Mile 2194.3

On September 9 at 9:00 AM, after hiking 2,194.3 miles, through 14 states, for 159 days… destroying 3 pairs of shoes… almost dying once… losing 3 toenails…. writing several stories… drinking lots of root beer… facing inner demons and real dangers… being eaten alive by mosquitos… fording 5 rivers… while carrying a 30-pound pack… taking 4 blue blazes… walking 6 miles of road… seeing 1 bear… canoeing 40 miles of the Shenandoah River… climbing more elevation than 50 Mount Everests… hitchhiking 4 times… Oh, and let’s not forget receiving help from countless other hikers, trail angels, friends, family, and acquaintances… I completed my 2022 Northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hike by summiting Katahdin.