After spending much of the last 16 years trekking across America, Bart Smith is on his way home.

Early this month the 49-year-old Lakewood man achieved his goal of hiking all 16,000-plus miles of the National Scenic Trail system. With a slight detour to Albuquerque, N.M., to pick up his van, Smith is heading to home to rest a bit, work on his next book and contemplate his accomplishments.

En route to Washington, Smith was going to stop and photograph some of the scenic vistas, geology and wildlife at Yellowstone and Glacier national parks. They will be used for a future book on his travels.

Smith said he was taken by the geology of Glacier: “It has this neat geology of millions of years of ocean sediment. Walking down the trail, you walk past all these layers of history,” he said. “It gives you a good perspective of how short our life spans on this world are.”

Once that bit of work is out of the way, Smith is looking forward to some of the simpler aspects of life off the trail, like listening to a baseball game on the radio.

“I miss television, music, driving,” he said. “Being with my wife will be nice. It will be fun just to come home and not have to do anything for a day or two, just kick back and relax.”

Smith’s wife, Bridgie, said she is looking forward to having him home on a full-time basis. When Smith decided five years ago to hike all the scenic trails, it meant he was going to be gone quite a bit.

“But it really worked out good. We talked all the time, and I have been able to join him at times. He was doing what he liked, and I was doing what I liked, so it was a win-win relationship,” said the MultiCare Medical Center nurse.

Smith said his journey along all eight of the trails has changed him. “I’m in good shape, my legs are like Charles Atlas. Walking the National Scenic Trails puts Bowflex and those machines to shame,” he said with a laugh.

Beyond the physical, Smith said he was touched by the kindness shown by people all across the United States. It was the common theme in each of the conversations we’ve had this year. Smith would often have to hitchhike back to his vehicle after completing a section of trail. Smith didn’t always hike a trail from end to end, but would do sections depending on weather conditions.

“America is filled with lots of really interesting people. But I didn’t run into a mean person. I think there is a bit of a disconnect. People think there are all these dangerous looneys running around, but I haven’t seen it. The American people all along the way have been so kind and generous.”

Smith said there is a sense of elation now that he is finished his trek. “But it’s almost hard to take in, in a sense.

“In an odd way, it’s kind of a nostalgic feeling. You’ve focused on something for so long, and then here it is. It’s just such an amazing experience, it’s hard to take it all in really.”

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640

jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure