The Appalachian Trail

July 14, 2025 

Miles Hiked: 14.1 

When Poet drops us at the trailhead, he says, “Y’all stayed with us, so you’re like our trail kids. Take care of each other, have fun, and don’t disappoint us.”

I think about that a lot. I took his words to mean: don’t quit. People are rooting for us, even if we don’t fully know why finishing matters — it still does.

Today is breezy, smooth, cruisy — all our words for a good trail day. Poet’s voice echoes: “After what y’all have been through, today will be easy.”

Robert and I sit at a fogged-in overlook. The view’s gone, completely swallowed. I wonder, just for a moment, what we’re missing — maybe Monson? Then the thought fades. We’re here, on a bench in the woods, and that’s enough.

Blink, and we’ve hiked 7.8 miles.
“That was quick,” Robert says.

We stop twice to cross the river barefoot. Another win for camp shoes.

At the second crossing, we meet Jacob Pepper. Lean, tattooed legs, bug net pulled back.

“I’ve hit 4,000 miles,” he says. “Hiking the ECT to Newfoundland.” He tells us about the Alabama road walk, the Florida Trail. “If you ever get the chance…”

His stories are raw — full of struggle and beauty. “There’s something about connecting your footsteps,” he says, before laughing at himself.

It’s a strange thing we’re doing out here.

We talk longer than we’ve talked to any stranger on trail. Maybe he needed it. Maybe we did too.

When we part ways, he grins. “I’ve been standing in this river the whole time.”