Originally Posted by
cthomasy
Hi everyone, I am doing an independent study for my high school while I hike the trail and one of the things I have to do before I hike is interview former thru-hikers. So I have compiled a list of 11 questions I would like to ask you.
1. What is your name/trail name: Spirit Walker
2. How old you were when you hiked the trail:31 the first time, 35 the second
3. What year it was when you hiked: 1988 and 1992
4. What State are you from:I was living in Arizona the first time
5. How long did it take you:5 1/2 months -
6. When did you start and finish:April 1 - Sept. 11, and April 1 to Sept. 23
7. How much did it cost:Around $2000
8. What surprised you the most: That I was much stronger than I thought I was
9. The biggest challenges you faced: I discovered I have a phobia about falling, which made some of the rock climbs a real terror
10. What's one piece of advice you would give to someone attempting to hike it for the first time: Don't stress out before you go, because most problems can be sorted out once you're out there. The trail does provide. Thruhiking is much simpler than you can imagine.
11. What impact did hiking the trail have on your life: I became a perennial hiker - two AT hikes, two CDT hikes, PCT and GDT. I love the life and the lifestyle. It pretty much ruined me for ordinary civilization.