Photo Courtesy of gravitysmith.com

A recent Dickinson graduate has found “restored… faith in humanity” on her halfway completed trek from Maine to Georgia on the Appalachian Trail. Caitlin Doak ’16, who graduated with a degree in philosophy, decided to walk the trail’s over 2,000 miles in a style of backpacking known as through hiking. “I’ve always been drawn to the Appalachian Trail,” said Doak. “I knew I wanted some kind of adventure.” Doak, who started the trail at the end of June, arrived at Dickinson last weekend, and is taking her first break since she started. The midpoint for the trail is located only miles from campus. The AT stretches (roughly) 2,138 miles and crosses 14 different states. Although the actual distance varies slightly from year to year due to maintenance and need, the historic 1,069 mile marker still remains in Pine Grove Furnace State Park. For Doak, “Coming back [to Dickinson] is like going home before I go home, from Maine I have been hiking to Dickinson, now I’m hiking to Georgia, but it’s also like I’m hiking home,” said Doak. Coming back to Dickinson has been like coming full circle for Doak. “Being from the Midwest, I never backpacked before coming to Dickinson,” she said. After getting her first taste at Dickinson, the hills called to her. Doak went on to work as a backpacking instructor during the summers between college. Like most, for Doak the idea of finding a job was a daunting prospect. In March of senior year, “I had no idea, nowhere to even look,” She recalls. “Then one day I made a joke about hiking the trail to my mom.” Three months later, she set off. “The path is magical,” says Doak, who explains the idea of “trail magic,” something the trail is well known for. Trail magic refers to anything good that happens on the trail, usually manifesting with the presence of other hikers, or “Trail Angels,” who offer help or support in some way. “Coming down Mt. Washington, a couple who hiked the trail years ago were handing out ice cream sandwiches to any through hikers they met,” Doak says. “That was so great because I was especially frustrated that day.” This is just one of many examples of the enchanting nature of the trail, says Doak. “I just wish people were this kind and caring in the real world.” Dickinson College offers a few options for students to hike on the trail. The physical education department offers an Appalachian Trail Hiking class for credit, and the Outdoors club offers weekly hikes in the area, most of which are on or pass the Appalachian trail. The iconic trail, which stretches from Maine to Georgia, is fast becoming one of the most popular hikes in the country. From through hiking to flip flopping (hiking only specific sections), the number of hikers on the trail increases every year. For most people, to completing the entirety of the trail takes about four to five months. The genesis of the trail began as an idea in the early 1920’s. Now almost one hundred years later that revolutionary idea stands as the impressive Appalachian Trail. Doak looks forward to returning to the trail and enjoying the relative emptiness that the southern section of the trail is known for at this time of the year. Doak plans to finish the trail before Thanksgiving so that she can spend the holiday with her family.