Even for a day-hiker, reaching this sign is an accomplishment in and of itself, which is occasionally followed by the vertigo of the Knife Edge. For the southbound thru-hiker it is the beginning of the adventure, and it is a significant milepost for a flip-flopper like myself. Most importantly, it is the dramatic and iconic endpoint for the northbound thru-hiker. Thousands try every year. Only hundreds succeed.

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