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Personal Narrative: The Appalachian Trail

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Humans are animals. Even as developed, personalized, and intelligent as we are, we share a deep connection with every living thing. However, many of the problems in the world result from the human belief that technology is more powerful and can replace the serene, perfect essence of nature. I believe that a connection with nature can heal wounds and help humans find balance in their lives.
There are many alluring opportunities to witness nature, such as local trails and protected woods, but even a peaceful park or a backyard pond can produce such a feeling. As for me, I enjoy hiking the Appalachian Trail, the longest national park and a 2,200 mile stretch of elegant woodlands. From the summer of 2013, my father and I have established a tradition of taking two or three days to hike twenty mile sections of the trail. Though hiking the whole trail is unrealistic, the trips are most significant to me as a chance to hike, forgetting about homework, extracurricular activities, and other stressors. Admittedly, I am always reluctant to believe that climbing up rocky mountains with a twenty-five pound backpack will is a form of relief, but somehow, it always is. We typically sleep in hammocks, which allows …show more content…

My father and I did discuss the move, and we received daunting news about the sale of our current house, but one quarter mile later, I had forgotten about it and was able to maintain an optimistic mentality despite my often pessimistic nature. Not once did I worry about my grades. Most unusually, I felt a profound sense of peace, the type that comes from home. Unlike other activities that are only able to delay the confrontation of stressful pressures, I found lasting peace and resolution in the hike. Cumulatively, we have now done five hikes and gone about 100 miles spanning from West Virginia to central

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