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THE JOURNEY

Nielsen makes 2,200-mile trek through 14 states

Submitted photo Ryan Nielsen, a 2013 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, poses along the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts this past summer.

Ryan Nielsen was at a crossroads. He had just finished school at Kirkwood Community College, but didn’t quite know what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.

Instead of going the traditional route, Nielsen followed the road less traveled and made the decision to take a year off and try something adventurous.

Nielsen, a 2013 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, was prepared to continue his education at the University of Iowa. During his time away from the books, though, he wanted to first get away from the city buzz and embark on what would become a life-changing experience.

It started as a simple conversation with a friend. As time passed, the idea became more clear and Nielsen made up his mind: he would hike the Appalachian Trail, starting in mid-March this past spring.

“I thought about taking a year off from school and finding something unconventional to try,” Nielsen said. “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my career yet, and figured now was the time to try something different.

“A friend gave me the idea. We just talked about it and started planning a year before we took off. He helped me along the way and went with me for a month.”

Nielsen’s father, John, said Ryan hadn’t necessarily been an avid outdoorsman to this point. He did know his way around the wilderness, but the idea caught them a little off guard at first.

“His mother (Christy) and I were kind of surprised, because it came out of the blue,” John said. “He really never mentioned anything about it before, but he was serious and he did his due diligence in preparing for it.

“We’ve never gone that long (six months) away from any of our children, so it affected us a little, but we were proud of him for doing a lot of research and putting in the time and effort.”

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,200-mile stretch along the east coast, which starts in Georgia and finishes in Maine. It spans 14 states in all. A “thru-hike” from start to finish usually takes 5-7 months, and on average, only one of four people who attempt the hike finish the whole trail.

Nielsen wasn’t sure at first how long he would be able to last, but he quickly learned that the key part of the hike and most crucial decisions came in the preparation and education. That included studying the mental, physical and physiological stress ahead before the journey actually began.

“It was really about preparation. (Because of that), I wasn’t really nervous leading up to it,” Ryan said. “Getting ready for the trip, I studied a lot of gear reviews. You have to know which shoes, bags, tents and hammocks to get.

“I also started running more to get into shape. I did a lot of research on the trails as well, trying to figure out what to expect from each one.”

The Appalachian Trail isn’t as desolate as television shows often portray it to be. Nielsen wasn’t hunting and pillaging for food. The journey goes through different towns at times; about every three or four days, Nielsen was able to interact with others.

“The perception of hiking for long periods of time is that you’re constantly out in the woods hunting for food,” Nielsen said. “(In reality), there are a lot of other people on the trail and we help each other out.

“We’d occasionally come to a town, so (in between), we’d take enough food to last that duration. You have your guide book, which leads you to each town.

“The most dangerous part of the trip is if you aren’t fully prepared and versed in what’s ahead.”

The Appalachian Trail thru-hike was an adventure unlike any Nielsen had ever even considered. Having support from his family and friends was the key; it pushed Nielsen to achieve this goal.

“One of my dad’s clients, John Schmit (from Rockwell City), gave me a lot of tips,” Ryan said. “He’s done a lot of trails. He did part of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Harpers Ferry, Va.

“I had help getting started the first few days, but a lot of it was trial and error. The first few days, when you get to Niles Gap, there was the first outfitter. They help thru-hikers (examine) their gear; they’ll tell you if you need this or that. It’s more about the basics. You don’t need the luxury items.”

*This is the first in a two-part series featuring Fort Dodge’s Ryan Nielsen and his trip through The Appalachian Trail. A story in Monday’s Messenger will be about the journey itself.

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