Healing In Nature

THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL: A PATHWAY TO RECOVERY FROM SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Eight miles later, I came to a town called Linden. I did not come by this place on purpose, but because I needed to get lost. After a couple of hours, I reached a familiar road. I saw a hiker approaching my way and asked which way he was going. He was going northbound, just as I was. I let out a nervous laugh as I realized my mistake. I had taken the wrong turn on the trail, got turned around, and returned the same way I had just traveled. The man, in his early twenties, had an accent, and I was happy to see people from all over the world hiking the AT. He continued north. Not thrilled about completing the same section twice, I followed the road into the nearby town to find a hot meal and cold beer, sparing myself the task of cooking for myself.

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