My Mid-Journey Reflections

Now that I’m over halfway done with my thru hike, I wanted to write something new. Instead of my usual daily journal entries (which I will continue to do as well), I decided to reflect on my experience so far. I hope that giving you a glimpse into these thoughts gives you a better understanding of what thru hiking the AT is like and some of the most important lessons that I’ve learned so far.

Continue reading to learn more about Jared Zornitzer's journey his thru hike.

Hiker

Jared Zornitzer

I just graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and am thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2025! I decided to thru-hike the AT in 11th grade and have been planning this for seven years. I did my time in school and now have my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering from one of the most rigorous technical universities in the country. I am stoked to spend five months of my life outdoors traversing the Appalachian mountains this year! Follow me on Instagram @themountainengineer

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