Along the way, the two developed a routine, walking together a few miles, having lunch, and meeting up later to share stories of their day and plan the next. Cowan was often the person retrieving fresh water for the pair, and Johnson, a natural planner, would map out the next day’s mileage and stops on their behalf. Many hikers expect to spend much of their time on the trail in solitude, as Cowan and Johnson did, but with their extended trail families, neither was alone long. Cowan said the occasional meetings between hikers moving at the same pace was like being on a city road and running into neighbors. Johnson agreed. “When you meet people in real life, you hang out a few hours at a time,” she said. “Friendship grows slowly. But with the trail, you’re spending every waking minute with these people, and it feels like you’ve known a person for years.” Though they would eventually finish at separate times, within two weeks of each other, Johnson (known on the trail as Shilly Shally) hiked more than 1,200 miles with Cowan (known as “Hamlet” for his penchant for passing time by memorizing soliloquies, like Hamlet’s famous “To Be or Not to Be”). As their feet and knees adjusted to the weight of their packs, they eventually progressed to hiking as many as 26 miles in a single day. Once or twice a week, depending on the route, they would plan stops in town to resupply, recharge batteries, and check in with family. (Cowan also took time to upload new photos to social media keeping friends up to date with his progress, using the hashtag #appalachianreboot.) As part of the resupply trips into town, Cowan looked forward to hot food, and Johnson sought out the nearest Mexican restaurants. AT hikers are known for being voracious eaters, seeking to replenish calories lost through constant movement. Cowan, in his mid-60s, was already lean, but he dropped another 25 pounds on the trail. His diet just couldn’t keep up with the non-stop level of activity, and he began to dislike the sugary, carb-filled trail food. The effect of navigating sharp rocks, walking across the bottom of river beds, and scrambling up hills was leaving his body aching each morning. “It was a lot harder than I thought—I had no idea,” said Cowan with a laugh. “That was good, though; sometimes I think it’s best not to know too much [ahead of time]. If I knew what I knew now, I’d say ‘yeah, it’s too hard.’” His military background was a boon though. He cited the military’s eternal optimistic can-do spirit as motivation. “I had no doubt that I could [finish], and I don’t know why, because it was hard! I think it was an attitude I got from the military. We’re tasked to do things all the time that are out of our wheelhouse—but we figure out how to do it. I went into this with the same attitude, and as hard as it got…. I kept going.” Around the halfway point near the Delaware Water Gap, Cowan found his desire to complete the trail was flagging. He wrestled with himself, realizing how crazy the idea of walking 2,000 miles really was. Resolved, he decided to take off the next day and rest. However, in the morning, he felt better, and started walking again. As he continued to document his progress, leaving Pennsylvania in his wake, news of his endeavor spread Retired Coast Guard master chief petty officer Tom Cowan and his hiking partner, Jacqui Johnson (center and left), hike the 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail in summer 2021. Cowan’s family and friends tracked pictures like these on social media, cheering him on from afar. His photo of the completion of the hike (page 26) was taken Aug. 13, 2021, from the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. Issue 4 • 2021 � RESERVIST 25
