Sarah Holt Post 3

Throughout Bryson’s trip the reoccurring theme was how the Appalachian Trail was bigger then anything he has experienced before.

The length of the journey gives Bryson the chance to live life by completing it, not just by how long it takes. The expedition is a time of growth. It is a trip to plod on through. As he stated, the AT “was designed for pushing on, ever on…” In the midst of the trip, Bryson cannot just stop, he has to keep going on to complete the mission he set out to accomplish. The trip has taught him how to take challenges head on.

The AT is a world of its own. In chapter 14, Bryson talks about the trail being “infinite and entire.” It is all he experiences day after day, after day. The trip is a great one and it is very tiring. When Bryson comes off the trail in chapter 9, he learns how ugly the real world truly is. This trip is a learning experience for Bryson’s personal growth; mentally and physically. He learns how man has changed the environment to best fit their own needs.