In an effort to minimize clichés, I made a pact to pay one of my friends $10 every time I quoted Thoreau on this blog. So I’m going to resist temptation and save my money, but… you know the quote I want to use here. Perhaps I can substitute the equally timeworn Mallory: “Because it’s there.”

This has actually been a surprisingly difficult post for me to write, since my initial response to the question was more or less that I just… want to. I’ve been seriously committed to hiking the AT for several years now. It has been interesting to think about exactly why I feel compelled to do this, but also challenging to articulate the reasons clearly.

In his book, Appalachian Trials: A Psychological and Emotional Guide to Successfully Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail,  Zach Davis (founder of The Trek) advises aspiring thru-hikers to sit down and write a list of the reasons they are hiking, then carry a copy of their list with them while they hike. I am a firm believer in the merits of goal-setting, so my list takes the form of a set of goals for myself, to be accomplished through this hike:

1. Take time for unstructured thought

The most profitable hours of my graduate program were not those spent at my desk, staring at a computer screen. It became my habit to steal time outdoors whenever possible. The best of my work has always been a product of unsanctioned hours spent wandering across campus, or through the arboretum, or sitting on a bench to watch the choreographed chaos of hurried students between classes. More than anything else, I am looking forward to spending my days thinking with reckless abandon (and no looming deadlines!) as I walk.

2. Challenge myself

On the surface, thru-hiking appears to be a predominantly physical challenge. Approximately 75% of all hikers will quit the AT before completing their hike. Although injuries do contribute to the attrition rate, many hikers leave the trail for psychological reasons. Successful thru-hikers often comment that the mental aspect of long-distance hiking is far more challenging than the physical conditions. One of my favorite things about backpacking is the necessity of problem-solving. Equipment fails, weather changes, and accidents happen. At home I can Google for an answer; on the trail I have to rely on myself. It is incredibly satisfying to solve these problems with nothing but logic and whatever I have in my pack. I expect that the AT will give me many opportunities to practice self-reliance, risk-assessment, problem-solving, and patience. Oftentimes, things will not go my way, and I will have to be ok with that. Sometimes, I will need to ask for help from others, and I will have to be ok with that.

3. Disconnect

Hmm, what was that thing about avoiding clichés, again? Like every other hiker, I am looking forward to reducing my consumption of digital media. I have spent enough time in front of a computer screen over the last decade to warrant an extended break (with the exception of this blog, of course).

4. Reconnect

One of my favorite realizations about training jiu jitsu was the unique way in which the sport brings together people of all demographics. Forming friendships with people whom I would not otherwise have met was incredibly rewarding. I expect that I will find the camaraderie of the AT similarly fulfilling.

5. Re-discover my writing style

There was a time when I enjoyed creative writing. Unfortunately, concentrating on technical writing for nearly a decade has left my prose a bit stiff. I am not a particularly effusive social media user, so this blogging thing is a challenge unto itself. But, as my friends know, I can talk about backpacking for hours!! I am certain that the AT will provide ample subject matter on which to practice writing without an academic accent.

There are many other reasons to hike (some of which will only become apparent when I actually start hiking), but this condensed list is more than enough to convince me right now: success or failure, it will be worth it.