Hiker completes Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail panorama.
Appalachian Trail panorama.

It's a custom for hikers on the Appalachian Trail to adopt a trail name for themselves while walking the 2,189-mile path. Kristen Lewis chose "Forever."

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Kristen Lewis on the Appalachian Trail with her hiking mascot, Gideon, a flower that was a present from her mom. Lewis spent six months hiking the entire trail, covering 2,189.2 miles.

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Lewis takes in a lofty view.

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Her tent was her home during Lewis’ six-month hike of the Appalachian Trail.

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An Appalachian Trail rainbow.

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Kristen Lewis checks out a waterfall along the Appalachian Trail.

"That's because I was so slow when I started," said Lewis, 29, a Springdale High School and University of Arkansas graduate who finished hiking the entire trail in September.

Appalachian Trail FAQ

How long is the trail? This year the trail is 2,189.2 miles. Distance varies from year to year as the trail is rerouted as needed.

How long does it take to hike? Most people take six to seven months to complete the trail. Average cost is $3,000, not including gear.

Is it possible to hike into towns? The Appalachian Trail crosses a road every four or five miles. Some crossings are close to towns. Occasionally the trail goes through a town.

Does it matter which direction one hikes? Most through-hikers travel south to north, starting in late March to mid-April. Southward hikers start in late May or mid-June.

— Appalachian Mountain Club

Lewis averaged 10 or 11 miles each day at the start of her backpacking journey. She was bounding along at 20 or more miles daily near the end.

"We call that getting your trail legs," said Lewis, who now lives in California while pursuing a career in the film industry.

The Appalachian Trail was her home for nearly six months. Lewis started on the trail's south end, at Springer Mountain, Ga. She placed one foot in front of the other until she reached the north end at Mt. Katahdin, the tallest peak in Maine.

Only 20 percent of the hikers who set out to hike the whole trail complete it. Lewis took her first steps on March 26 and finished on Sept. 21. She surprised even herself with those first steps.

"I'm not particularly an outdoors person," she said.

Lewis hadn't done much hiking at all when she decided to tackle the Appalachian Trail. She didn't really train. She walked her way into backpacking shape as she put the miles behind her.

A National Geographic documentary about the trail intrigued her. She read every book she could find about the trail and began planning her trip.

Preparation and anticipation were fun, Lewis said. She enjoyed researching and shopping for the equipment she would need. Then came that September day when it was all for real. More than 2,000 miles of trail were in front of her.

She started out hiking with a partner, but they went separate ways about eight weeks into the trek. Lewis was on her own, but she wasn't really alone. She met and hiked with different people along the way. "The hiking community is so warm and supportive," she said.

Sometimes Lewis camped with a group. Other nights she camped by herself.

Everything Lewis needed was on her back. Her pack weighed 30 to 35 pounds most days. Eating enough calories each day was important to keep her going.

"A hiker's diet is the only diet where you can eat anything you want," she said. Dehydrated food, snack cakes and crackers were part of her menu. Her backpack holds two liters of water.

Lewis chose trail running shoes for her hike and wore out four pair.

Occasionally she took a break and hiked into a town to dine at a restaurant and treat herself to a night at a motel.

She had one main support person, her mother, Amelia Lewis.

"Anytime I needed anything, I'd call mom and she'd mail it to me. She put little treats in the package for me, like my favorite candy, thoughtful cards, sentimental stuff," Lewis said.

One gift was a fabric flower her mom sent after Lewis' hiking partner left. Lewis named the flower "Gideon," and it became her hiking mascot for the rest of the journey.

It never snowed during her quest. Rain and humidity were issues on occasion, but Lewis hiked on. Mt. Katahdin grew closer with each step, but she rarely thought of the end or how much distance remained.

"I took each day just day by day. In order for me not to get overwhelmed, that's the way I had to take it," Lewis said.

It's possible to hike into a town every three to five days, Lewis noted, except near the end of the trail in Maine. To finish, she had to walk through the One Hundred Mile Wilderness.

"You're told to take 10 days worth of food with you," she said.

Lewis hiked the 100 miles through stunning wilderness forest and past mountain lakes. Now her journey was near an end. Her mom joined Lewis in Maine for the last day of her trek. They celebrated together on the summit of Mt. Katahdin.

Every emotion flushed through Lewis on that mountain top. She'd done it, hiked all 2,189.2 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

"Even when I touched that sign at the end, it didn't really hit me," she said.

Confidence in her hiking ability grew along the journey. The accomplishment boosted her confidence off the trail, too.

"It made me feel like, if I can do the Appalachian Trail, I can do anything," she said.

"Anybody can do this if they have the time and want to put in the effort. A lot of people think it's not do-able, but I think if someone has the desire to do it, they should."

Flip Putthoff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAFlip

Sports on 11/17/2015

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