gforce's AT bailout

“Much the same as Forrest Gump decided it was time to quit running and go home, I knew in my heart it was also time for my AT journey to come to an end. There are many rewards to be had on a long distance hike, but the duration of the hike also takes a toll on the mind and body. Over the past 5+ months I have endured rain, sleet, snow, marble sized hail pounding my head, been thrashed to the ground by hurricane force winds, hiked through the pain and misery of shin splints, and, most recently, fell and fractured my thumb . . . just to name a few. So there are also costs to go along with the many rewards. But it's the combination of the rewards and costs that creates the uniqueness of the journey and overall experience.

So at about 10:30 on the morning of the 25th of September I sat down on a rock next to the trail and decided it was time for my journey to end and to return home. Overall, my journey had been everything and more than I could have wished for up to that point . . . and I wanted to keep it that way. So I turned around and retraced my steps back to the last road crossing . . . and from there I eventually made my way back home . . . with a smile on my face . . . glad to be home and glad to have had such a great journey.”

“Glad you have had such a great journey, Gary!”

“For Sure.

There's only so much fun a body can stand sometimes ----”

“5+ months? Get any cold beer?”

“Welcome back!”

“where did you stop at? did you make it to monson?”

“welcome home and congrats gforce! i envy the experience... broken thumb and all.

how did you hitch home with a broken thumb?”

“Good Job Dude!!!
Hey wanna go hiking next weekend???? LOL
See ya later.
Randall”

“wow, 5 month's? You must be a slow learner to take that long to figure out it isn't for you :) . Just kidding. 5 months on the trail is still an impressive feat. And you can finish the rest at your leisure and still get the 2000 miler patch. Heck, some folks say if you just finish within 12 months of starting its a thruhike. Don't know about that, but I don't get a vote.”

“Welcome home! Hope you post some stories of the hike from time to time. Hope your thumb is okay. Those fractures can be tricky to heal.

Jerry and I did the JMT this summer and loved it. Now we're wondering if we might want to do the PCT, maybe over two years so as not to wear ourselves out.”

“I don't recall where you were last, but you kicked some serious butt while on the trail, hiking faster and further than MOST.

Now when you return to finish, you won't have as far to hike. Who says you have to do it in one shot anyway?

Sorry you didn't finish. When I was reading some of your posts, I thought to myself, MAN,this guy is going to do it, no problem.

Sounds like its the mental part of getting up day after day and just hiking, can start to get to you after months on the trail?

I don't know if I could handle the physical part of hiking, let alone the mental part?

Great accomplishment gforce, my hats off to you!
last edited: 10/01/07 6:39:39 PM”

“this just underscores how tough it is. i consider g to be a stronger hiker than i am, so for him to not finish, he must have had a really hard time. i was pretty lucky with the weather and injuries, nothing severe in either case.

i hope someday you can finish what you started. the view from k is amazing. so close!”

“That's 5 months more than I've attempted and I'm envious. I used to think that thru hiking the AT was for me and maybe it is someday. But on longer trips when I get into the second week it loses its fun and I wanna go home, so for now week long trips are fine for me. Congrats on making it as far as you did.”

“It was your journey brother and only yours! I may never get the opportunity to even try so I'm envious and happy that you're happy.”

“Five months is quite an accomplishment. Congratulation G-Force. And welcome back.”

“Welcome back. Thanks for taking all of us along with you on your journey!”

“did you make it to monson? yes

where did you stop at? I thought this was a good place to end it:

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2106926790053682547cKepDm?vhost=home-and-garden”

“Sorry to hear about your thumb Gary. Does it stick out???

I'm glad it was a great journey for you. THAT is the important thing. I think most of us would have traded our summers for yours.”

“punked....”

“Smart Ass!

Congrats Gforce! And welcome home. :)
last edited: 10/01/07 7:03:25 PM”

“Thanks to all for the well wishes during my trip. The "Big K" really is a great view and good place to end, but the trip really is all about the journey.

I hiked the last 20 miles with the fracture including going up Katahdin. When I got home I thought I should have it checked. That's when I found out it was broken. It's not a bad break, and I should be out of the cast in about three weeks.”

“Very Cool gforce! The most seriously deserved congratulations!!”

“Hey G, it was your hike anyway...go as far as you need to and rejoice and give thanks for the journey......congrats dude, I've never set foot on the AT..you're way ahead of me..... :)”

“I don't know ya at all, but you did more than I could do, for what ever value there is left, in completing that what you started, the path is going to be waiting.”

“Welcome back Gforce. Glad you enjoyed the experience.”

“HA! i suspected as much. because you do have to turn around and walk back 5 miles to the road. and 10 30 is prime summiting time

you finished one day after i did, g! but with little later start”

“last 20 miles with the fracture. wow. im in awe. that wouldve put you around hurd brook lean-to. forget the 100 mile wilderness, howd you like the 40 mile bog?”

“Photoshop...”

“So, if you hike for 5+ months, do you have to eat, like, 70 burgers or something when you get off the trail?!”

“for awhile, youre ravenous for that kind of stuff, but after awhile, its not so bad.

i was eating "normalish" foods anyways. instant oatmeal for breakfast, bagel with pepperoni for lunch, lipton noodle or rices dishes for dinner, candy bars and other high energy things for snacks”

“LOL - congrats. I was wondering what was really up, when I saw the post with the link, I knew I'd be seeing the peak of Katahdin.”

“lol! man, was i duped! i should have known better, really. welcome back dude, and congrats!”

“Yeah ped, I was thanking that too. After reading the turn-around boohoo, I was like- Oh heyall NO WAY does a cat get that close and not finish. I know'd that pic hadda be a summit shot.

My hike ended Sep 21, dude, many congrats. I consider my summer hike like a whole seperate lifetime, it's that amazing of a journey.”

“gf - Great job!

bm - imagine 8 mos on mres, cravings are high! burgers are high on the priority list. I remember guys would have playboys and i'd look at them for the liquor ads.”

“Smart-ass! When I read about the broken thumb I knew you were having us on...it would take a broken leg for you to stop...congratulations!

last edited: 10/02/07 2:55:50 AM”

“you suck...and you rock...it didn't sound right to me but i still took the bait...congratulations g”

“Congrates Gforce, I saw a couple registers with your name in them going thru the 100-mile. I was a couple days behind you.”

“You Rock, Dude!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!”

“Congrats!”

“Good work g.”

“Congrats Gary!
On both the hike and the beginning of this thread...ya had me wonderin for a little bit there :)”

“Wow! Impressive feat! Congrats!”

“Way to go, Gary. Welcome back.”

“Great job, Gary. Ya had me goin' too. DORK!

LOL!”

“Very very cool. Congrats on your hike!”

“Congrats...Did you take the peggy pad with you?”

“Before I started my AT hike my daughter was concerned because a friend told her that people who hike the entire AT come back crazy . . . so I have to attribute this thread to my sanity . . . or lack thereof . . . lol! Everything I said in the first post was absolutely true, but I just "forgot" to say where that rock was I sat on . . . :)

Scott, I fell right after we took a break on the southeast end of Rainbow Lake. A limb lying across the trail caught my shoelace and made me trip over the limb with my other foot. I couldn't get my trekking pole in front of me fast enough to stop the fall because it was between two boulders. When I fell my four fingers landed on a rock and my thumb was ripped back over the handle of the trekking pole. At the time I thought it was just a severe sprain, but I was concerned how it would impact the climb through the boulders on the Hunt Trail going up Katahdin. So with the pain and swelling in my hand I had to finish the trip with just one pole. I didn't notice the pain too much going up and down the big K, but I'm sure adrenaline had something to do with that.

Lthiker I hope your trip through the 100 mile wilderness was as spectacular as mine. I know you had good weather through the 25th at least. The fall colors, ponds, lakes, and rivers all combined to make it second on my list of favorite places on the AT. I still say Grayson HIghlands in VA was my favorite.”

“Congrats on the hike. Calmwater3 was right behind you somewhere and should be checking in this month.”

“You da force, gforce!!

Did you post a trail journal? What's the link?”

“Congratulations. I figured you were joking, since I knew you had passed through Monson. I've known hikers who quit after that, but they're rare. Will you be at the Gathering?

My husband broke his wrist in Maine and also didn't know it until he got home. His attitude was "I don't hike on my hands."”