Sam’s Gap to 19E: A Hiking Horror Story

So, in the first light of the morning, I left them. Hiking alone, again. With nothing now, but swollen, stiff, and burning joints. And a mind at a total loss, concerning everything that had happened to me over the last few days. Moreover, now I also had nothing left. Except the very clothes on my back. As all my gear, tent and backpack had somehow vanished into thin air. As if I’d never owned a thing in this world.

Stoically, I made my way along the A.T. Over Little Hump and Big Hump. Then down Houston Ridge to Doll Flats. Meanwhile, the whole time as I hiked, despite the stunning scenery, I just wished that I’d never ever hiked this section of the A.T. As I felt nothing but pain now.

Moreover, in my head, I just couldn’t stop seeing myself doing the most horrific things to my fellow man on this very trail under the cover of night. Ripping flailing limbs from their bodies, burying my sharp fangs deep into jugular veins, which spurted, spouted, and sprayed blood all over me and onto the trail. And even clutching a still beating heart and pulsating lungs in the hairy palms of my hands. And, for the life of me, I just couldn’t understand what was happening to me.

Had I finally lost my mind? Gone insane for good?

But eventually these disturbing thoughts and the nightmare of this hike would finally come to a halt, when I abruptly arrived at Highway 19E. Then, made my way down the busy roadway to the gravel lot in front of the A.T. hostel, where my truck was parked.

And only now, as I stood beside it, did I finally start to feel a little bit better about everything. For I knew that this would all be over in due time …

As I’d soon be sitting comfortably at home on my couch, drinking a couple cold beers. Eating a delicious hot meal. Then relaxing underneath the spray of a long hot glorious shower, during which I’d wash all the blood, sweat, dirt, grime, stench, and misery off my body.

And only then, would I finally feel like a human again, instead of like the dirty, stinking, rotten, deplorable beast I was sure that I’d now become in the eyes of most civilized men and women.

So I fumbled around inside my pockets for the keys to my truck, grabbing a hold of them. Then, I opened it up and got inside. Starting the engine, I backed my truck up. Then put it in gear and left the parking lot. Carefully turning onto the highway, at which point, I quickly sped up to the limit. And that’s when I finally breathed a deep sigh of relief. For I was heading home at long last.

Still, I knew that much had happened to me on this weeklong section hike along the Appalachian Trail.

Indeed, even now, I could see that the back of my hands and forearms had been badly scalded and burned by fire. How? I had no idea. And there were also cuts, scrapes, and deep bruises all over my arms and legs. And even a few bumps, bruises, and lacerations on my head and face.

Moreover, I also suspected, somewhere deep inside of me, that I’d really done some unconscionable acts to my fellow man in the dark of the night at some point along my journey. But be that as it may, I knew that I could never change any of the things that I’d done in my past. So, like all of us, I was destined to live with my own guilt, shame, and remorse. Until the day eventually came when I could finally forgive myself for all the dishonorable deeds I’d done in my past. And lose my ego in the process, becoming a part of the infinite whole.

But for now, it was time to look to the road ahead. To where I was going. And what I wanted to do now with my life. And the only thing that came to my mind at that moment, as I headed back home in my truck on that dark highway through the blue mountains of Northeastern Tennessee. Was that I already knew in my guts that I was destined to return to this very trail again, someday soon. To find my old self again, as I was certain that I’d lost an essential part of my humanity somewhere along my journey. But also, to fulfill the promise that I vaguely remembered making to some good friends, who I’d made along the way.

So no, it surely wouldn’t be very long before I returned to the Appalachian Trail, once again. Perhaps, even in the company of another forsaken soul, who’d happily haunt all these magical mountains and valleys with me in search of all the doubters and disbelievers in this world…

But no, this will never be you. Cause now you know the truth. And you’ll certainly forever heed this urgent warning for all time. To NEVER EVER go out there hiking alone on a full moon night in the Southern Appalachians. Unless you plan on never returning home, ever again, to your friends, family, and loved ones…

And may God have mercy on your immortal souls and spare everyone of you from the cold-blooded heartless killer that lurks deep inside of us all.

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Wolf photo above is by Chris Ensminger on Unsplash.