The Best Mistake I Ever Made

In the Spring of 2001, I attempted to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail in a single effort. In hindsight, the attempt was foolhardy. At the time, I had little experience with traveling on my own and no experience at all with backpacking.

I was born with Asperger's Syndrome as well as a bit of an anxiety disorder (neither of which had been diagnosed at the time). I was also taking medication for epilepsy. None of these things made me an obvious candidate for a long walk --alone-- in the wilderness.

In short, I had absolutely no idea whatsoever what I was doing. I was guaranteed to make a mess of it and, of course, I did. It was wonderful. I regret nothing. Hiking the Appalachian Trail was the best mistake that I ever made.

I kept a journal before and during that hike. That journal had been sitting at the bottom of a box --unread and unloved-- for too many years. The time had come to type it and share it with the world. Here it is. Enjoy.

P.S. This is the first of eight journals in the "Asperger's on the Appalachian Trail" series.