View Full Version : I finished the AT after 25 years
LuckyMan
11-07-2017, 15:57
A quarter of a century ago I day-hiked the AT-BMT loops from Springer to Long Creek Falls and never imagined I would one day finish the trail. Now I have, after a hike from Pawling NY to the Potomac.
I was an avid day hiker but never did a multinight backpacking trip until after I turned 50. Lightweight gear and research have made all the difference. I now hike thousands of miles a year and have also completed the BMT, CT, FHT, AZT, OCT and most of the PCT. I didn't want to stop walking after completing the AT so now am headed to Pittsburgh on the C&O Towpath and GAP.
Thank you to all who have helped along the way, especially the hardworking trail maintainers.
Pictures, tips and comments are on Instagram under luckymanhikes.
rocketsocks
11-07-2017, 16:03
Yur a lucky man!
Biscuit in GA
11-07-2017, 16:20
That's awesome!
Sarcasm the elf
11-07-2017, 16:26
Wow! Congratulations, and it was good to meet on your journey some years back. Happy trails!
Woooooooooooohoooooooooooo
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This is serious cool. While thru hikers seem to get all the adoration, you made a 25 year commitment to finish it up. Hats off to you. Let us know how the C&O path works out.
Kaptainkriz
11-07-2017, 19:20
Niiiiiiiiice
jimmyjam
11-07-2017, 19:37
Congratulations!!
Wonderful. Well earned pride. You are a lucky man!
Congratulations!
For reference - congrats! isn't long enough to be allowed in this forum. :)
Rain Man
11-07-2017, 20:39
You may know that I finished the AT last month after 14 years, so I have a little perspective, and LOTS of appreciation for your accomplishment.
CONGRATULATIONS, fellow 2,000-miler!
:)
Uncle Joe
11-07-2017, 20:59
Congrats! Hope to get as much as I can done as well!
LuckyMan
11-07-2017, 21:25
I figure if I can do it, nearly anyone can. I was in just average shape when I started. I have gained so much confidence from backpacking.
Sarcasm the Elf: I remember meeting you in Georgia years ago! Hope you are well.
As for the towpath: I am enjoying the scenery and easy strolling, but it has seemed to rain a lot every time I hike or bike it.
Emerson Bigills
11-07-2017, 22:08
Congratulations on your long coming achievement.
DownEaster
11-07-2017, 23:19
Excellent persistence! I've only done about 300 miles of the AT in 42 years, so I figured I'd step up my game in 2018.
saltysack
11-07-2017, 23:21
Congrats...I hope to hit it hard as soon as my youngest goes off to college! About 7 years and counting!
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ScareBear
11-08-2017, 00:14
A quarter of a century ago I day-hiked the AT-BMT loops from Springer to Long Creek Falls and never imagined I would one day finish the trail. Now I have, after a hike from Pawling NY to the Potomac.
I was an avid day hiker but never did a multinight backpacking trip until after I turned 50. Lightweight gear and research have made all the difference. I now hike thousands of miles a year and have also completed the BMT, CT, FHT, AZT, OCT and most of the PCT. I didn't want to stop walking after completing the AT so now am headed to Pittsburgh on the C&O Towpath and GAP.
Thank you to all who have helped along the way, especially the hardworking trail maintainers.
Pictures, tips and comments are on Instagram under luckymanhikes.
Congrats!
.
johnspenn
11-08-2017, 08:08
Congratulations. Way to stick to it and get it done! Especially with all those other hikes thrown in!
Pastor Bryon
11-08-2017, 09:43
Congrats and thanks for sharing. I'm 300 miles into my goal of finishing by age 50.
Your post is a reminder that the finish line is out there and can be done!
Christoph
11-08-2017, 09:59
Congrats on completing!
jensaito
11-08-2017, 10:58
Congratulations! I've checked you Instagram, amazing photos! I feel something like nostalgia looking at them..
Berserker
11-08-2017, 14:30
I love hearing a long time section hiker announce that he/she has finished. As a section hiker myself I can appreciate the commitment involved in hiking the AT in sections over many years. I often times think it's actually harder than doing a thru due to the multi-year grind of using vacation time, staying in shape, logistics, etc. But hey, if we section hikers didn't love hiking we wouldn't be out there right? :D
Anyway, congratulations on this awesome achievement.
I'm at 1,831 miles and hoping to finish in the next couple of years myself.
Dan Roper
11-08-2017, 15:21
Well done, LuckyMan!
It sounds like you did the bulk of your section hiking in the past five or six years? So you must've been a LASHer. If you have time tell us a few things: your longest section? your favorite section? the hardest section? the toughest thing(s) you encountered? did you start out with the idea of completing the trail?
Thru Hikers are in a different league than I am. So are you LASHers! I'm a SASHer (Short-RearEnd-Section-Hiker). In 11 years, I've made it from Springer to The Scales in Grayson Highlands. 500 miles down and 1500 to go. I hope there is time for me to complete the trail but I won't ever have big blocks of time to commit to hundreds of miles a year. So I've gotta live to about 115, I suppose.
This SASHer envies your accomplishment while still enjoying the journey.
LittleRock
11-08-2017, 16:37
Congrats! Always encouraging to hear a fellow section hiker announce their completion of the trail.
Elaikases
11-08-2017, 21:37
Congratulations. I'm glad you finished!
CrumbSnatcher
11-08-2017, 22:12
congrats....................................!
Always a great accomplishment regardless of how long it takes.
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Another Kevin
11-09-2017, 17:41
In the unlikely event that I ever accumulate the whole Trail in my log book, I'll have quite the history of clueless weekending - I first did the Harriman/Bear Mountain section in 1967.
Congratulations!
Luckyman and Rainman: Thank you for the inspiration! For us section-hikers desiring to complete the AT, it is often difficult to think we can finish it. I have over 950 completed, and hope to finish in another six years, not that I hike about 200+ a year...
CONGRATULATIONS to BOTH of YOU!!!!
LIhikers
11-10-2017, 10:53
I'm glad for you, and it gives me hope that my wife and I just might finish the AT someday too.
I've hiked the C+O and GAP from end to end. It's a very easy walk with a lot of history along the way.
Talk to the locals, go into the visitor centers, there's a lot to learn along the way.
Toolumpy
11-11-2017, 00:03
Congrats! You kept your GAOL in mind. SWEET
Teacher & Snacktime
11-11-2017, 18:55
Congratulations! I'm on the 20+ year plan myself :D Enjoy the C&O - I love that path, especially with a bike.
Meandering
11-11-2017, 20:15
Congratulations!![emoji898][emoji323][emoji322][emoji324]
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Good job finishing!
I took 40 years, starting in 1974 at age 17, finished in 2014 at 58. The trail changed for me as I matured. Great experience.
rocketsocks
11-19-2017, 11:51
Good job finishing!
I took 40 years, starting in 1974 at age 17, finished in 2014 at 58. The trail changed for me as I matured. Great experience.
This is a point I’ve never heard anyone bring up before...and an excelent one at that! Kudos.