7 Ways My Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Prepared Me For The Coronavirus Pandemic

Exactly one year ago today, I took the first step on my biggest adventure to date, an Appalachian Trail thru-hike.

I had my reasons for going, but I had no idea what lay in store for me on the journey ahead.

Looking back on my hike, I learned some incredible life lessons over those 2,192 miles.

As I now sit in self-quarantine during the coronavirus crisis, I can’t help but realize how some of those lessons have helped me cope with the current situation.

Here are 7 ways I think my thru-hike has helped me deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

I’m Okay With Social Distancing

Being an extreme introvert, part of the allure of a thru-hike was the tantalizing thought of getting far away from people.

Once on the trail though, I quickly realized that my Appalachian Trail thru-hike was going to be anything but a solitary experience.

I found myself in the constant company of other thru-hikers, whether on the trail or in shelters and hostels. I was even the member of a trail family, aka “tramily,” who I hiked together with for hundreds of miles.

However, there were many stretches where I was alone. Really alone.

Going days with little or no contact with other humans definitely tested my mental fortitude, but it taught me how to be extremely comfortable with myself.

It’s a good attribute to have as we try to distance ourselves from society for the coming weeks and possibly months ahead.

I Am Able To Ration Toilet Paper

One day, I met a thru-hiker named “Moss” at a shelter in Vermont. He received his trail name when he unknowingly ran out of toilet paper at the most inconvenient time possible and was forced to used the nearest alternative.

Even well before I met Moss, toilet paper was a high priority on my thru-hike.

When I first started out I was definitely carrying too much, but I eventually got very good at predicting how much tp I would need until the next town stop.

While I still don’t understand why people are hoarding toilet paper during the current pandemic, I am pretty comfortable that I can survive with just a normal supply.

If I do happen to run out, I know where to find some moss.

I Recognize The Importance Of Hand Hygiene

Thru-hikers often greet each other not by shaking hands, but with a fist bump, aka the “hiker handshake.”

This is not just intended to look cool; it is a very effective way to stop the transmission of germs from hand to hand contact.

I’ve always been pretty good about hand hygiene, but it became essential on the trail. With hand-to-mouth infection being one of the main culprits of illness on the trail, it seemed well worth my effort.

I got into the habit of sanitizing my hands as often as possible, especially before putting anything near my mouth.

As PSA’s about hand washing continue to be posted with more veracity to help curb the spread of coronavirus, I feel I’ve already got a pretty good handle on why the practice is important.

I Can Get Creative With Meals

Although I feel I’ve always had a knack for getting creative in the kitchen, preparing meals on my Appalachian Trail thru-hike really put my resourcefulness to the test.

When my only resupply option for the next 150 miles was a poorly-stocked Dollar General, I really had to dig deep to keep meals fresh and interesting, especially since I was trying to keep things on the healthier side.

Thanks to my thru-hike, I know a nearly infinite number of things one can stuff into a tortilla, I can survive for days on canned tuna and trail mix alone, and I can even supplement my diet by foraging for edibles in the woods.

This past week has left many stores with barren shelves and fresh produce in limited supply, but it has given me an opportunity to put those creative trail meal planning skills back into good use.

I Realize There Is Often More Found In Less

After hiking up and down mountains for 15-20 miles a day, I quickly learned what I absolutely needed–and didn’t need– to be carrying on my back.

The less I started carrying, the more free I felt.

By dialing down my possessions to just what I needed to survive, I realized how incredibly simple life can be.

If anything positive has come out of the isolation due to coronavirus, it is that people seem to be reconnecting with the simple things. It is amazing to see people enjoying a walk outside, gardening, and cooking for themselves.

My thru-hike really gave me appreciation for those things, and I no longer take them for granted.

The Trail Taught Me To Focus On What I Can Control

There is a saying that a hiker should never fight the trail, because the trail will always win.

Over the course of my hike, I found this to be very true.

I couldn’t force mountains to be less steep, the days to be cooler, or Pennsylvania to have less rocks.

If I tried to bully my way through any of those things, I would only end up frustrated at best or, in the worst case, in extreme danger.

But I did have many things in my control like what time of day I started to hike, where I chose to camp at night, ensuring I got enough calories from nutritious foods, and the frame of mind with which I chose to look at things.

By focusing most of my attention to them, my goal of reaching Mt. Katahdin seemed way less overwhelming and much more doable.

There are many things surrounding coronavirus that are far beyond my control. But by focusing on the things I can–like social distancing, eating well, and getting physical activity–I feel a lot less stressed.

I Learned How To Deal With Uncertainty

People often ask me what the hardest part of my thru-hike was.

While images of trudging through a week of rain in New York or grueling climbs over 4,000 foot peaks in the White Mountains might come to mind, in reality the hardest part was taking the first step.

It was extremely difficult to commit to this crazy notion of walking from Georgia to Maine and to announce to my family, friends, and myself that I was attempting something with at 75% chance that I would fail.

In the weeks and days leading up to my start date I was a wreck. I started to seriously question why I was upending my life for a walk in the woods.

At that moment everything felt so uncertain.

But, I took the first step and with every mile my nerves got calmer. With every day, my confidence grew.

Instead of looking ahead to the weeks and months that lay before me, I began to take my hike one day at a time.

I had no idea what the next day would bring, and I learned to be okay with that.

The worst part of the coronavirus pandemic is the uncertainty–not knowing how long the isolation will last, who the virus will effect, or when a vaccine might be available.

I don’t think I will ever be truly comfortable with the unknown, but, if anything, my Appalachian Trail thru-hike taught me how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Given the current situation, that’s the best one can hope for.

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