot.

Start of section hike at Woody Gap Me (left) Mike (right) Sarah (not pictured)