A State of the Union from IntrepiDan

When I started this journey on New Year’s Day of 2018, a lot of people were skeptical of my ability to complete a thru-hike. They talked about how difficult it is even for people who are able to commit all of their time and resources to this monumental task. Yet here I am, someone who works full-time and had never before spent the night in a tent trying to complete the Appalachian Trail in a single calendar year. I’ve never let the doubt of others contain my ambition.

As much as it pains me to say, the naysayers were right. I will not reach Mt. Katahdin in 2018. However, even though I didn’t complete the goal I set out to accomplish, I don’t see it as a failure.

At the beginning of the 2018, I decided to embark on a bold journey, and what a journey it has been! I’ve learned so much about myself, the Appalachian Mountains and the towns and hamlets that dot the Appalachian Trail.

One thing I’ve learned on this journey is that there are adventures everywhere; all we have to do is look for them. It’s easy to see the entire 2,200-mile hike as the adventure of the AT, but in reality each day brings something new to discover, a test of one’s resolve and an opportunity to learn something new. Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a collection of dozens of daily adventures culminating in one momentous accomplishment.

As my attempt to hike the AT winds down, I’m transitioning my mission. IntrepiDan started as an attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, but it’s made me realize something more—that I just freaking love adventures. I want to follow my passion for travel, exploration and discovery and use that to share my experiences while hopefully inspiring others to seek their own personal quests. And those ventures don’t have to be as lofty as completing a 2,000-mile hike. As I said before, adventures are all around us if we choose to find them. Your journey could be hiking the AT, or it could be finding the best brisket in Texas. It could be sailing around the world, or it could be going to your first music festival. Hikers on the Appalachian Trail are encouraged to “hike your own hike,” and likewise, I want people to take their own adventures.

Keeping with that theme, IntrepiDan will include all my adventures, big and small. I do have some additional ambitious journeys planned, but I’ll also share my smaller-scale escapades.

So here’s to a new adventure! I look forward to sharing it with you.