Solitary Solidarity: Vignettes of the Appalachian Trail

Author

Noah L. BoothFollow

Graduation Year

2020

Graduation Month

May

Document Type

Professional Paper

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

School or Department

Communication Studies

Major

Communication Studies

Faculty Mentor Department

Forestry and Conservation, College of

Faculty Mentor

Joanna Campbell

Faculty Reader(s)

Joanna Campbell

Keywords

Appalachian Trail

Subject Categories

Creative Writing | Nonfiction

Abstract

This past Summer, I spent two months solo-hiking the first third of the Appalachian Trail. I completed 737 total miles, starting at Springer Mountain in Georgia and continuing through North Carolina and Tennessee, before finishing my journey in central Virginia. I am no stranger to backpacking, but the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains of the Southeast were completely foreign to me. Throughout this two month excursion I kept a daily journal, logging everything from mileage and geographical features, to encounters with wildlife and humans alike. Over six months have elapsed since I completed my journey and, having had plenty of time to reflect, I realized that it is these latter brushes with humanity that have stuck with me most poignantly. The kindness, selflessness, and immeasurable sense of community I experienced while on the AT is truly what mattered most.

Honors College Research Project

Yes

GLI Capstone Project

no

Recommended Citation

Booth, Noah L., "Solitary Solidarity: Vignettes of the Appalachian Trail" (2020). Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts. 300.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/300