Finding Balance: From Trail Life to Real Life

An AT thru-hiker opens up about the realities of returning to “normal life” after months on the trail.

Spoiler: this story isn’t one of a specific memory or notable experience on the trail. Instead, it’s about the harsh—often unspoken—reality many hikers face when their thru-hiking journey comes to an inevitable end: reintegrating into everyday life.

In 2022, Justin Tucker (@trailheadjustin) completed their Appalachian Trail thru-hike—an achievement on top of many hikers’ bucket lists. But unlike the romanticized stories you’ll find on social media, Justin's experience follows a different course. Justin remains most outspoken about the challenges (physical, mental, and social) faced during and after months on the AT.

[Ontrail],Ididn'tthinkmuchaboutwhattherecoveryprocesswouldlooklike—andI’mnottalkingaboutphysically,butfinancially.

The truth is: many thru-hikers struggle to find their footing back in society post-hike. This side of thru-hiking rarely makes it into the Instagram highlights or trail documentaries. And while some hikers manage to make a career out of bouncing from one long trail to another, many (like Justin) are thrust into a harsh transition into post-trail life without a clear path forward.

An (Ongoing) Uphill Battle

Like the peak of Mount Katahdin towering above, the challenges that Justin faced in the months (and years) after leaving the trail stacked sky high. Upon re-entering the “real world,” Justin’s biggest test of true grit and determination would be finding their financial, social, and mental footing.

For starters, there was re-entering the workforce with no clear path. What is your identity once you’ve completed a thru-hike?

Then, there’s rebuilding monetary savings depleted during the hike. Where do you even start?

And, of course, there’s the constant reality of social and economic injustice and unstable politics. How do you manage a daily struggle that never ends?

These post-trail challenges were overwhelming at times (and still are for Justin today). Yet, despite the hardships, Justin has done everything they can to manage the transition from trail life to regular life as best as possible—focusing on being open to new opportunities as they arise, looking inward to what makes them most happy in life, and being authentically themselves (as always).

Threeyearslater,I'monlyjustgettingtoaplacewhereI'mfeelingabitmoresettledinlife.ButI'mstillnotquitethere.

Life After The Trail

Since completing the AT, Justin has charted a new career path that keeps them connected to the outdoors and a search for finding new communities to connect with. Their search landed them first with a 7-month seasonal contract with the North Carolina Outward Bound School as a BIPOC fellowship program coordinator. And after, Justin began work with a land trust – a job they landed through connecting with a peer on social media and taking the chance to meet for a coffee to learn about the role. They now serve as an outreach program manager for the organization in Asheville.

"Being outside, being on a trail, hiking or rock climbing—that's a perfect place for me to have engagement with other people. There's also the morally uplifting side of working for a land trust, knowing that you're contributing to something positive in a world that feels like it's full of negative nonsense.

Justin says while they’re still on a journey to find their dream role within an organization, they’re proud to have made friends across the country who make up their outdoor community.

For aspiring thru-hikers, Justin offers balanced advice: "I would recommend (a thru-hike) attempt to anyone who has an inkling that it might be something they want to do." However, they urge consideration of the full picture—including financial stability, housing plans for the return, and mental preparation for the challenges ahead.

Perhaps their most valuable insight is challenging the notion of trail life as pure "escapism." Justin points out that whatever issues you walk away from will likely still be waiting for you—along with new challenges of reintegration.

Whateveryouwalkedawayfromfiveorsixmonthsagotohopefullyhealfrom—thatstuffcouldstillbetherewhenyoureturn.

Justin’s biggest pieces of advice for thru-hikers coming home:

• Focus on finding healthy, effective ways to deal with things before and after a thru-hike
• Stay true to yourself
• Be open to new opportunities