By Michael Karjavine
“I put my foot on a rock or a boulder that I thought was going to hold, and all of a sudden… I didn’t get knocked out, but it stunned me, it shocked me, and when I got back to it – I was on my back. I was like: ‘Oh my God! What happened?’ And I said to myself: ‘I fell’ Because I couldn’t believe it. I could feel pain, but I didn’t really know where it was coming from.”
This memorable moment is one of many that Dave Privasky, a biology and science teacher in Collegiate’s Upper School, experienced on his five-year journey on the Appalachian Trail (AT). As reported in The Match in May 2021, he separated his journey into five different sections, about 300-400 miles each, except for the last one this summer, where he walked 700 miles. Running into bears, deer and other animals became a common thing for him, a hiker who spent much time outdoors. Through many injuries, blood, and sweat, he finished the journey this summer on August 1; a journey he had started with his son Kevin (‘29) on June 27, 2018.
Privasky and his kids on the AT.
Kevin accompanied his father on the very first week of his trek, and Privasky gave a moving speech about this in the 2018 Upper School Thanksgiving Assembly. “[Kevin] probably did more hiking in the first week out there than an average American does in a lifetime.” At the end of the journey this summer, Privasky’s wife, Middle School math teacher Pam, Kevin, and daughter Maddy (‘26), joined him for the last week as they crossed the finish line. “It was really special to begin the trail and finish it together.”
Starting back in 2017, Privasky planned to finish the journey in the summer of 2023, separating the Appalachian Trail into six sections, at around 300-400 miles each. The first two summers ended in injuries, with two broken feet the first year, and then two spider bites that turned into a severe fever and a trip to the emergency room the second year. The third and fourth were injury-free. This summer, however, instead of hiking 300 miles and leaving the rest for 2023, Privasky decided to walk the last 700 miles over the course of seven weeks. In those seven weeks, he witnessed the prettiest part of the AT, in his opinion: Maine, the Pine Tree State. He says, “My favorite state was probably Maine,” even though he liked the other parts as well. “Each year had something different to offer. Each section gave me different memories. Something unique, special happened in each spot.”
Privasky’s journey over the summers.
During this summer’s last section, while hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Privasky dislocated his shoulder. The night before, Privasky had stayed in a shelter because it had rained very hard. There was only one other hiker in that cabin, which is rare, because usually on rainy days shelters are filled up with at least five or six hikers. The next morning, he decided to continue his journey as soon as the rain stopped. Because the trail was slippery, Privasky accidentally slipped and fell.
After the fall, his arm didn’t move, even when he tried to move it. He couldn’t get up because he had his giant backpack strapped to his back. After calling for help, he heard an answer that someone was on their way, so he just waited for people to come. Soon a man and a woman came around the corner of the trail, helped him up and, after his explanation on how to do it, the woman pulled his arm out and popped it back in. They stayed with Privasky for a few minutes to make sure he wasn’t going to go into shock and gave him some painkillers.
Privasky on Franconia Ridge in New Hampshire.
Soon, Privasky was back on his way. He says, “Overall, the fact that I had a fall and I was able to pop it back in, it could have been way worse. I could have broken or shattered my hip, I could have broken my leg, I could have smashed my head on the rock and been completely unconscious. Long story short, I was really lucky. What could have been a disaster, could have been an evacuation… I ended up being able to get up, shake it off, take some ibuprofen, strap on my backpack, and keep going.” Privasky was so determined to finish the hike that he hiked through that pain.
During his five summers on the AT, Privasky encountered 20 bears, plenty of deer, and other wild animals. Unfortunately, he didn’t see the animal he wanted to see the most: “I really wanted to see a moose in New Hampshire or Maine… Everyone wants to see a moose out there.” Though he claims to have heard one, he spooked the moose away.
Privasky also had to survive a few severe thunderstorms. “There were a few nights where I could actually hear trees crashing in the distance around me. I’d wake up and say: ‘Oh wow, that tree fell and that tree fell.’” One of the nights, Privasky actually had to run into the shelter during the night because his tent flooded. Even though sleeping while hiking is usually associated with tents, you sometimes need to resupply, or dry things out, or wait out storms, so there are hostels located throughout the AT. “You saw a lot of character and charm in these places. I would encourage hikers to stay in hostels, because you get a really unique perspective on trial life, and if you go to a hotel, you completely miss it.”
Sunrise on the AT.
When asked about advice for hikers, Privasky said, “My advice would be get out there and practice. Don’t let your first camping trip be the start of an adventure like that [the AT]. Because that’s really hard. So if you want to hike the trail, get some gear, go out there, and go to Shenandoah and try for a day or two.”
Privasky says, “Make a bucket list. I really believe in bucket lists and trying to establish some things that are meaningful to you, and that you want to do in the days that we have.”
All photos courtesy of Dave Privasky.
One thought on “Dave Privasky and the Appalachian Trail: Falling and Getting Back Up”