Through-Hiker

Yesterday around 1:30 pm a young lad stumbled into the Buena Vista Public Library. He had a hiking pack and sleeping back on his shoulders, carried a walking stick, wore a bucket hat, and, interestingly enough, was also wearing a Scottish kilt. He was sweaty and tired, and asked about local movie times in the area. I inquired about his journey and he mentioned that he started his hike in Georgia and was working his way up to Maine. This would make him a Through-hiker (one who hikes the AT from end to end, south-north or vice-versa). I've heard rumors of hikers stopping in and even met a woman last year who was on her way south. This guy is the first hiker we've had stop in and I look forward to meeting more. He signed our guest book, used the internet to check movie times (he said it's been a while since he's seen a movie, and you don't find many theaters up in the mountains). I bade the bearded hiker farewell and checked what he wrote in the guestbook: he gave his name, and where he was from:

"Wherever beauty is, to me that is home."

Hope to post again soon and throughout the summer.

Behn