Trail Journal Meaning 2

December 03, 2019
https://www.trailjournals.com/journal/14300

"How does one write a last journal entry? It is hard to know, so I guess just like all the others.

Last night, around 1:30, the wind began. It was odd since it had been so calm earlier. I didn't sleep the greatest because of it. Neither did Count. We packed up and drove to the Springer parking lot (thank God for Google Maps) which took about an hour. On the way I had top stop because I had diarrhea!!! NOOOOO!!!! We also saw several military type vehicles. It felt unreal to be so close to the end. We hiked north toward Hightower Gap. It was downhill... and very soon after we started my foot caught on a root and I fell forward, landing on my elbow. I only scraped my lower shin from the root and I miraculously didn't land in poison ivy! I picked up my Powerade that had flown out of my pack and made sure I was okay otherwise. I was, and turked to hike on when I thought of my cell phone which had been in my other water-bottle pocket in my pack. It was gone! Luckily, it had landed screen side up and I spotted it easily (a little bit off the trail) from the reflection of the sun. Phew!

We stopped at the first shelter we came to where there were three women resting. They were very nice. I talked to them for several minutes. They hike, bike, and kayak! We moved on before they did. It was quite humid. We walked by some streams, so that made sense. We ran into Bean after a few miles. We calculated that she'd summit before us, so that was sad that we'd not see her again. I cheered "Excelsior!" to her as she continued south toward Springer. 

We took the side trail to Long Branch Falls - WORTH IT! And after a mile of so we heard a motorbike or motorcycle VERY close by. We thought the person was on the AT or the Benton MacKaye Trail. It kind of freaked me out. However, we ended up being really close to a road we couldn't see. Duh. We made it to the car earlier than expected and drove once more to the Springer parking lot. It was a fairly easy mile to the top. When we were nearly at the summit, I took Count's hand in mine and we walked the final steps together while Bean sat near by waiting for us!! How awesome! I cried, but only a little bit (I might be crying more now as I type this). We ate lunch and talked with Bean for about 45 minutes. We wrote in the journal and Bean went toward Amicalola while we turned back and walked the mile back to our cars.

Others passed us as we hiked down, but no one knew what we had just accomplished. But, you know what? It wasn't those final steps that were the accomplishment. It was every single one of them. Ever step, every blister, every sunset, every tear, every raindrop, animal sighting, lightning bolt, every face-plant into a spider web, every refreshing swim, every fall, despair, wonder, beauty, glory, love. 

For the first time in my life, I truly understand that the journey was more important than the destination." -Heather Williams

This entry is about a woman named Heather who is writing about her last entry from the hike. It is bittersweet because this day was so long in the making. She started off the day with a hike toward High-tower Gap where she fell and scraped her shin and thankfully missed landing on the poison ivy. Once she got up and wiped off the dirt, she realized that her phone was missing, but was able to find it in a few minutes by the glimmer of the sun. So far, her day has been filled with moments that could've been bad, but ended up turning out just fine. She finished out her hike with "Count" who I assume is her significant other. They finished hand in hand with tears in their eyes at the excitement of their accomplishments from the trail. Many people passed by who had no idea what they had accomplished, but that didn't matter because they knew themselves that they had. This journal entry spoke to me because it has always been a dream of mine to not only hike the AT, but to also really feel accomplished in something.