Presentation at the 43rd Annual Gathering of the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association Gathering.

Course description: In July of 2022, I began an end-to-end hike of the Long Trail to honor my father’s legacy. In 1937, he backpacked the Long Trail to celebrate his high school graduation. Armed with his trail diary and guidebook, I planned to retrace his steps and compare our journeys. But the Universe seemed to have other ideas. My plan was interrupted when I was struck by a car at a road crossing. After a year of recovery, I was able to return to the LT, but the universe intervened once again. This is a tale of heritage, hubris, trauma, recovery, self-doubt, perseverance, and triumph on Vermont’s Long Trail. It is illustrated with photographs taken by a retired professional photographer.