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An Adventure On The Appalachian Trail By Bill Derby
Those are the words of 28-year old Dustin Jackson. He wants to enjoy his
life-long dream of hiking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail without
the pressure of time schedules.
"I want to enjoy the journey, not have a time schedule. I'm not taking a watch
or cell phone. Our lives are ruled by the clock," says Dustin.
He will be taking a 6-month sabbatical from his job as an engineer technician
with Johnson Controls to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT).
His wife of four years, Becky, has also given her blessing to live his dream.
"She is 100% for me to hike the trail. Last June 3rd as we hiked together on
Buffalo Mountain we talked about my hiking the AT before we start a family. She
is supportive and shared with me that she would never keep me from living my
lifelong dream. I've always known that one day I would hike the trail. I would
rather do it now than later. She said okay. We look forward to starting a
family when I get back," he said.
Dustin will do it differently from most through hikers by starting his journey
from Maine's Mt. Katahdin south to Georgia. Most hikers start the 2,174 mile
hike in Georgia.
As his hike progresses, Dustin will share his adventure by sending The News & Neighbor regular emails and photos of his personal journal. Readers will be
able to follow his trail and progress. He will also share his personal thoughts
with our readers.
Dustin started hiking at an early age. His dad and mother, Wane and Joy, took
him on his first hike when he was three. Dustin laughed, "I started hiking
early. I carried a load of diapers in my pack. While growing up our family
spent many days hiking the AT around here. On longer hikes mom stayed at home
and it was just my father and me alone on the trail. We hiked in all weather
and in all seasons including rain, heat and snow.
"I learned everything about hiking from my father. When I hike I always hear his
voice in my head and think about the things he has taught me. He always said,
'Son, don't leave anything behind. Make sure you have everything you need.'
"Our longest hike together was on the Art Lobe Trail in Pisgah National Forest.
It was a good preparation for my AT attempt. We did 70 miles in 5 days."
Dustin's personal odyssey may take five or six months. He does not want to keep
a definite schedule. "I do not want to put any pressure on myself. I'm going to
hike at my own pace; no rules except the rules of nature will decide my daily
travel. I know what works for me. I've taken a lot of pointers from other
through hikers and have studied their trail journals to gain as much
information as possible."
He says while on the trail he will hike as long as he feels like it. No time
limits. No mileage goal. When he's ready to stop and camp he will. He will keep
in touch with his wife and family at various stops along the trail in small
towns through internet cafes.
"Most of the through hikers' remark after they have finished the entire length that they wished they had hiked at a slower pace to enjoy the trail more. My
journey is my destination," he exclaimed.
I asked Dustin about hiking alone on the AT. "I'm looking for solitude. During
my first hike alone on the AT from Stoney Creek to Dennis Cove, I became aware
of all my surroundings. I kept looking back. I was a little apprehensive at
first. Since then I have made four preparation hikes by myself and now that
doesn't bother me one bit. I don't fear being alone on the trail. I know on my
solitary hike that I'm not going for a change in my life but I expect it to
come."
On starting in Maine, Dustin says, "There are a couple of reasons I will start
from Mt. Katahdin. First, most hikers start in Georgia with 40 to 50 people
starting per day. The shelters get very crowded. I see that as overcrowding on
the trail. Very few start their hike in Maine. Next, the hardest and roughest
part of the trail is in New Hampshire and Maine with the rocky areas, bogs and
steep high mountains. It's a very desolate 100 miles of wilderness. Many hikers
say of that last part of the trail. "they've made 80% of hike but only 50% of
the work. I wanted to do the hardest first."
Dustin is in shape for his hike and his past athletic and outdoor skills give
him a good chance of success. His hiking experience and mountain biking have
kept his legs and body in excellent shape. "I'm in the best shape of my life.
I'm at the top level of my performance," he says.
He is no stranger to taking on a physical challenge. In fact he is a past
Tennessee State Champion bicycle road racer having won the point series in 1996
with the Tri-Cities Road Club.
He is a Science Hill High School and 1997 ETSU graduate with a degree in
electronic engineering technology. His company, Johnson Controls, has been very
supportive of his effort. "They've been great giving me this leave of absence
to realize my life's dream and I appreciate them.
Dustin is in Maine today preparing to start his hike. His mom and dad will hike
to the top of Mt. Katahdin to see him off. He plans on departing south June
20th.
Having the right equipment is critical when making this journey. "I tried eight
different backpacks before I found one comfortable to me. Weight, of course, is
critical. Extra ounces add up to pounds very quickly. It only takes an extra 16
ounces to ruin your day," he laughed. "I plan on starting with 40 pounds with
five days of food and 1 1/2 liters of water. I have ultraviolet purification
that kills viruses for extra water on the trail.
"I don't want to fall below weighing 130 lbs. My food intake will be 4,500 to
6,000 calories per day. It's hard to get that amount with trail food. I'm
taking an extra protein powder to supplement my intake. Experience says that
hunger sets in after a month on the trail and that's all you think about. When
I come into a town along the trail I'm sure I'll fill up on hamburgers and
other high calorie food.
"When I stop in a town, I'll also mail, what hikers call, 'a bounce box,' ahead
to my next town stop. The box may have extra batteries, or other things I may
need. It helps reduce the weight of the pack," Dustin concluded.
Dustin Jackson is on his way to a long solitary walk and adventure. For anyone
who has ever hiked the Appalachian Trail, we wish we were going along. But,
we'll be able to share his trip through his communication, personal adventures
and trail news. Dustin, thanks for sharing and have a great trip. We'll look forward to your story in future editions..
