Perseverance On The Appalachian Trail
Perseverance On The Appalachian Trail
Great Valley man raising funds for Parkinson’s Foundation during trip of a lifetime.
One of the more interesting things about life is knowing that you really never know what’s going to happen next. As a result sometimes you will find yourself in situations that, for better or for worse, you never in a hundred years expected to be in. It is what you do in those situations that will often define you.
There are approximately 930,000 people in the United States living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). By the year 2030 that number is expected to reach 1.2 million according to research done by the Parkinson’s Foundation. While the disease itself is not fatal, complications related to Parkinson’s can be very serious. Symptoms typically develop slowly but they do vary from person to person. Ultimately, Parkinson’s Disease can become a physically and emotionally draining diagnosis.
Starting in Georgia and ending in Maine (the direction many hikers choose to venture), the Appalachian Trail crosses 14 states and is approximately 2,200 miles long. That equates to somewhere north of 5,000,000 steps! Thru-hikers who take on this physical challenge end up doing the equivalence of climbing Mt. Everest 16 times; gaining and losing 464,464 feet of elevation throughout the duration of the hike. On average, it takes a hiker 165 days to complete the entire trail.
Six years ago, when Daniel Schoenthal’s doctor told him that he had been diagnosed with PD, Schoenthal’s first reaction was, “No way. He is wrong. That doesn’t happen to me.” Receiving life altering news like a Parkinson’s diagnosis can, justifiably, be an incredible blow to the psyche. Schoenthal, who resides in Great Valley, NY, had been thinking about doing the Appalachian Trail for years, and said that the diagnosis put him in a mindset of needing to do it sooner than later.
“I went through all the emotions that I had until one day I decided I wasn't going to let Parkinson's win,” said Schoenthal. It was at that point that the former Air Force airman and Steamfitter Union member decided to embark on, in his words, what may be the biggest challenge of his life. And so in 2015, with the blessing of his family, Schoenthal began preparing to take on the monstrous challenge that is the Appalachian Trail. Preparing for the journey is now, in some ways, easier than ever. There are plenty of online forums, websites, blogs and podcasts that offer advice on how to tackle the trail. Compared to what hiking the trail was like 30 years ago, we now live in a world of information overload when it comes to “how to hike the Appalachian Trail.” But when you expand that search to “how to hike the Appalachian Trail with Parkinson’s Disease” the information becomes much more limited. And the reason for that is the disease affects everyone differently. There is no right or wrong way to do it. At the end of the day, it was Schoenthal’s history of hard work and determination that prepared him for this venture.
“The biggest struggle with Parkinson’s is (that) my left side is affected and I get dystonia in my left foot and it gets painful at times,” Schoenthal stated. “Also being away from home for the extended period is mentally challenging.”
Last August, Schoenthal began the journey knowing that he would only have a short amount of time to complete a portion of the trail before the weather became too difficult to manage. He started at Amicalola Falls Lodge, in Dawsonville, GA and completed the first 300 miles; proving to himself that he could face the challenge of the trail.
On April 3rd, he picked up where he left off and began the journey again. If all goes well, Schoenthal hopes to be able to finish the trail in Maine in mid-August. But he is quick to say that he will listen to his body and go as far as it will allow him to go.
Trail names are the identity that thru-hikers go by while on the Trail. Daniel is not Daniel to those he meets out on the trail. He goes by Tremor, which he chose because tremors are the most notable symptom of PD. It’s one small way of taking back control over something that negatively affects so many people with PD.
While Schoenthal started off hiking solo, he has met up with hikers who have supported him and provided company along the way. He credits Vanilla Bill, So-ah and Irish to name a few. When you are hiking upwards of 13 to 15 miles a day, which Schoenthal is currently averaging, having that extra company can make a huge difference. He recently passed 600 total miles on his journey, which means he is over 1/4 of the way finished.
“My journey is a personal experience that wouldn't be happening if it weren't for my family's support,” said Schoenthal. “I post pictures (search Facebook fundraisers for Dan’s Appalachian Trail fundraiser for Parkinson’s Foundation) as frequently as cell service allows. I know there's a lot of Parkinson's patients that have a hard time getting moving after being diagnosed. But Parkinson's isn't who we are, it's what we have and exercise is vital to keeping the disease at bay. And if someone is struggling, the Parkinson’s Foundation has resources to help.”
In speaking with Schoenthal, it is evident that he is grateful for every day that he is out on the trail. “The most gratifying thing so far is having gone 600 miles,” he said. “Every day is a different view. I meet different people almost daily and I am helping raise awareness for Parkinson's Disease and the Parkinson's Foundation.” It is that kind of appreciation, along with his natural tenacity, that allows him to push through the times where his joints are too stiff and his legs are sore.
To Schoenthal, there have been plenty of educational moments throughout his journey. But the lesson that he likes to emphasize is that out on the trail, we are all the same. The Appalachian Trail will humble you. “I have met people of all ages, shapes, colors, economic backgrounds and political differences. People who are millionaires to people just starting out (in life). And none of that matters out here. There's a common bond as hikers to do the best we can. If the world would do the same, imagine the world we could have!”