Quick Post-AT Life Updates

I think your view about your hike will change over time. It has changed you in ways you haven’t figured out yet. I saw you on trail in Vermont and we briefly talked. You are a part of a relatively small club, many of us felt lost upon returning to “real life”. In my days nobody talked about that. It’s hard having so much ahead of you and finding the right path in life. You will be fine. Don’t stop hiking. It’s good for you. Thanks for being so honest.

Justin my family met you in Connecticut. You were a gift to myself and adult children. We will always give trail magic and think of you. I send people to your You Tube page!

Justin, you are a quality human. I still remember your beautiful tribal acknowledgements as you traversed their territory. Giving back to others, as you now seem destined, with fill your own cup. That’s what will bring you happiness. You learned a lot during this past year that has value. Share it. You could be the change in a young person’s life. What greater gift?

Justin, So very good to hear from you and excited to hear of your interest in wilderness therapy programs. My caution in that regard is to appreciate that all such programs are not created equally and the research remains inconclusive with respect to significant positive outcomes experienced by participants. That is certainly not to say this “treatment” modality cannot have a significant impact in increasing and possibly habituating problem solving skills useful for addressing life’s challenges. We all engage in problem solving, often through self counseling or self talk. The extent to which this is useful, I believe, is contingent on possession of the personal skill sets necessary to accurately evaluate what we are telling ourselves about events we encounter as we journey through life each day and how our thoughts about those events influence our responses. Given your apparent penchant for exploring any new area of interest, I have little doubt you have/will examine closely this field of interest to help guide you in your thinking about career decisions you may make. Using wilderness settings as a vehicle to help individuals broaden perspectives, increase problem solving skill sets, team building, self exploration, engage in rational thinking, etc, does have a proven track record, you need look no further than the Outward Bound program started in the UK in the mid 1940’s now found in many countries (including the US). Specifically, in the US, I refer you to a program with similar conceptual underpinnings, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) begun in Lander Wyoming in the middle 60’s. You may find of special interest, beyond their involvement with NASA, the University of Utah, and The Wilderness Medicine Institute, their role in initiating, organizing and leading Expedition Denali , the first team of African Americans to attempt a summit of Denali (Mt McKinley). I guess what I am trying to say, perhaps poorly, is if this is truly a career direction you want to move in life it may prove useful to build upon your already significant accomplishments by acquiring additional experiential/educational background that would support this pursuit. I apologize for running on for so long but after forty plus years of trying to make a difference in the life of folks who just need some help in acquiring the resources and skills necessary to become the person they each identify as contributing members of this challenging world in which we live, I have come to believe you have the prerequisite character, intellect and physical capability necessary to be successful in this field of endeavor and this is my way of offering encouragement. Best wishes and good thoughts coming your way, peace brother.

Dear Justin, I watched a sampling of your videos today of your thru hike journey including this one. I loved the videos and I hope you are feeling better. I also just wanted to say, nothing in life quite works out as expected for all of us whether it’s a thru hike, marriage, family, jobs, children etc. life brings us all disappointments and heartache just at different times. I said a special prayer for you today. I think you are a special light and person and have much to offer this world. 😊😊😍❤️

Super cute hair! Always love your honesty and straightforwardness in your videos. I feel that it is so hard to put into words what it feels like to come back from a thru hike…I’m over a year past when I completed my AT thru hike, and I still don’t quite know how to talk about to people who haven’t done one. I’m glad you’re getting some time and space to figure out what you might want to do next, and recovery is so important. Wilderness therapy sounds awesome! I will keep lookin for those further updates whenever you feel up to posting them. ✌️

Glad to see you again! I think you would be amazing at the Wilderness camps! If only I had the courage that you have when I was younger to follow my dreams.

Justin, Thanks for the update! Love the hair BTW. Wish you were on my coast and we could go grab a coffee or head down to my little place on the ocean in Mexico just to decompress. One thing about all your videos i've found is I feel you, in every single one, whether it be your frustration or you depression or joy, so you have a gift of reeling people in. The one thing you have to ask yourself and it's not always an easy question to answer but...What brings you joy? You have so much ahead of you and at this point can do whatever you want with your life because you have no strings yet. Yeah not having a car is a set back but that's temporary and you'll have one soon enough that is if you want one again. The non-profit sounds like it will be a fulfilling job but again lets see if it brings you JOY, if it does great stick with it or something like it. Back to your AT experience you still may not have found what you've learned yet but maybe in time you will, don't beat yourself up about it, it is what it is! I believe in everything happens for a reason and I believe you hiked that hike alone for a reason, not known as of yet. Anyway I wish you all the best and I look forward to learning how things are going for you and the new job so please keep us updated. I'm soon going to purchase an RV and take off on the road for a year or two so that should be interesting, maybe i'll start a YouTube channel LOL. All my best to you Justin please think positive thoughts and be happy for the blessings you have which are many. Your family brought tears to my eyes in the episode with them visiting you, close family is truly a blessing. LOVE, HOPE and HAPPINESS

God bless you in your next endeavors. You are very honest and sharing and I think that is wonderful. Keep in mind that you really could not control how things "played out" on the AT. You put yourself out there because you had a vision. Even though it was not what you expected you finished the AT in spite of everything else that was happening in your world. Listening to you talk about the wilderness therapy I was struck by how appropriate that could be, I am guessing that is no surprise. I have never heard of that term but when I was young my mom sent me on a 3 week experience in the northern Maine wilderness and I was surrounded by young people from all walks of life that were experiencing the "outdoors" for the first time. I did not realize this for many years, but it was a really impactful experience for me. I am confident that you can impart some great knowledge and caring comfort to anyone in the wilderness therapy program. Good luck and I will look forward to future updates.

Congrats and one day you will look back at your trip with a sense of accomplishment. Expectations often lead to unsatisfied results. Follow your heart.

Thank you for your insight. I’m prepping for the AT & your honesty is really refreshing. I’m sorry the trail wasn’t what you’d hoped.

Sending you well wishes as you continue to adjust and find what's next. The wilderness therapy sounds amazing. I hope it works out!

Hey Justin - I wanted to first send you a belated congratulations for finishing your hike - I followed you from day 1 but fell behind in late summer. It is such a significant achievement - you worked so hard and achieved your goal and I hope you're proud of your accomplishment. I appreciated your honesty throughout the hike - as I hope to one day thru hike, I find these honest assessments eye opening. I'm sorry you don't yet have 100% positive feelings of your journey and that at times you felt isolated. I hope you're able to hold on to the good - I saw you have lots of good moments and maybe over time you'll prioritize the good over the bad in your mind. I wish you all of the best going forward and please keep us updated of any future plans!!

Hi! So glad to see you again! It is a blessing that you could actually take the time to rest, heal, and have a home to return too. You are an awesome young man, and I just know it time you will find your footing and life’s purpose. You take care, enjoy your life journey, one day at a time!❤️🙏🏾❤️

Justin, I am super proud of you. I heard about your hike through your family. They were SOOOO proud of you. I had never heard of anyone that is young African American male and gay that has openly taken this journey. Your honesty and the sadness...will help someone ....you should seek some support....talk to someone who understands ALL your struggles...you have a lot of experiences to share, and these experiences will help someone else. It hurts now....but you will regain that spark...stay FOCUSED....I am looking forward to hearing your VICTORIES!!!

Thanks for letting us know what ur up to. You have a great (screen) presence. I always enjoyed your videos Justin. You are well spoken. ☮️♥️

Glad to see you’re “back”! Like the do!! Sorry to hear about your struggles. I can tell you were and still are disappointed with your trail experience; however, this was a major accomplishment that you completed. In time you will realize it when you realize the value of your achievement. I am quite proud of your accomplishment and grateful that you were willing to share your true feelings and the journey. I wish you well in life and your next adventure. Stay positive and “this to shall pass.”

Ahhhhh!!! Justin! I’m so happy to see you!!!

Justin, it’s really great to see you again. Honest and true as always. I wish and hope that you find the joy you are seeking . As for the AT, you have inspired this LGBT senior Black women to start hiking. I never thought in a million years that I would even entertain such an challenge. But I’m making plans. I’ve done 10 Aids lifecycle rides and now I’m taking up hiking. Inspired by a gentleman named Justin who I’ve never met but who generously took me and so many others on an amazing adventure. You honored El Chapo. You honored the Native people who came before us and cared for the land. You cared for the land . It was lonely like many things are when a person finds themselves in a place where no one looks like them or has shared experiences. Bless you for hanging in there. So many are proud of your accomplishment and so inspired by your example . I hope one day you see the importance of your AT Thru hike. All the best in your new work. Any person who finds you as their mentor and guide , will be the luckiest person ever ! 😊

Thank you for sharing your truth. I know it took a lot to get on here and share. I like you have different perspective and you kept it real. I look forward to seeing what will be next for you ❤