Eastern_Cyborg

Dude, I'm fucking trembling and I'm pretty sure she wasn't talking about me. At least I hope not.

I do the same. I like to touch the outside of the plane every time.

It was a great question, and a beautiful answer. I thru hiked in 2000, and this is my favorite question to answer. Yours brought a tear to my eye, because I know exactly how you feel. 15 years later, it is still the defining experience in my life. For 5 years, I thought about the trail every day, and though that has faded the strength I found on the trail affects every decision I make. Don't ever lose that.

I hiked the 220 mile John Muir Trail in July 1999. For the first 16 days I had no appetite and was eating roughly half rations. On day 17, after forcing down breakfast, I felt a hunger pang hit me like a truck and ate 3 days lunch in a sitting, and kept up that 3x pace the rest of the 28 day hike. I thru hiked the AT starting 7 months later in 2000. This switch from no appetite to huge appetite was more muted and happened earlier. I attribute it to being leaner when I started, and the hunger kicks in when you burn your fat reserves. (In women this response is always more muted because their bodies try harder to store fat.

Bryson having not experienced this appetite transition is evidence that he did more eating than walking.

2000 AT northbound thru hiker here! I'm 43 now, but hiking the AT was still the defining event in my life. So glad we've shared this experience. Cherish it forever.

My question is: I knew exactly 1 person carrying a cell phone, and maybe 5 people that were keeping some sore of live journal online. Can you talk about how technology has impacted life on the Trail today?