Along my Appalachian Trail thru hike I met a ton of really interesting and motivating people; thru hikers and not. There is such a strong sense of community and belonging among hikers that we can instantly bond and get to know each other without judgement.  I had the great pleasure of hiking with Finn “Politician” Melanson for probably half of my time on the AT.  This kid was an absolute beast at hiking. Finn now lives in Alta, UT and is exploring the abundant beauty, adventures and lifestyle that Alta has to offer.  The article below chronicles his experience from running the JFK 50 Miler, his first ultra-running race, and also touches on some future ultra races he has lined up.  Enjoy!