Appalation Trail—Daily Journal

Overview:

The book, a daily personal journal, details a quest to complete a hike of the entire Appalachian Trail, 2,180 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Khatadin, Maine. Throughout the journey, the author experienced significant physical transformations and fluctuating mental states, ranging from physical injuries and exhaustion to mental resilience, grief, and periods of burn-out.

Physical Health & Condition

Weight Loss & Body Composition—The author weighed 185 lbs. at the start on Day 1. By Day 67, he noted how skinny his legs looked in photos. A health check on Day 98 measured his body fat at 7% with the "metabolism of a 12-year-old," and his weight dropped to 158 lbs. by Day 121.

Injuries & Acute Pain

Shin Splints & Joint Pain—Suffered severe, swollen shin splints in his right leg early in the hike (Days 8–12) that required icing and rest. Later experienced sharp Achilles tendon pain on Day 68 and jammed his right ankle on sharp rocks in Pennsylvania on Day 104.

Falls & Scrapes—Experienced multiple falls throughout the journey, including falling off a rock climb on Day 72, bloodying his knee and palm on Day 119, landing face-down in a mud hole on Day 140, and tripping face-first in the White Mountains on Day 167, leaving his knee bruised with embedded gravel.

Late-Hike Joint Strain—Descending the Presidentials and Mount Washington left his knees severely "battered" on Day 172.

Sleep Deprivation & Ailments—Frequently struggled with poor sleep due to severe weather, whip-poor-wills, noisy shelters, and loud snorers. He also dealt with severe dehydration on hot stretches, digestive issues/stomach pain, and severe skin chafing.

Mental Health & Mindset

Highs & Morale Boosts—Reaching major distance milestones (1,000 miles, 1,200 miles, 1,300 miles), receiving trail magic, visiting family, or reuniting with core hiking friends ("Highway Shrimp Gang") provided major morale lifts. 

Frustration & "Virginia Blues"—Overcoming rough terrain, extreme humidity, bugs, and endless rocks in Virginia led him to admit feeling the "Virginia Blues" on Day 68. He repeatedly expressed intense frustration over hiking in wet footwear ("Did I ever mention how much I HATE hiking in wet shoes and socks?") during rainstorms.

Doubt & Feelings of Defeat—Felt "defeated" on Day 72 after taking a fall, running out of water, and getting lost. Questioned his choices with "WTF am I doing?" moments during a violent lightning storm under a small tarp on Day 95 and when encountering uncomfortable hostel environments.

Grief & Loss—Experienced deep emotional sadness upon learning of the sudden death of his friend Courtney on Day 63, reflecting sorrowfully on missing her funeral while remaining committed to the trail.

Late-Hike Fatigue & Isolation—By the White Mountains (Days 172–175), he felt demoralized by the extreme difficulty of the terrain and frustrated by hikers "losing focus" or skipping sections ("yellow-blazing"). This prompted him to intentionally distance himself from partying crowds to keep his mental focus.

Use the link below to open the complete document:

——— Fitty Shrimp's A.T. Journal ———