Thinking of hiking the AT. Hoping I can get some advice. I have been dreaming about hiking the AT since I was about 8 or 9. I planned to hike it out of high school in a gap year, but never did. I am currently a sophomore at the University of Vermont living in Burlington. I am 21 years old. I'm unsure of whether or not I am at the right school or even in the right place in life. The only thing I'm sure about is that I love my girlfriend, and I love the outdoors. I can take a semester off, or a whole year if I'd like. But that would take some planning around loans and scholarships and what not. My good friend thru-hiked in 2016. He said he will help me and that I should just do it. My one fear is that I will miss my girlfriend like crazy. What do y'all think? Should I be like Nike and Just Do It?