Anyone find love on a Thru-Hike

[Wombat Farm]

I remember reading this post when it came out and did not dare comment at the time but...I did find very unexpected love on the trail two years ago, nearly to the day in the southern part of PA. It's amazing what you find even when you're not looking! I was sitting talking to a crazy ass thru-hiker (and not crazy ass in a good way) when along frolicks this young dark headed thru hiker who barely took the time to stop and say hi (eh, now I know it's because he's just a crazy go go go hiker who loves to do 40 miles a day). He says hi to me and the wacko and then floats along. Then a couple of miles later I run into this Aussie again - we have a short talk and go on our ways to meet later at the same shelter. Again, short conversations (he was a quiet sort really), next morning we're both off seperately on our ways. A couple days later he walks into Doyles while I'm sitting there eating with a look on his face of "what the %$&!" wondering how the hell this section hiker who was behind him, got ahead (keep in mind he does huge mileage)...well, I skipped a part because the crazy ass thru-hiker (sorry I don't remember his name) was a bit freaky and I didn't want him to catch up to me. So, for the next couple of days we hiked together and got to know one another and had a connection that can't be easily explained. After a couple months of whirlwind romance and misunderstandings we parted. After about 20 months of (as it turns out both of us) stalking (in a light not scary way!) we have met up again and have found ourselves to be head over heels in love (obviously I've skipped alot of details but we'll save that for the movie version). The AT was always a magical special place for me being born and raised in NH but now I can't "thank" the magic of the Appalachian Trail and the aura of the community enough. Before I met this special person I always felt a bit lost and uneven and now finally that we are together again, my life is complete. We've got plenty more adventures to explore together but I hope will make it back to where it all started. Sweetie...if you're reading this...I love you!

[Jim Adams]

I fell head over hills in love with a fellow hiker on my 1990 thru. We were together for about 300 miles and she made plans for us to be together post hike but it just wasn't in the cards...I had a life at home with my kids at the time and our jobs and families just didn't mesh at that time. Mutual friends have given me her phone # and encouraged me to call but she is married now....think about her alot and just can't bring myself to call...21 years later and too many strong feelings still...yes I still love her. The decision to stay with my children at the time was the correct one to make and I will never regret it but I definitely lost the love of my life.

geek

[Lone Wolf]

I fell head over hills in love with a fellow hiker on my 1990 thru. We were together for about 300 miles and she made plans for us to be together post hike but it just wasn't in the cards...I had a life at home with my kids at the time and our jobs and families just didn't mesh at that time. Mutual friends have given me her phone # and encouraged me to call but she is married now....think about her alot and just can't bring myself to call...21 years later and too many strong feelings still...yes I still love her. The decision to stay with my children at the time was the correct one to make and I will never regret it but I definitely lost the love of my life.

geek

i rember her. forgot her name though. i hiked with her a little bit

[B-Rabbit]

WOW... Deep stuff!

[mirabela]

Not me, but I knew two couples on my '91 thru who met out there and later married. One, actually, met on their '87 thru hike and got married in Bastian, VA in '91 on their second go-round. In the other case, each started out with a non-romantic trail partner but when they met & things got going, they bailed on their original hiking buddies, hiked more or less Harpers Ferry to Katahdin together, and married afterward. I would venture to say it's a fairly common thing, actually.

[SpecialK]

I have fell in love the with trail and all the poeple I meet.

[4shot]

I fell in love with...showers, town food, Long Trail ale, and the people I met during my hike. I still love them all, expecially hot cheeseburgers and people who don't talk about their miles and their gear.

[rhjanes]

I just finished the book "The Things you find on the Appalachain Trail". Good book. He finds love on the trail.

[Hikerhead]

Within the first year of our marriage Hatman and I realized that we both wanted to hike the trail. It sounded so exciting, daring, and romantic! Well, come Spring we hit the trail. I can see how some couples would end up in divorce!! However, it was a great experience and a great learning experience. We survived and now could live on the trail every year. We worked out our system and know each other well enough to be successful. We know many other hiking 'couples' who are also. In addition to begin hiking partners we're life partners. There's no one I'd rather hike with.

You two do make a great couple, good folks. <make check out to .......>

[Safari]

I remember reading this post when it came out and did not dare comment at the time but...I did find very unexpected love on the trail two years ago, nearly to the day in the southern part of PA. It's amazing what you find even when you're not looking! I was sitting talking to a crazy ass thru-hiker (and not crazy ass in a good way) when along frolicks this young dark headed thru hiker who barely took the time to stop and say hi (eh, now I know it's because he's just a crazy go go go hiker who loves to do 40 miles a day). He says hi to me and the wacko and then floats along. Then a couple of miles later I run into this Aussie again - we have a short talk and go on our ways to meet later at the same shelter. Again, short conversations (he was a quiet sort really), next morning we're both off seperately on our ways. A couple days later he walks into Doyles while I'm sitting there eating with a look on his face of "what the %$&!" wondering how the hell this section hiker who was behind him, got ahead (keep in mind he does huge mileage)...well, I skipped a part because the crazy ass thru-hiker (sorry I don't remember his name) was a bit freaky and I didn't want him to catch up to me. So, for the next couple of days we hiked together and got to know one another and had a connection that can't be easily explained. After a couple months of whirlwind romance and misunderstandings we parted. After about 20 months of (as it turns out both of us) stalking (in a light not scary way!) we have met up again and have found ourselves to be head over heels in love (obviously I've skipped alot of details but we'll save that for the movie version). The AT was always a magical special place for me being born and raised in NH but now I can't "thank" the magic of the Appalachian Trail and the aura of the community enough. Before I met this special person I always felt a bit lost and uneven and now finally that we are together again, my life is complete. We've got plenty more adventures to explore together but I hope will make it back to where it all started. Sweetie...if you're reading this...I love you!

Wow, it's a funny thing (and somewhat surreal) reading your own little love story on Whiteblaze...! but you got it spot on, thanx darling and I love you too XXX

[yappy]

These r great stories ! I saw it happen as well and also longterm relationships crumble under the wgt of togetherness

[Hutch]

Sparrow and I met at Trail Days 2001, introduced by Halfmoon, we are now married and live in Goode, Va. Got married in Damascus, Va. Had Lone Wolf and Gypsy at our wedding. Life is Good !!!!

[Wombat Farm]

Our little love story..... Love you baby! xxx

Wow, it's a funny thing (and somewhat surreal) reading your own little love story on Whiteblaze...! but you got it spot on, thanx darling and I love you too XXX

[Wombat Farm]

That is great Hutch and Sparrow!

[Wombat Farm]

Wow, it's a funny thing (and somewhat surreal) reading your own little love story on Whiteblaze...! but you got it spot on, thanx darling and I love you too XXX

well, as it turns out the fairy tale is crushed. I hope all you others who found love (even if's just with nature!) still have it! :-)

[d.o.c]

this trail is a ribbon of lonesome..

[Tenderheart]

I remember a while back there was a list of reasons why people decided to do a thru hike. Some mention weight loss, beating cancer, but some also mention divorce and breakups.

So has anyone found love on the trail? Did a chance encounter lead to a relationship, or even marriage?

No, but I did have a woung woman in MA tell me that she was looking for a sex partner. She immediately pulled all of her clothes off and dived, or dove, into a glacier lake. No fooling!! If I had taken her home with me, my wife wouldn't have let me keep her. She's a little touchy about such things. Go figure.

[ChinMusic]

i've had 3 "serious" relationships on the trail. one lasted 3 years, another 1.5 years and the present lady in my life and i have been together close to 11 years

And you said it was "just walkin'". Now we know the "rest of the story"......

[CrumbSnatcher]

during a thruhike i fell in love with a cheeeseburger in north carolina and a pizza in virginia. but when i went back the next year it wasn't all that :-(

[birdygal]

I just finished the book "The Things you find on the Appalachain Trail". Good book. He finds love on the trail.

You just ruined the book I am reading now