My Experience on the Appalachian Trail- Emma Schlosser

This past summer my brother and I joined Kip's study abroad class to go hiking on the Appalachian Trail for 2 weeks. I'll be honest I kind of just signed up on a whim and when he agreed to go, my general vibe was f--- it, lets go. The time eventually came, two weeks after the semester ended and I grew increasingly worried about how it would go and how I would manage out there. The first couple days went by, and while absolutely stunning, I was having a rough time. It was a little hard for me to balance taking the environment in while also trying not to die from exhaustion. Eventually though, after a particularly hard day, I started to find my rhythm and almost work together with the trail, becoming more down to earth and peaceful with my decision to throw myself out of life's comforts. I was able to see the stars clearer than I ever had, spent time with wild ponies and a cow that took special interest in my blanket. 

This experience helped me appreciate the grandeur of the place we live and appreciate the body I was given and how far it has carried me. 

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