By Jill E. Sheetz
Reading Eagle

Berks County, PA – At 20, Andrew Crow of Maxatawny Township has achieved a lifelong goal. He recently hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, covering about 2,175 miles spanning 14 states.

Beginning his journey in Georgia on March 25, Crow spent about five months hiking, ending on Aug. 28 in Maine. He said his background as an Eagle Scout was influential in his decision to hike the trail and ability to complete his trip successfully.

Courtesy of Andrew Crow
Andrew Crow at the end of his hike on the Appalachian Trail in Maine.

“It’s been a lifelong goal for sure, probably since about the age of 8, when I learned what the Appalachian Trail was,” Crow explained.

In fact, Crow began hiking as a Boy Scout when he was 10. After deciding to transfer schools during his first year of college, Crow thought it would be fitting for him to take some time off and plan his hike.

“It was more of a conscious decision to take a year off and plan out my hike and do it,” Crow said.

In preparation, Crow researched the trail, gear and other items he would need on his trip. Crow also talked with other hikers who he knew through Boy Scouts and met in online forums about their hiking experiences.

Crow carried a backpack weighing about 30 pounds and containing approximately 10 pounds of food, a tent, sleeping bag, clothing, some water bottles and a few other miscellaneous items.

“I had to buy the lightest, best equipment that I could afford,” he said.

He didn’t do any physical training for the trip, however, such as running or hiking with a backpack.

“I soon found out that your body adjusts pretty quickly,” Crow said. “Within about two weeks, I felt fine and was hiking as much as possible.”

Though traveling alone, Crow met many other hikers along the trails; he continues to stay in contact with some of them.

“I was surrounded by people who became my friends and hiking partners,” he said.

Averaging about 20 miles each day, Crow used a camera and did some journaling to record his experience. He also wrote in a few of the trail registers located at various points along the way.

“I tried to take pictures the whole time so that I could remember all the different spots and different places I found myself in,” he said.

Crow also had a cell phone, a GPS, which he used to keep his family and friends updated on his location, and an iPod. About once a week, he would hike into the nearest town to restock on food and water and recharge his electronics.

“I tried not to use my phone while in the woods,” Crow recalled. “Just being away from all that stuff was great.”

He hiked through all types of weather, from thunderstorms to extreme heat to snow, and saw many different kinds of wildlife.

Crow said arriving at the end of his journey was bittersweet.

“It was a mix because half of me wanted to be done because I was hiking for five months but, at the same time, I loved being with the trail community and meeting different people and being outside everyday,” he said.

After returning, Crow spent four weeks volunteering on erosion prevention projects with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

“It was nice to give back to the trail and meet another aspect of the trail community,” he said.

Crow would like to continue volunteering and plans to apply for a job with the conservancy before returning to school in the fall.

He does continue to go on day and weekend hiking trips locally and is considering hiking the Pacific Crest Trail along the West Coast and the Continental Divide Trail.

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