Pictured Above: While Miguel Santiago feels physically prepared for his trip, he knows he’s in for a challenge.
Courtesy of Miguel Santiago
After four years as an Air Force firefighter, Miguel Santiago is ready to take on his next challenge: the Appalachian Trail.
The Appalachian Trail is 2,190 miles long and spans between the Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.
The 29-year-old junior mass communications major will begin his hike in February. He plans to complete the challenge in six months.
“My son has always liked adventure,” Santiago’s mother, Omayra Colon, said. “This is one of his goals to meet and he will achieve it.”
Santiago will be bringing his camera and documenting the experience on his YouTube channel, CaptureItOnCam, so his viewers can experience the journey with him.
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“The goal of the channel I created on YouTube (is) solely meant to challenge people and get them out of their comfort zone,” Santiago said. “Don’t be scared to try new things. It’s really easy to sit behind a screen and live vicariously, but it’s 100 times better if you can experience it yourself.”
Santiago’s parents are looking forward to watching his update videos and feel safer knowing they can track his progress.
“I can live vicariously and feel like I’m with them,” Santiago’s father, Miguel Santiago, said.
To prepare for his journey, Santiago has been hiking and biking daily as well as preparing his body for different temperatures and weather conditions.
“I’ve been sleeping outside whenever it gets cold,” Santiago said.
In the beginning of the hike Santiago plans to cover eight to 10 miles a day, but as the hike progresses and he gets his “hiking legs,” he plans to cover around 15 miles a day.
While Santiago feels physically prepared, he expects the hike to pose a significant psychological challenge..
“Mentally preparing has been really big for me,” Santiago said. “It can be really exciting in the beginning, waking up in beautiful new places, but after two months of being in the woods it’s going to be hard.”
Santiago will not be facing these challenges alone, however, and will be accompanied by his girlfriend, Nadia Watson, and his best friend from the Air Force, George Murray.
“It’s reassuring to know the people who are closest to me and support me and are actually going with me,” Santiago said.
Above all, Santiago is looking forward to the personal growth he hopes to experience during the next six months.
“This trip is going to help me be in the present instead of looking forward so much,” Santiago said. “Sometimes I forget to appreciate the moment as much as I’d like.”
Santiago will remain enrolled at USF while he is away and will complete his degree after he returns.
“I already have an appointment with my guidance counselor for when I get back,” he said.
