Hawkins County man completes Appalachian Trail

 Hawkins County Man Completes Appalachian Trail

A Hawkins County man has achieved a lifelong dream, completing the entire Appalachian Trail.

Chris Smith, 32, of Rogersville, finished the 2,190-mile trail on September 30, 2023, after six months of hiking. He began his journey in Georgia on March 30 and hiked northbound to Maine.

"It was the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life," Smith said. "I pushed myself to my limits physically and mentally, but I never gave up. I'm so proud to have accomplished this."

Smith hiked the trail with his dog, Max, by his side. Max is a 5-year-old mixed breed dog who was adopted by Smith from a local shelter.

"Max was my best friend on the trail," Smith said. "He kept me company and motivated me to keep going. I couldn't have done it without him."

Smith said that one of the most challenging aspects of the trail was the weather. He hiked through all four seasons, and he experienced everything from extreme heat to blizzards.

"There were definitely times when I wanted to give up," Smith said. "But I always remembered why I was doing this. I wanted to challenge myself and see what I was capable of. I also wanted to raise awareness for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy."

Smith raised over $5,000 for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that works to protect and maintain the Appalachian Trail.

"I'm so grateful for all the support I received from my family, friends, and the hiking community," Smith said. "I couldn't have done this without them."

Smith is now back home in Rogersville, and he is enjoying spending time with his family and friends. He said that he is still processing everything that has happened, but he is already thinking about his next adventure.

"I'm not sure what the future holds," Smith said. "But I know that I want to keep hiking and exploring the outdoors."

Smith's accomplishment is an inspiration to us all. He showed us that anything is possible if we set our minds to it.