A Solo-female Thru-hiker’s Journey on the Appalachian Trail (Part 1) with Guest Writer Ann Marie White
I was ten years old when a book changed my life. It was about a girl who runs away from home to hike the Appalachian Trail. The story was fictitious, but the trail was real. I didn’t know much as a ten-year-old, but I knew that I absolutely loved hiking and camping, and that doing it for six months sounded amazing. So at ten, I decided that in 2021, the year after I would graduate from college, I would thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. This is the story of how, twelve years later, I did exactly that.
The Appalachian Trail (a.k.a the AT) stretches 2,193.1 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine, and is one of three long trails in the United States. The other two each run from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, but in different parts of the U.S. The Pacific Crest Trail hikes through California, Oregon and Washington; while the Continental Divide Trail traverses New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Hiking the entire length of any of these three trails within one twelve-month period is called thru-hiking, and that was ten-year-old me’s dream. Approximately one in four hikers attempting an AT thru-hike actually complete it, and only about one third of AT thru-hikers are women.
“Approximately one in four hikers attempting an AT thru-hike actually complete it, and only about one third of AT thru-hikers are women.”
Based solely on statistics, thru-hiking the AT is clearly no easy task, but as I grew older, that became part of the appeal. I wanted to challenge myself, to see how strong my body truly is. Hiking the Appalachian Trail is roughly the elevation gain equivalent of hiking Mt. Everest sixteen times.
I also wanted to explore the world, and there’s no more intimate way than walking. From a car or airplane, you can’t see the tiny white wildflowers sprinkled like freshly fallen snow on the forest floor of the Smoky Mountains. Or soak in the silence of the ascent up Mt. Greylock in August. Or dance across the grassy hilltops of Franconia Ridge. These are only things you can do when you open the car door, and step outside.
“From a car or airplane, you can’t see the tiny white wildflowers sprinkled like freshly fallen snow on the forest floor of the Smoky Mountains. Or soak in the silence of the ascent up Mt. Greylock in August. Or dance across the grassy hilltops of Franconia Ridge. These are only things you can do when you open the car door, and step outside.”
When I unbuckled my seat belt and slid out of the truck at Amicalola Falls State Park, it was onto shaky legs. Amicalola Falls State Park marks the start of the Approach Trail, which climbs 8.8 miles to the summit of Springer Mountain, where the Appalachian Trail actually begins. The day I had dreamed of for 12 years was finally here. The date was March 21, 2021.
My stomach hurt. It felt like it’d been replaced with a water balloon that someone was squeezing in their hand, debating about throwing. The anticipation jittered and jolted through my body, my legs anxious to begin and reluctant to leave. I was embarking on my lifelong dream-- what if I failed? This trail had been a part of my identity for so long. Who was I, if not a thru-hiker?
“I was embarking on my lifelong dream— what if I failed? This trail had been a part of my identity for so long. Who was I, if not a thru-hiker?”
With joy, doubt, excitement, and sorrow all vying for the prominent place in my heart, I kissed my parents and little sister good-bye, and set off up the Approach Trail. Tons of people journeyed alongside me, many with similarly big packs. I fought with the sudden desire to be invisible, afraid that people would see me and my desire to thru-hike-- and know there wasn’t a chance in the world that I could do it. Imposter Syndrome was strong as I struggled up that mountain, over a well-worn path through barren trees.
Ann Marie under the arch at Amicalola Falls State Park
“I’m absolutely dying”, I thought as I collapsed on a rock. This is only the first mountain, and I’m already struggling. And it doesn’t even count. Why did I possibly think I could do this? And then I remembered the existence of water.
I’d been flying as fast as I could up the trail so that I could get the Approach Trail over with and start hiking miles that actually counted. In my mind, since these miles didn’t technically count towards the 2,193.1, for whatever reason, I was convinced they wouldn’t count against my body either. I was so focused on getting them over with, that I’d forgotten to take care of my body and provide it with the rest and hydration it needed. After a few minutes of alternating between guzzling water and choking for air, suddenly the trail seemed much less impossible.
Ann Marie with the plaque marking the start of the Appalachian Trail
A few more miles and many sips of water later, I stepped onto the tree-covered rock face that is Springer Mountain’s summit. Because I had zero expectations of any view due to reading of many hikers disappointed by the summit, I was surprised by the lovely little vista through the bare trees of the world below. I had seen, and would see in the coming months, better views, but this one still made my heart dance. And there, at my feet, was the famous plaque and the first white blaze of the Appalachian Trail. Springer Mountain. I made it. Now only approximately one million mountains to go.
“And there, at my feet, was the famous plaque and the first white blaze of the Appalachian Trail. Springer Mountain. I made it.”
As I lay in my tent that night, for the first time my new reality sunk in. It would be weeks before it truly felt real, but it was the first time it hit me. I’m hiking the Appalachian Trail.
And it was only the beginning.
Get to Know the Author!
What’s your favorite trail snack and/or meal?
My favorite thing for lunch on trail is wheat thins and Laughing Cow cheese-- the spreadable kind that comes in the triangular wedges. I packed it out once in Maine and it was one of few foods that I still looked forward to eating (most foods got really boring after five months). Wish I had discovered it sooner!
What is the coolest place you’ve ever explored?
Easily the White Mountains in New Hampshire! They are absolutely BEAUTIFUL, I can't wait to go back. They're like straight out of the Sound of Music.
If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be and why?
If I were a tree, I'd be a fir tree because they smell like Christmas and make me happy :)
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
That's such a hard question, I have a very long travel bucket list...all my dream travel spots are either because of cool animals I want to see, or a hike I want to do. I guess if I could go anywhere right now, I would say Israel because my mom and I have been dreaming of doing a hike over there for years, but we were planning to go in 2020 and we all know how that year turned out. But hopefully soon!
Where can we find you on social media?
You can find me on Instagram @_ann.marie21!
