By Kathy Brown.
The Appalachian Trail stretches 2200 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Approximately 2 million people take a hike on at least part of the trail each year, which is maintained in part by the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, and volunteers in various trail clubs. The Trail passes through 14 states. Though 2 million people hike at least part of the trail, less than 1000 people hike the entire trail in a single season. They are called “thru-hikers,” and most of them head northbound. James Spineti of Higganum is one such hiker.
After graduating from Keene State College with a degree in Political Science, James decided to alter his plan to go to law school, and take the opportunity while he had the time, to hike the Appalachian Trail. He began his trek on April 8, 2019 in Georgia, and completed it on Sept. 25, 2019 at Mount Katahdin in Maine. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the average time it takes for thru hikers is “a week or two shy of six months.”
And though he began alone, he “hiked with other people I met along the way pretty much the whole time,” said James. “The community aspect of the Appalachian Trail was definitely my favorite part. I met a lot of amazing people I’ll stay friends with. I can’t count how many strangers let me shower and stay in their homes just because they love the trail, not to mention all the folks who volunteer their time and energy to maintain the trail.”
“Hiking the entire Appalachian Trail is a grueling and demanding endeavor,” said the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website Q&A page. “It requires great physical and mental stamina and determination. The terrain is mountainous for its entire length, with an elevation gain and loss equivalent to hiking Mt. Everest from sea level and back 16 times.” James hiked about 16 miles a day on average. When asked what the worst part of the trip was, James responded, “The worst part was walking through Pennsylvania in the hottest part of the summer. I underprepared for a 13 mile section where there was no water aside from streams polluted by agricultural runoff. That day was brutal!”
He said that though rattlesnakes, moose and bears were always surprising, that the “amount of people that came to the road crossing to bring hikers food and beers was also unexpected but amazing.” And he was always excited “about getting to eat fresh fruit and vegetables after days of trail food.”
When asked what he would do now that he could check that off his bucket list, James said, “I’m moving to Jackson Hole for the winter to work at the ski resort, and snowboard every day.”
Photos provided by James Spineti.
