In 2018, I left New York City to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail

After I spent a decade living in big cities, first in Philadelphia and then New York, I struggled to find a balance of city life and adventure. I found my escapes in upstate NY and nearby NJ, hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail. Every hike and backpacking trip revealed a conquered comfort zone and newfound confidence.

Over time, the concept of a thru-hike manifested as the perfect opportunity to create the change I needed.

Timing was on my side when I decided to leave my job. I made plans to attempt a southbound thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail in June 2018. On trail, I thrived in the daily physical grind, mental workout, challenges and rewards.

The Appalachian Trail showed me a new way to live and the lessons were priceless: living with less, carrying only what you need to get from point to point, and learning self-care in fundamental ways.

Sharing the journey became my creative outlet, bringing the outdoors into the conversation and discovering what it means to live a more balanced life.

They call me highlight

I like to think trail names were created to let people claim their wild alter-egos. Mostly it’s about having fun with trail culture and the community. Bestowed upon you, a good name shows a sense of humor and exposes ones’ character. In my case, it was a perfect combination of pun and forgetful consequence.

Before hiking the trail, I purchased the AWOL southbound guidebook and tried to read as much as possible. I thought by studying the guidebook, I would have a better idea of what I was getting into. I marked hostel ideas, highlighted places to camp, etc. Even on my flight to Bangor, Maine I drew pink arrows and underlined shelters in blue.

A southbound thru-hike involves a few logistical steps, ultimately arriving in the small town of Millinocket, just outside Baxter State Park and Mt Katahdin.

I stay at the AT Lodge & Hostel and anxiously waited for the morning to arrive when we drive into Baxter State Park. It’s important to note that everything you bring into Baxter must be packed out since there are no trash facilities. After registering with the park ranger, I realized I forgot to the dump the highlighters at the hostel before we left.

I had to carry highlighters with me in the 100-Mile Wilderness, the first section of the appalachian trail

I ended up using the highlighters anyway, pulling them out to mark in yellow where I slept and pink for swimming spots, a color-coding system that would only grow more elaborate and illustrated.

I grouped up with fellow southbounders at the Logan Brook Lean-to, including Alex, later known as Firecracker. Remarking on my personality and coloring activity, she playfully said, “Alexa, you’re the highlight of any place, and obviously, your markers…”

Seven days later, I’m out of the 100MW and hitching into Monson, Maine, the first trail town on the southbound trek. After my shakedown at Shaw’s, I decided to keep the hightlighters after all but ditch the green on, because now I’m ultralight. I accepted the trail name and continued to highlight the trail in log books and in my guidebook.