Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail RUINED My Life (And I'm Not MAD)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- For all the talk about "life-changing experiences," how often does an epic adventure REALLY transform a life? In my case, thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail ruined my life. I'll never be the same again. And that's totally OK with me!
It took me a while to realize that my Appalachian Trail thru-hike was a catalyst for change. Once I recovered from a twinge of post-trail depression, it slowly dawned on me that life as I knew it was over. I certainly didn't expect the massive mental shift that thru-hiking sparked for me. I leaned into it and I'm so glad I did.
Beautifully Ruined: A Life Transformed By Time on the Trail
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Trying through hiking, made me a better person. It helped me appreciate my family more and gives me a break from caregiving and supporting others. Travel and backpacking has helped me move on from the devastating loss of my husband. I still miss him, and his stories, but those same stories have helped me realize I have a lot to see and do before I join him again in eternal life. Backpacking helps one pare down on possessions and makes me more efficient. I prefer long backpacking trips in the best season for the area I am visiting rather than the crowds of through hiking. I am only going to get to do my backpacking trips to an area once so I want to enjoy the trails at a enjoyable pace and season. Thank you for taking us along on your journey.
I’m so sorry for your loss, I’m sure you miss him all the time.
@@JoyfulRambler Thank you. We had a great life together and I knew when I married him there were no guarantees after 44...because his father and grandfather on is father's side died before they were into their late 40s. He was truly an amazing man and he was here for us until our children were young adults educated and out making their own way. He out lived his father and grandfather by more than 20 years and was healthy till he end.
Joey, this is a very courageous video! I am so proud of you, but more proud that I can call you my friend. I love you and Andy!
You're the best!
I enjoyed following you on your thru hike. Good to hear you are doing well. Thanks for sharing .
Thank you for bravely sharing your most private thoughts, feelings and experiences. You have been someone who gives me hope!
You are so welcome!
your positive attitude is contagious! i've had one major curve to navigate 3 years ago. i lost my wife of 39 years. there's a few different paths i could've followed. i chose to lean on my faith and slowly move forward. i followed you on your AT hike, this is one of your best videos. best wishes and keep positive! thanks for this video.
New subscriber! You are such an inspiration to me (71 yr old senior). I won’t be doing any Thru hikes but I love watching vids of those who do. I hike every day with my dog. My husband is in a memory care facility so my life is looking much different these days.
Thank you! I’m sorry about your husband. I know that’s a challenging thing to deal with. I hope he’a in a good place and happy there.
What an upbeat , positive boost for us side liners!
Thanks..you survived a great deal in your life and managed to carryon with grace, aplomb the intelligence Thanks for sharing
Thank you for sharing. My experience is very similar in that the trail changed me. I went off and thought I would just jump back into my corporate life, but it does not happen. I feel the trail gave me a much broader appreciation for family and friends. I completed my thru hike and it has taken a few years. I took a break from backpacking, but have started back. I really enjoyed your video and appreciate you making it. I think we are all affected differently or we all get different things from the trail. Wombie '21
Excellent content! Keep it up and thank you. I hiked the John Muir Trail this past summer and though it’s not the AT or PCT it gave me the confidence to do more and longer and I too can’t tolerate a lot of the daily “normal” life stuff.
Most of the stuff we have been programmed to accept as "normal" is just conformist nonsense, petty and a useless waste of time. Be free and do what you want!
New subscriber. I'm interested in learning more about your transformation.
So glad your vid popped up in my feed today. I am struggling. I lost my department at work, coworkers, and job due to corporate merger. We had great hopes of "building better together" and planned new strategies for national dominance. And, then, once it was signed, hundreds of pinks slips every month for months. The stress was unbearable. Then, a couple months later, an adult child with cancer (in recovery so we hope all is good now) and couple months later, our daughter had a difficult birth and new baby. It has always been my dream to step on a thru hike on the AT. I live in a county with over 50 miles of the AT so I am very familiar with it including trail magic, trail angels and fairies, ridge running, etc. I was thinking I would fly to Georgia and take off. I have everything I need (well, I am and my pack would be grossly overweight for the trek, but it is not like I haven't done it many times before, just not more than 10 days in small streches). We have a graduation in the family this year and so much going on that needs my attention. One of your comments below said that she lacked the courage and another said she thought her husband would leave. I know I have the courage and I know my husband would not leave me. I have the support. So, what is the problem? I am so tired of the world and don't want to be around people now (tired of the BS). I am afraid of what you said... I don't think I could come back to reality and deal with the BS. I think, I know, I would be worse if I ran away. I watched the movie, "Wild" with Witherspoon. I am not sure I would come off the trail in better condition. Maybe my mind and heart would be in a better state, but living the life I am committed to doesn't seem like it would fit my new perspective. It is a conundrum.
WOW! I actually put it in writing. That is a start, right?
WOW...what and inspiring video. THANKS FOR SHARING.
Much admiration 😊
You were such an inspiration to me when I first researched hiking the AT and watching your struggles. This is a fantastic video.
Thank you!
learned from a very wise man who ran a support group … “I’m not going to should on myself today “
Love that!!
You are an inspiration. I would like to attempt that challenge.
Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing.
RUINED your life? No way! The experience has ENRICHED your life and made you stronger and more confident. You faced the challenge and dealt with it, which was all for the better. I definitely recommend solo wilderness hiking for any female who wants to strengthen herself and improve both her physical and mental health. You did! (You don't mention a gun, but I suggest it for a lone female.)
Solo hiking for anyone is not in anyone’s best interest.
@@williambranham6249 On TH-cam are several videos of people who like to hike alone, and they enjoy it. Check them out. I always hike alone and enjoy it, far from the madding town.
Very inspiring! Not everyone can do a thru hike of a 1000 mile trail, but most of us can at least get out in a local park or forest and hike. Just as we shouldn’t compare our trauma to others, we shouldn’t compare our triumphs either. Do what you can. Challenge yourself.
Thank you for sharing your life and thoughts. As usual, I can really relate to you! I am sectioning the PCT and have a bit less than 500 to go. So I do have some experience, but not a bunch going solo. I am planning on a SOLO hike of at least part of the AZT next spring, and your video helps my courage to take that first step. And like your said, just keep taking those steps as you go to find out what you really can do. Thanks again!
Wow such honesty..
I have a story of my own..I recently bit the bullet and throw financial common sense out the window and purchased a Savio Hillerberg tent something that was to be dream purchase.Instead it turned into a nightmare.. On 2 separate wild camping trips in strong wind and rain I had water enter through the top tent vent/rain cover. The tent itself did not leak rather the strong wind ,blow the rain up under..I Contacted Hillerberg and the response was that is unusual and thank you for contacting Hillerberg. I have not mentioned the price of my tent..£2000 euros plus £786 euros postage which I was not made of at time of purchase..I also bought a second set of poles. 5 in a set..Total cost aprox £3000 euros.. Hillerberg selling sales pitch is there tents are bomb proof.. Sorry for venting on your site but your honesty and how you can articulate your thoughts inspired me to share my dream/nightmare..I guess buyer be aware. As you can figure out I am not American..I am from Ireland...
seamusdelaney9133, site selection and tent orientation are really important. I have been backpacking and camping from the 1970s and our family camped on summer vacations. I use a bivy bag, 8oz and a tarp or Gatewood Cape. It is not free standing and was quite a learning curve but for backpacking it is my go to shelter. I am an older verticality challenged woman so the added weight of most tents is too much for me. I found that I modified my gear to suit me and now I don't have purchase the latest and greatest, because what I have been using the last 10 years just works for me. I just have to replace things that wear out, or repair them and go backpacking. With persistent and experience you will find a system that works for you. Best wishes on refining your tent setup.
Oh my, thats really awful! I hope they did something to make it right.
Thank you for transparency and sharing!! Amazing!!!
This is so well said, hell yeah
Thank you so much for sharing all that . I think if I hiked the trail my husband would leave me for sure . I just don’t have that courage.
Same here, but I’m thinking about doing it anyway. I’ve done other trails and it’s definitely a life changing experience.❤
I realized quickly how boring it is and couldn't wait to get off. There was no profound lesson. It wasn't freeing. It was a lot of walking, barely sleeping, and eating horrible food
You didn’t have a good why
@josephspruill1212 I enjoy exercise. I don't enjoy camping and endless monotony over more than 3 days. I'm not a country bump-kin for a lot of reasons that came crashing in on the trail. There are people who enjoy it and I say "so be it". I wished I was doing anything else than staring at trees and my feet for hours on end so that I didn't trip. I was honestly bored out of my mind. I'm not soft by any means. Its not for me. I do at least 6 section hikes a year and wonder what the big deal is. It bores me.
@ You just confirmed what I said is all! I’m not judging. It isn’t a right or wrong thing. But doesn’t mean Im not right cause I am. Some ppl look for the beauty and some for the pain. Again it’s your WHY. Sometimes in-order to become who we want to be we have to give up everything about the old you including what you want. Don’t get me wrong there either, that is very hard to do…. Not everyone can let go of who they are I know. It’s wasn’t an easy journey for me either….
@ yet, it doesn’t mean it can be humbling etc cause it can. They call long walks like that a spiritual journey cause it’s about soul searching not the trip or what you’re doing. Again that has to do with your WHY….
@josephspruill1212 Eh....I'm not a spring chicken or finding myself. I'm aware of hardworking and sacrifice more than most
The AT started my backpacking life and eventually (this past summer) the triple crown. I owe so much to the trail. It shaped my life in so many ways. Thanks for sharing. AT 94-94 PCT 98 CDT 23-24
You're awesome, sister.
I love your story. Have you looked into the Palmetto Trail in S.C. It goes from the coast to the mountains, 22 passages, a total of about 500 miles.
Thanks for sharing, we realize life is not linear and curve balls are thrown. It hurts more if we get hit with the pitch. We get up, we get stronger, we understand our lessons, and hopefully, become more resilient. Conscience and Wisdom that only comes with maturity. and Ain't it great to be alive?
I would love hike the AT. But knowing me, I’d hike for three days then decide that’s enough and go back home.
I remember you from watching your first pre-hike vids. How have your pack contents changed since those first videos?
Joyful Rambler
Ramble on 😊
When sharing your adventures with family and friends were they positive?
All my respect to you
I live in the Southerntier of New York State.
I have been a woods tramper most of my life.
New York State has the best trails!
The best views!
No AT for me.
Your point about not being able to tolerate BS hit home. While I have not thru hiked, I spend a lot of time hiking and backpacking solo and am feeling this in a big, and not healthy way. What strategies did you use to deal with the BS that accompanies typical life off trail? Were you able to find peace and acceptance or does that feeling linger?
Great Story
Such a shame that creators resign themselves to clickbait....
Youre a nice lady, why sully yourself.
Heard nothing at all even remotely how this Ruined your life.
Nice job on the van build. I thought you were sitting in your kitchen!
“Ruined”? Maybe awakened. Eckhart Tolle speaks of spiritual “consciousness”, living in the now, i.e.- enlightenment, versus “unconsciousness”, more akin to living life going through the mundane motions, completely unaware of the present moment, like most of the mass of humanity. We all might benefit from this “ruin”.
How did it ruin your life, sounds like your life is better now than before.
Exactly! It ruined the life I knew, and opened the door to something better. 🙂
by the way, my fear is bear! Did you run into any on this trail
I am in a deep depression…… I wander if the trail would help me??
Hiking can do wonders to lift your spirits - and to find like minded people. There are lots of hiking groups around. If you go hike and see several people, ask if they’re part of a local group.
Sounds a lot like being single for a few years….. you no longer have patience for people’s BS! 😂
alot of it really has to do with daily heavy excercise! wen u stop the regular hard excercise of hiking a mountain trail; the body and mind go through a with drawal from natural endorphins because most people wen theyr home dont really get alot of excercise, so depression and other problems even physical start comming back; people were not meant to be in cars and inside cement boxes all day; people like animals do much better in the wild!
I am totally alone, so nobody would miss me at home
You might be surprised who cares about you and who would miss you. Hang in there. Sending hugs!
Id be too chicken 😮