When the trail calls, you put one foot in front of the other

   Have you ever found yourself wondering, “What do I do next?” There are several things that can inspire a person to accomplish something incredible. Coping with intense loss, a desire to explore, to support a value, a long-aspired trek. 

    Egon Overgaard, long-time Lakeland visitor (now resident), Navy veteran, and outdoorsman was driven by these events and emotions.  As years had come and gone, raising a family and making the Northland move around 2009, he and his wonderful, loving wife of 57 years, Carol, prepared for retirement and adventure. However, she began needing more advanced care. Although their two daughters, Heather and Trish, helped support them during the most difficult times, Egon still needed to do something to keep his mind clear and his spirit at ease- especially after she passed in autumn 2021. 

    His solution… walking. It didn’t particularly matter where, or for how long, he just had to keep his feet moving- one in front of the other.  After so long together, it’s difficult to consider how to move forward with an adjusted routine, out-of-step.

    “There is in fact a type of meditation practiced by Buddhists called Walking Meditation. My time walking helped me to clarify what my life might be like looking forward,” he posted on his Blog on thetrek.co on January 16, 2022. 

    Egon’s time in the Navy inspired him to explore and visit places such as the Appalachian Mountains, a highland system in Eastern America, spanning 2,000 miles from central Alabama to Newfoundland, Canada. Its trail follows the mountain’s crest over 14 states, several national parks and forests. An estimated 3,000 hikers attempt this trek. “The trail was calling me for some reason, before I did it,” he explained.

   He spent time along the North Country Trail, snowmobile trails and other areas around the Lakeland to train through winter of 2022. On March 10, 2022, his ‘Enablers’ Mike and Hope drove with him through to Amicalola Falls, Georgia.  He began his journey atop Springer Mountain, Georgia, after first hiking the Appalachian Trail Approach. 

   By March 16, he had traveled his first 50 miles along the Trail. “What I learned was the trail sets the pace, the trail sets the agenda, and all I have to do is listen.” He also found Preacher’s Rock, where he took a moment to take in the scenery. His daughter, Pastor Trish of Salem Lutheran Church in Longville, crossed his mind. “I sat looking out over the valleys and thought how cool it would be to listen to her give a sermon from there.  I wondered what inspiration she might get from this beautiful spot.  Would I be able to listen or would the view distract me?”

   With each step, mile and blog post made, Egon wasn’t only looking to find his new self, he was working to support his home and passions from afar. “We’re working on a solar project at Salem Lutheran that will provide half of our electricity for the year. I don’t know, things like renewable energy and caring for our resources are kind of important to me. If I could help make that happen, that’s what I’ll do as much as I can.” 

   Friends, locals and supporters from around the country pledged per mile or a flat donation in response of Egon’s expedition goals for Salem. 

   “It helped spread the word from newspaper articles that I was out doing this. I got donations from all over, I don’t recall entirely how far- but they just read it in the newspaper. I was also on WCCO, then 30 other TV stations supposedly rebroadcast the interview,” he remarked. “I was on from Alaska, Texas, even Maine. In fact, while I was eating in Maine and the waitress kept coming back to our table. She looked at me and said, ‘I think I saw you on TV!’”

   “We’re over halfway to our goal. It’s exciting for a little town like Longville to do things like that. It’ll be good for Salem, working to make changes to be more sustainable and active in important topics. I believe solar and renewable energy are important for our country. I’m happy to be a part of it,” he stated. 

   He found other explorers along the way, each with their own story and reason to be walking. 

   Egon began to feel the rhythm of his footsteps match his heartbeat, and each step became the heartbeat of the trail. “Try as I may I’m not exactly a navigator,” he admitted about his first 100 miles on the trial. “I got turned around a few times.” 

   He met Leah and Kevin, a couple who had finished raising their family, sold their home and now had the drive to find new experiences with their time. “At that moment, I was actually kind of lost, I just didn’t realize it yet,” he laughed. After mistaking a side-trail to a monument for his ‘proper turn’, he ran into his new-found ‘tramily’ (trail-family)- an important part of hiking in Appalachia and across the country. 

   He even tried to warn them. “I told them, ‘It’s just a monument up there’,” he laughed. Egon found solace with Kev and Leah, who took him under their wings to help guide his path. “I’m not great at planning, either. Kev with his Army experience was very skilled at navigating. His presence helped a lot.” Camp areas and trail conditions varied daily; one needs to know what to expect for 3 or 4 days ahead.

   Trail names for each developed as their friendship did. Egon became “Goat Romper”, Leah “AzaLeah” for the flower blossoming along the trail to match her soul, and “Zan” for Kev. 

   “They’re from Winona, Minnesota!” Egon exclaimed. “It just goes to show, our Minnesota Nice comes with us everywhere we are.” 

   Day after day, the three of them traveled from campsite to site. “It depended on terrain and elevation,” he started. “If you’re going up, you only do 12 to 15 miles. If it’s not demanding, you could do 18 or 20. We averaged around 15 miles per day. Some days, you had to go to town to get supplies and wash your clothes.” 

   “There were times where you would end up at campsites with a group and for several days. You’re kind of traveling together, but not really. Everyone moved at their own pace,” Egon explained. The trio had 10 to 12 people they spent considerable time with. “I still text with several of these tramily members every few days or so,” he said. “It’s nice to maybe have a fire at night, sit and visit.”

   Most consumable water was found from natural springs along the trail. “We had an app on our phones to tell us about the trail, where this and that where, where there were water sources,” Egon recollected. “Mostly, we drank from a spring.” However, he found a section through New York where a lot of springs were, unfortunately, dried up. 

   Even with poor environmental resource availability, every turn of the Trail resulted in a different, breathtaking view. “Just the signs and sites you see on the side of the trail were just awesome,” he remembered. “I often took pictures of what I was seeing, but you just don’t get the same magical feeling.”

   McAfee Knob, found on Catawba Mountain, may have been Egon’s favorite sight. “It’s an iconic outcropping when you stand and take a picture from the side, you look like you’re hanging over nothing – it’s not as scary as it looks! Got there right at sunset, just a gorgeous sunset. We camped close by for the sunrise. That was my favorite spot of the whole trip!”

   Along the way, he found ‘Trail Hearts’ perched in peculiar places. “Peace and love from me and the Trail,” became a regular closing for his Facebook and Blog posts. 

   He didn’t feel as though he had intense setbacks or restrictions. “I felt lucky the first 1,000 miles,” Egon reminisced. “I had no trouble with my feet or my knees, although I got to a point where I got blisters on my feet, not a lot of fun!” He cringed. “But I found a hiking hack- some socks like gloves, where each toe has a section- those helped my blisters!”

   Along the way were roads connecting the Trail to towns for supplies and other necessities. ‘Trail Angels’ often left gifts for hikers: water, snacks, trinkets and a welcoming hand. 

   “They leave some of the greatest things. You’d be tired, and all of a sudden they’d set up a tent with fruit, water, pop- they couldn’t give ya enough!” Egon recalled happily. “I think most Trail Angels had made the trek before and they just like being around people on the Trail. That was really fun- you’d just happen to find someone doing Trail Magic.”

   One of Egon’s favorite Trail Angels gave out hamburgers: “The best I’ve ever had in my life! Of course, it could have been because I was hungry…” he said. “They just couldn’t do enough for us. No money, they just wanted you to eat more! So we did!”

   “A whole bunch of small things makes a difference,” he asserted. “I want to return next year as a Trail Angel!”

   When he got close to the last 300 miles, his knees started wearing out. “Not to the point where I couldn’t keep going,” Egon insisted. 

   It wasn’t uncommon to see someone pushing through the pain. “You see people obviously in pain and you think they should stop but they just keep going,” he said. For those without 6 months of spare time to hike, or who are starting hobby hiking and need to ease into it, people can do sections of the trail at a time. 

   The terrain could be ‘interesting’- you’re either climbing up or going down. 

   “It’s a lot of climbing and hope at the top you’ll be able to walk along a ridge, but no- you go up, down and start over again. Sometimes it’s pretty easy, but mostly there were a lot of hot, sticky, loose rocks. It’s not really easy, but certainly anyone could do it.” Evenings to relax and refresh at camp were important for carrying on. He’d get up the next day, having forgotten those things, and just kept going. 

   Egon only felt ‘down’ in his head once during hiking, but he never got to the point of wanting to quit. “I think everyone, myself included, had a feeling that somehow there would be healing on the trail. You get to be in your head for hours on end, you do a lot of thinking. That’s one of the real big reasons people are on the trail. They don’t always know what they’re looking for – or if you know when you find it- but it really happens there.” 

   For the last 100 miles or so, he spent his time with a group of 5; he summited Mount Katahdin, Maine with them. 

   “You’re transitioning, going from a life I’ve known for a long time to a new life. I think it was certainly a transition for me- I was looking for something, yeah. I’m closer to that point,” he explained. “It was interesting to me, the fact that when I didn’t know how to feel… I knew there was a chance I would figure some stuff out for myself on the trail. I didn’t know if, or when it would happen.”

   On Friday, September 16, Egon posted to Facebook: 2194.3 miles and here I am.

Mount Katahdin, Baxter Peak, Baxter State Park

    The practice of healing doesn’t end at the trailhead. 

   “I’ve always known whether someone was like me or not. I found the trail taught me I need to be less judgmental of people and, ya know, just because someone doesn’t agree doesn’t make them a bad person,” he declared. “We could be friends there. Of all my sorting out on the trail, that’s been what I’ve taken away the most. I’ve met a lot of really good people, that’s really what’s important in the end. What I thought was so important before… maybe isn’t.”

   He’s still working on sorting some of those things out. “I think I’m still processing the past 10 months– I didn’t feel an epiphany at the end. To be honest, since I’ve been home, it’s been one thing after another. I’ve been really busy so I’m getting some clarity and perspective on my life and what I need. You just have to be open to it and go for it.” The reflections Egon makes every day helps him move forward with his new normal.

   Now that he’s home to Longville, his feet still won’t stop. “I was surprised at the North Country Trail, being so close yet so gorgeous-I trained on it and now I’ve been exploring more. Walking is just part of who I am,” Egon determined. 

   “It’s surprised me the number of people I run into around town, or Walker or anywhere, that knew what I was doing and would act like it was a big deal. I don’t feel like it was such a big deal, but I’ve gotten a hell of a lot of hugs from people,” he said with modesty.

   Egon grew up in Southwest Iowa, joined the Navy and married Carol when they were both just 20. After his discharge, he worked in construction. In the 60’s, he started exploring and enjoying the Boundary Waters Recreation Area. His family started coming up to the Federal Dam area after purchasing a cabin and Egon started coming up on the weekends to work on things. 

   “When I retired in 2009 or 2010, I bought where I live now. I love the area! When I first moved here, I thought it was cool that I could walk around and no one knew me- but that’s gone to the wayside. I love the people here! I have a lot of good friends here. My two daughters are close, so that’s a huge bonus. My son, Jeff, works for UPS and is close to retiring. I have 7 grandkids and 4 great-grandkids. They make it all worthwhile! I love my grandkids,” Egon exclaimed.  

   For his most recent expedition, he went away with one daughter and two grandchildren for MEA weekend. They planned to visit Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore and maybe even pan for gold in the Black Hills! 

   Goat Romper, Zan and AzaLeah plan to visit Salem Lutheran Church on Sunday, November 13 in the afternoon to share more details, findings and adventures from the Trail. 

   Join us to see how Egon’s latest fundraiser is going: one dollar per vote for “Keep it or Cut it” of his trail beard. All proceeds will benefit Salem’s Solar System and one lucky supporter will perform the clipping. Watch along County Road 5 for Egon’s daily walk! 

   Salem Lutheran Church is located at 1340 County Road 5, Longville.