Having grown up in the south, lived on the Appalachian Trail (it was, no lie, Main Street in my town), I find Alex's commentary (Sun Star 9/7/2004) both weak and unfounded. His inability to experience the Appalachian "Thru-hike" experience is no fault of his own.

His comment "...practically anyone of breathing capacity can do it" makes me laugh... then why did he only complete the first 500 miles? Less than a fourth of the trail.

For one to experience the trail, one must approach it with both an open spirit and an open mind.

I have found in my experiences that groups that start such endeavourers rarely stick together. The Appalachian Trail is about ones-self, it always has been.  It isn't meant to be a vacation or a bonding experience among friends. It is rather about personal reflection, and evaluation.

"We hiked the trail, case closed."  I don't agree, I have been to Denali Park but I didn't climb the mountain. In my eyes you had a series of day hikes that brought you from Springer Mountain, GA to Virginia (I'm presuming that you at least made it to Damascus, the town where I grew up).

I won't argue that the South is what it is. And you were hiking through what I affectingly call the "buckle of the bible belt."  But my friend you were headed north and if the people were bothering you then the Mason-Dixon line was just a few weeks north (Harpers Ferry marks a huge change in environment as well as the halfway mark of the trail).

Anywho, Alex, count yourself among the few...you were only one of the 1535 that attempted the trail, and one of 671 that failed to make north of Virginia (side note for you, only 50 had completed the trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine as of 9/3/2004).

Alex, congratulations on unsuccessfully completing what anyone with breathing capacity can accomplish.    

Brandon Roark

Fire Service Mang./Emergency Medical Services

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