The "Why" Factor

Yes, the dreaded "why" question.  Why are you hiking the trail?  Why are you out here?  It starts where... Georgia?!  And goes to where... Maine?!  It's going to take how long?!  That doesn't sound like fun...  Or whatever variant of the "why" question the person can come up with.
People hike the trail for a lot of different reasons.  Some are out here to prove themselves or to others.  Some want an adventure.  Some have had "hike the AT" on the to-do list for years.  Others decided a short time before leaving (like me).  Some want to simply get away or find peace with themselves.  And the list goes on and on...  When answering the "why" question, most hikers by now have fabricated a canned answer that is hopefully easily understood by those that can't quite wrap their mind around hiking from Georgia to Maine.
For me, hiking the trail was a dream acquired less than one year ago.  I've always had an adventurous and spontaneous spirit.  One day last summer, I remember I wanted to go for a hike.  I don't know why, I just did.  I had a calling...??
I discovered the AT and decided to do a short section hike last summer.  On that section hike, I fell in love with the trail, the scenery, the community the AT can harbor, and the personal discoveries, satisfaction, and ties to nature the trail can offer.  Before I knew it, I had acquired gear and had hiked multiple sections along the AT before the year 2010 came to a close.  The rest is history.
However, it wouldn't be 100% true for me to say that the reason I'm thru hiking is because of a whim I had last summer.  Since I started my hike, a few reasons for hiking have been added to the list.  For me, I discover new reasons for thru hiking as the hike progresses, while other reasons remain steadfast.  I wanted an adventure and a challenge.  Check and check.  I wanted to see spectacular scenery.  Check.  I wanted to see more of America via foot travel.  Check.  I wanted to discover things I didn't know about myself.  Semi-check.
If you had asked me back in Georgia why I was attempting a thru hike, I probably couldn't have given you a clear answer.  And to be honest, I still probably couldn't give you a clear answer.  Even after 850+ miles. It's just something I felt I wanted (and dare I say, have) to do. I look forward to discovering why I am out here.  Until then, I hike on...

James River footbridge (the longest foot-use-only bridge on the entire AT)