Hit 1,000 miles exactly on the Appalachian Trail this weekend without planning it

I was coming down off Mount Moosilauke on Saturday and my GPS watch ticked over to 1,000 miles right at a stream crossing. That number just felt surreal since I started in Georgia back in March with zero hiking experience. Had no idea I was close until I checked my stats later that night in camp. Anyone else ever hit a big milestone by accident like that on a long trail?

2 comments

2 Comments

robert_roberts1d ago

Man I used to think hitting big trail milestones was all about deliberate planning, like setting a goal for a specific day and making it happen. But then I was hiking the Long Trail in Vermont a few years back and crossed into my 500th mile without even realizing it until I checked my map that evening. That moment changed my whole perspective on hiking milestones. Now I just let them happen naturally, which makes them feel way more special than if I had forced it.

margaretj401d ago

lol I feel this so hard. I remember I was so focused on not tripping over roots and rocks on the PCT that I hiked right past my 100th mile without a clue. Found out later that night when I was updating my journal and I was like "wait, that was today??" My big planned celebration was me eating a slightly stale granola bar and zoning out at my tent. Now I just let the little happy moments hit me whenever, makes the whole trip feel less like a chore and more like a surprise party I keep accidentally attending.

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