AT = Athletic Training

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has difficulty ratings for each state along the AT, using a 1-10 scale. 1 = "Flat and smooth," while 10 = "Use of hands required for extended periods of climbing, footing precarious, and leaping may be required - not recommended for those with fear of heights and not in good physical condition. Shorter hikers may be at a disadvantage." West Virginia's four miles of trail and Maryland's 41 miles are said to be the easiest, rated as 2-3. Maine and New Hampshire are the most difficult states. Maine's 281 miles are rated 3-10, while New Hampshire's 161 miles are rated 6-10. This is where we began our journey.

I heard many times on the PCT that the PCT is the more mentally difficult of the two trails, while the AT is the more physically difficult. I'm still not fully sure of what "mental difficulty" encompasses, but the physical difficulty of the AT is no joke. Based on my week on the AT, I've created the following training plan to prepare future hikers for this trail:
1. Play "The Floor is Lava." The rules of this childhood favorite are simple: climb through rooms touching anything but the floor, which, of course, is lava. This will prepare you for all the time spent on rocks and roots and not actually touching the ground in any way.
2. Paint a 2"x6" white rectangular blaze on the most obscure surfaces possible: up the side of a cliff, on the ceiling, on the roof of your house, etc. Then put on a pack and go to that blaze. On the trail I acquired the skill of knowing where the trail was headed by picking out the most difficult route possible and then looking for the blazes there.
3. Record the most annoying sound you can think of and play it over headphones non-stop. I find a symphony of mosquitoes, black flies, and gnats to be effective. For an added bonus, ask a friend to poke you in the ear with a blade of grass every few minutes to mimic one of these bugs exploring a little too closely.
4. Run laps in a sauna. Make sure to include climbing up on benches and surfaces in here, as well. Then, try to sleep in the sauna.
5. Find a hard object (e.g. a baseball bat) and hit yourself repeatedly in the knees and on the bottoms of your feet. This will mimic the constant pain these body parts will feel from climbing on sharp surfaces all day.

To be fair, the trail isn't ALL bad. We saw lots of beautiful lakes and streams, and saw three moose and four bears in under a week. We ate wild mountain blueberries. We also pushed ourselves hard, walking 15-21 miles each day on terrain that allows most southbounders to walk 10 or under on an average day. We successfully completed the (absolutely terrifying) climb of Mt. Katahdin (remember the part about not being recommended for people with fear of heights?) and the rugged 100-Mile Wilderness of Maine. However, our trail has come to an end. For real this time.

During the last week Nolan and I both realized that we were doing the AT as a substitute for the PCT, and it wasn't an appropriate substitute. The two are very different trails. We set out on the AT with a week of preparation and no real goal. We weren't committed to it. We were spending time and money just to fill a void, and we decided that time and money would be better spent in other ways.

I'm officially announcing the close of our 2011 hiking season. I learned a lot about myself and Nolan. We had amazing adventures and saw beautiful sights, and I might write more about some of these every now and then.  Thanks again for all the support from everyone out there. Who knows what adventure awaits us next.....