Being a traveler is never easy. It becomes even tougher when you have been riding or driving incessantly for long hours. The body becomes so accustomed and used to long hours of riding and driving that we are left confused when we do anything but travelling. We literally forget how it is to walk with those 2 legs. I experienced something similar after my trip to America to hike the 2,600 miles of the famed Pacific Crest Trail.

On having returned back home after finishing my thru-hike, I felt completely isolated and alienated. I was unable to face the new reality of life and the fact of not walking north every single day made me a solitary soul. I had become so dis-engaged that I did not even think about it or talk about it to anyone. Unexpectedly, it just ended one day. That is when I thought of talking about it and realised that I was not alone.

Expectations Can Be Challenging Too

It was during the end of my California hike when I made friends with a fellow hiker, who gave me some company on the last 1000 miles of my hike. Conversations on topic such as nature, nation, mental health, and mood swings happened. It was during this time that I got familiar with the reality. They told me that they suffer from bipolar disorder and that thru-hiking provides them relief.

Unaware of the after effects of finishing a trail, they felt and experienced no joy even after having completed the Appalachian Trail with the classic summit of Mount Katahdin. There was no sense of pride and triumph. This was followed by solitary depression and a downhill of emotions. Suicidal thoughts took over their minds. They decided that going for another thru-hike would be a solution to this and thus, planned another thru-hike with better tools in order to survive the after effects of hiking.

I met another hiker at the beginning of my hike. He too had undergone a phase of depression after-trail. Instead of feeling motivated and productive, all he could feel was ashamed, conflicted, unmotivated and depressed. This was completely the opposite of what he had expected. There was a sense of loss.

Post-hike Depression

In order to know the root cause of such behavior I had a word with my doctor. He told me that a lot of athletes have consulted him for personal issues and post-hike issues.

As per him, there can be a lot of factors that lead to such unexpected behavior. One major factor is financial stress. Many hikers lose any sort of stable income when they decide to set out on a hiking expedition. A sense of loss and belonging too creeps in. This occurs due to loss of the endorphins that their brain gets used to while they are experiencing a sense of companionship along with their fellow hikers.

Signs and Symptoms

According to my doctor, the only way of diagnosing such an issue is when thru-hikers begin to disintegrate themselves with the society and people around them, when they do not love to be in anyone’s company, but enjoy their alone time. Having suicidal thoughts more often and not being willing to get into any kind of job or work too are signs of depression and post-hike effects. Professional assistance should be considered at such times.

How to Manage Post-Trail Depression?

1. Plan post-hike: Chidester suggests that one should always make sure they have post-hiking ideas. To know your routine after all your hiking adventures can be helpful to keep away from any negative impacts.

2. Exercise: Looking for alternatives to stay fit also helps fight depression.

3. Talk and share experiences: This can provide you with relief. Sharing things and talking of hiking experiences with friends and family or other hikers helps you maintain a sense of belonging.

4. Be realistic: Being aware of post-hiking symptoms is an advantage as you are not surprised with what will come after.

5. Search for happiness: Bitterness is never the key to happiness. De-stress by thanking people around you, and look for things that make you happy.

6. Create routines: Preventing any kind of post-hiking symptoms is much easier when one follows a particular routine and has a healthy schedule prepared.

7. Get professional help: Do not wait for any professional assistance. Seeking professional help can be therapeutic, and should be sought out especially if you are having thoughts of hurting yourself.