If you missed the first half of my (Lindsay) thoughts on our 2014 Appalachian Trail Thru Hike click HERE. If you want to read part two then click “Continue Reading” down below.

Fern Gully and Lindsay taking in a few liquid calories before taking on the Franconia Notch

The worst part of the trail was that I had lost 15lbs. It sucked. I know, there aren’t many girls who complain about losing 5% of her weight, but there also aren’t many girls who are competitive powerlifters. Let me put this in perspective for those with different lifestyle choices: imagine you were building a log house by hand. A natural disaster ran through your property, and most of the house was destroyed. Fortunately, the framework was salvaged, but now you need to start the laborious process of building it all over again. This house is your dream house, so you start rebuilding. The best news is that with having built it once, you already know the process and how to avoid many mistakes. Time to get to work!

Lindsay trying to keep the weight on with a little pizza delivery at a shelter on the trail. Hooray!

Lindsay and Hunter working on some dinner in Vermont

On any bad day having Hunter on the trail with us lifted our spirits. Seeing our puppy so happy as he sniffed out every squirrel that had crossed the trail, or as he’d bound into the woods to chase a deer we hadn’t first spotted, or rock hop effortlessly with his tail wagging, or play with the other dogs at camp, made any discomfort we had seem less important. Seeing his endless joy of being in the woods was worth every ache and pain Clayt and I experienced.

Lindsay getting down on some dishes in a little work-for-food in New Hampshire!

Yep, that’s my way of putting 5 months into a nutshell. As we’d say on the trail, “long story short” just to talk for two hours about the joys and dramas of your wedding so that the big uphill of the day would pass by! (Sorry Mummy-Foot and Turtle). I’m proud to be able to say I’m part of a small group of individuals who has successfully thru-hiked the Appalachain Trail. Would I do it again? Most likely not. But am I glad I did it? Most certainly. Through the good, the bad, and the dislocated tailbone, and nearly dying on our aqua-blaze, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. If everything in your life goes according to plan, where’s the fun?

Clay and Lindsay at the top of Mt Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail

What comes next? I guess this winter I’ll get a job to put some funds back into our savings and probably two jobs. Clayt is writing his book, so I’m his sugar mama. Work hard and play harder. Another adventure anyone?