3/20/17 – Mile 31.9 – Neel’s Gap, Georgia
Dear Andrew, It has only been four days and yet I already feel like I have lived a life time, maybe even two. Today I hiked about 12 miles up and down Blood Mountain, where I literally saw a splattering of blood on a rock. No blood for me, yet, though- just one blister and the feeling that all my limbs are going to fall off when I stand up after not moving for a while. I was going to tell you that I haven’t experienced any crazy hunger or weird cravings yet- but I just got to my first resupply place and wandered around delirious and enchanted by all the modern conveniences of, well, food. I ate an apple and half of a chunk of cheese because this Joni Mitchell song has been stuck in my head – where she sings about “apples and cheeses.” Right now I’m drinking a root beer, which I haven’t had the desire to consume since I was 12. The very first day on the Appalachian Trail (my first actual day was spent on the nine mile approach trail) – it rained all night and into the morning. Everything I had got soaked as I packed up, especially because I did not do gear packing and unpacking dry runs like virtually everyone recommended. But as soon as I started moving this mystical fog enveloped the terrain and it was like I was in another world (I guess I am?) A wise old woman with snow white hair emerged from the fog like a ghost and told me that it was good luck to start a thru-hike in the rain. It felt like I had been blessed, even more so than the woman in the parking lot the day before who literally blessed me and told me that God would be watching over me. I didn’t tell her that I don’t believe in God, but I did wish her luck on her move to South Carolina, where God had called her to go. Anyways, that night I had a dream where I saw Brandy (our child hood dog), and she had the same snow-white hair as the old ghost woman. I was so happy to see her, and I had to save her from Mountain Lions. Turns out, the Mountain Lions weren’t dangerous and they had adorable tiny cubs. Brandy probably would say hi if she could talk, and if she wasn’t dead. I haven’t seen any real mountain lions, or bears, but there are a lot of dogs hiking with people. Oh, also, the people! There is so much to say but my space is running out and now I’ve wasted more room writing this sentence. I’ve been hanging with a group of military veterans who are funded by a non-profit that brings former soldiers to long-distance expeditions, as a therapeutic and productive outlet when they come back from war. They’re all charming and personable and very well-disciplined, the first to leave each morning. At night, at camp, they’re prone to shouting “Freedom!” I thought this was a ridiculous military thing until I discovered Freedom is the name of a veteran’s dog. A few times I had the thought: “Should I join the military?” And then luckily I remembered I’m a pacifist. I’m going to hike on another mile or so to camp – tomorrow, I think maybe I’ll walk some more. I love you and hope all is well! Love, Laura P.S. Hope you can decipher this hand writing :)
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LettersThese are the letters that Laura has sent her brother over the course of her hike. They are faithfully and painstakingly transcribed in their entirety. They are meant to keep people updated on how many facts she has learned about trees. Archives
July 2017
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