Page 8 - SMH 2018 3rd edition

by Jennifer Giddens

Every morning, just before I could talk myself into sleeping
another 30 minutes, I would turn the knob on my thermarest
and feel myself sink into my tent. I would flip my head
over, put my hair into a class 5 messy bun, grab my buff
and get into ‘hike mode’. I'd pack my pack, break down my
tent and put it all on my back. I'd untangle my headphones,
put on my morning tunes, break the wrapper on my pop-tart
and hike.

Man would I hike.
Some days I'd hike from first light to last light, from pastures to interstates, from the tops of old ski resorts into a
cozy hostel. I'd hike out old frustrations and let new inspirations seep in. Inevitably I’d hike out the old perspec-
tives and gain new ones.

I'd laugh in the pouring rain with Mumbles and learn to cube like Buzz. I'd hear about "my buddy Tim" from Tiny
Tim & have deep conversations over laundry in the basement of some random person's house with Goddess. I'd
rearrange furniture with Munch & get Waffles to say things just because of his accent. I'd throw that stupid “rock
on” sign 24/7 because of Bullet Proof (ps still can't stop doing that) & talk Jet Pack into taking siestas under a
tree. I'd learn new life strategies from Ounce & get daily science lessons from Sixes. I’d try to keep up with some
super fast dude (Little Bear) and cowboy camp under the clearest skies upon the tallest of mountains with
Smeagol.

I can never thank the trail enough for what it taught me about myself. I can never thank God enough for allowing
me to see the world in such a new light & I cannot thank ALL of the people I met on those 2,189 miles for taking
those same very steps and helping me have the best time of my life.”

My name is Jennifer Giddens (known as “Squeaks” on trail) and in 2017 I
hiked the 2,189.1 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin
in Maine. Never in my life did I feel that thru-hiking could have such an impact
on my life. What once was just a bucket-list item, has now become a testament
to who I am.

The idea of hiking the Appalachian Trail
came to me when I was seventeen. As do
most people who take interest in the outdoors,
I threw it on my list of things to do. I had just
found my interest in the outdoors and as it
grew, I knew I would take on the challenge of
the AT someday.

8 Smoky Mountain Hiker