I'm going on an adventure...

So, this has been on my mind for over 30 years, buried deep in my heart to be able to attempt a thru-hike.  A very dear professor I had at Carson-Newman planted this seed and it's grown to a yearning to "...to throw a loaf of bread and a pound of tea in an old sack and jump over the back fence?" as John Muir once said.

I've chosen to start in Maine (the hardest way to do this) because so many hikers start from Georgia going north, and it's just too crowded.  I'm tackling the 2 hardest states first, with the hardest climb at the beginning, Maine and New Hampshire, with the hardest climb up Mt. Katahdin on day 1.

I am looking forward to being on this trail that I personally have supported since college, when I joined the Appalachian Trail Conference (now called Appalachian Trail Conservancy).  I look forward to hiking in Maine and climbing the Presidential Range in White Mountains of New Hampshire, Franconia Ridge, Shenandoah NP, Vermont (probably called Ver-Mud when I go thru), and countless other areas that I've read about and seen pictures over the years. 

This website will contain a link to my Instagram page (you won't need to have an account to access it), where you can follow this adventure as well as other adventures & training.  If you'd like to support me on this journey, I'd love the help.  You can donate via my PayPal account (link below) and possibly other ways (still working out those details).  Below you will find some gear that I'm currently needing to purchase, and of course there will be more gear needs as I go because of the wear and tear.  It's been said you'll go thru 4 to 6 pairs of shoes before reaching the end.

On my Instagram page, you will be able to follow my daily journal (hopefully) and post comments and encouragement/feedback...which will be welcome.

Thanks for joining me on this journey of a lifetime.