-8.8 miles

Hello and welcome to my Appalachian Trail website! You’ve come to the right place for my weekly trail updates. If you haven’t already, be sure to poke around and explore the “Why”, FAQ, photo album, and additional progress tracking tools. If you don’t want to worry about missing posts, at the bottom of each page is a link where you can sign up to receive fresh trail news immediately to your inbox. But enough with business, onto exciting news.

Winter break has been a whirlwind of adventure and milestones. On January 29th, I successfully defended my Master’s thesis. While my final dissertation is currently under review and I’m not officially graduated, there’s nothing else to do on my part. I keep getting asked “How does it feel?”, to which I don’t have a straightforward answer.

I began research in the TREC Lab as a junior, assisting a few projects before initiating the research that transformed into the Master’s thesis. Senior year saw me juggling the huge load of penultimate undergrad classes and the majority of my graduate plan of study. Spring commencement had some emotional impact, especially celebrating with family, but I knew the bulk of my Master’s research lie ahead. One year later I finished my last course, six months later the 96-page paper was complete, and this month was full of paperwork and finishing touches. My process to exit college life has arguably taken 2 entire years, inching forward to the trail while transitioning from extracurricular duties. The hike will provide ample time to reflect on my favorite memories: design projects, quality professors, quirky roommates, lively friends, vibrant community, superb liturgy, silly games, loud singing (sorry Karl), elegant dances, massive meals, epic trips, joyful service, patient struggles, somber defeats, terrible anguish, and hopeful prayer.

January hasn’t been all work. On the slopes of Snowshoe, WV (or just ‘Shoe if you’re cool) I achieved my personal non-motorized landspeed record of 47 mph! As my first time with a GPS watch, I was astounded to learn I traveled over 60 miles of snow over the three days. That’s essentially my target mileage starting week four, which is a fun coincidence and unique frame of reference for the distance I’ll walk.

But I don’t have time to rest on my laurels just yet. This week has been chock-full of trail preparations (mainly finalizing this website). Later today I’ll check all the equipment one last time. After that I need to close a book, wrap a series, file taxes, switch phone carriers, and maybe sleep. Next post will be from the wilderness!

Peace and Joy,

Max

Disconnect2Connect (if you know you know)