Lessons Learned on the Appalachian Trail

Mary Patterson, Team RWB Grant Manager, first encountered the Appalachian Trail during a family Thanksgiving trip to Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia when she was 8 or 9 years old. She saw hikers with large backpacks and learned the trail went all the way to Maine.

"I decided I wanted to go to Maine, too, and I was going to walk there!" Patterson said.

Years later, while her husband was serving overseas, Patterson embarked on a multi-day hike of the Foothills Trail with friends, solidifying her resolve to conquer the Appalachian Trail.

"When we PCS'ed to New York, I was off work for the summer and decided to go for it," she explained.

To prepare for each segment of the trail, Patterson uses the A.T. Guide, Far Out app, and keeps her gear meticulously organized. She trains year-round with long-distance running, weight training, and rucking.

"It's definitely more of a challenge mentally than physically, though. It's good to practice being cold, damp, and muddy before heading out there," she advises. "Going out on long day hikes and shakedown overnights are a good way to dial in your gear and practice setting everything up."

One unexpected challenge Patterson faces is readjusting to town life between hikes.

"It takes a few days each time we step back on trail to adjust back to the routine of everything taking longer and chores, like getting ready in the morning, being more difficult," she explains. "It's really given me an appreciation for sunny days, easy terrain, and the days when my pack is lighter."

Patterson's favorite spot on the trail is Clarendon Gorge in Vermont.

"You come down the hill to this suspension bridge over the gorge and the rocks and white water with pine trees all around are so beautiful. There are so many beautiful miles of trail, but I think Vermont is magical and will always be my favorite state to hike through," she says.

Mary and Jinx.

The trail also brought Patterson a close friendship with Jinx, whom she met during trail magic in Pennsylvania.

"We started hiking together that summer and have been planning for our next trip while out on our current one ever since. We had both just started backpacking then and now, 5 years later, we chunk out sections in about 100 miles per spring/fall and will have over ¾ of the trail complete by the end of this year," Patterson shares.

Tough days are part of the journey, like a challenging climb to Liberty Springs Tentsite in New Hampshire during a downpour.

"Everything was soaked, I couldn't see, my stomach was bothering me, all my stuff was muddy…I was very close to turning around and being done with my hike," Patterson recalls. "Even when having a bad day, other people on trail can really lift you up and keep you going."

When she completes the trail, Patterson plans to celebrate with her 2,000-miler certificate, patch, and a pint of Ben and Jerry's Phish Food ice cream. She then aims to finish the Long Trail and possibly hike the Camino de Santiago.

"Finishing a major project like this can be a real letdown and post-trail depression is a very real thing in the hiker community. It's always good to have that next goal to look forward to after a shower and some rest," she says.

Hiking has influenced Patterson's perspective on Leave No Trace principles and her desire to help others.

"I think if more people knew what it's like to be cold, sleep out in the rain on the ground, be hungry and tired, even though it's self imposed and finite when we backpack, they'd have more compassion for those without shelter and for people who just need a little boost of kindness to get back on their feet," she reflects.

The trail has also shaped her personal goals, from maintaining a year-round training plan to even influencing her post-military move to a beloved trail town.

Patterson's advice for aspiring thru-hikers is to take your time and be kind to yourself.

"There's so much benefit in going slow, taking lots of pictures, having a snack on a big rock, and stopping to talk to people. So many hikers I've talked to feel like they have to keep to a tight schedule and make big miles, but that can lead to injury and missing out on the sights and history, especially when you're always looking at your feet trying not to trip," she says. "There are always challenges and hard days, but hikers say 'the trail will provide' and it's true."

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