What Is It Now?

[Pak-Man]

Mile Post 1546.2 ~ Dalton, MA
June 18 ~ An unusual sense of "deja vu" hit me when I crossed the foot
bridge over the Massachusetts Turnpike. Driving under this bridge always
meant Mt. Greylock was not too far away, now I walked over it. An odd
feeling. Tomorrow I will be at Greylock, but this time there will be no car
parked at the trailhead, no short drive home for a hot shower and work the
following Monday. Hiking on the part of the AT I am familiar with has a
different feel on a long distance hike. The same portion of the trail was a
way to blow off steam during weekends, now it is one part of a long journey.
Wonder what the trail will feel like to me after this journey is over?-Paul

The above is a passage I found from MAGS journal.
I have never thru-hiked and was wondering, What does the trail mean to you now after a thru?

Looking forward to your responses.

[Lone Wolf]

a lifestyle

[yappy]

exactly...a way of life that seeps into your bones, creeps into your heart and for some of us there is no turning back.

[Grampie]

For me, and many others who have thru-hiked or spent a lot of time on the AT, it becomes an addiction. I could think of a lot of worse things to be addicted too.

[Blue Jay]

For me crossing the Mass Pike was overwhelming. I had driven under it thousands of times always wondering what it would be like walking over it from Georgia. I'm glad I never walked the 0.2 prior to my thru. I was choked up the entire day.

[Blue Jay]

I realized I didn't answer your question. The AT is my home and always will be.

[Blissful]

The trail is always a part of who you are...because it makes you (or it will certainly break you)

[Peanut]

exactly...a way of life that seeps into your bones, creeps into your heart and for some of us there is no turning back.

Well put!!!