A couple of years ago while we were on holiday in San Antonio, Matthew read Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. He really enjoyed it, so Stephanie and I read it and then Matthew and I half-heartedly made plans to "do that some day". It was the kind of statement you make while lying on a beach chair in the sun reading, while wistfully thinking about how cool that would be. Hmmmm... Amazingly, that day will arrive on March 27, 2013. Now, I realize that this is the kind of "some day" that most people will never have the luxury to find. I am (we are) incredibly lucky to have a chance to do this. Our benefactor - my generous wife Stephanie, is supporting us on this journey. She's staying home with Samantha and working, while Matthew and I wander in the woods for half a year. I am the luckiest guy alive and am continually amazed that she puts up with me. Her only condition: If we start it, we have to finish it - all 2160-ish miles of it. I owe her the world.


We're committed. We have been buying equipment, walked some short (10-12 mile) segments of the AT in New York to see what it looks like, and we have our one-way airline tickets to Atlanta. Stephanie and Samantha will be flying down with us to drop us off at the starting point on Springer Mountain near Atlanta, Georgia and they plan to meet up with us a couple of times on the journey when we are near civilization - once again, supporting us all the way. Have I told you how lucky we are?


I am planning to keep track of where we are on this blog using BlogPress and GPS Location. Between these two apps, I'll be able to save drafts of posts with photos and our position even when we're off the cell network. This will allow anyone to see where we are and what we're doing (at least after I get back near enough to civilization and cell service to post the drafts). Ideally these updates will be daily; it will probably be more like weekly. I guess I'll find out how connected one can be from the wilderness. As I write this in February, it's less than six weeks until we're out there.


The first two posts are just a couple of tests from the AT in early January to try out the software. While doing this, I discovered that BlogPress fails to find your location when you are not on the cell network, so I'll be using the GPS Location app to add coordinates to the posts.


Here's a link to the current weather all along the trail.




Sunday, March 31, 2013

Our first rainy day

March 31

Rained for about an hour or two this afternoon while we were walking. Got a bit wet but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined it would be. I could use a dehumidifier in my tent tonight...
Another good day of walking; we did about 16 miles.



Location:Chaslain Creek,Clayton,United States
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Easter trail angel

March 31

The trail crossed a road today and there was a parking lot with a few cars in it. As we crossed a woman approached us from one of the cars and offered us chocolate covered peanut butter Easter eggs. They were delicious. Several hikers we met later in the day also mentioned receiving the eggs. What a sweetheart.



Location:Unicoi Gap, GA
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A wet and windy night

March 31

We camped on top of Blue Mt. near the shelter there last night. In the night the wind came up and drove the rain sideways into our tents. We were both a bit wet in the morning. Lesson learned: don't camp on top of a mountain unless you're sure the weather will be good.



Location:Blue Mountain, GA
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Saturday, March 30, 2013

A long walk

March 30

A very long walk today - Almost 18 miles over mountains. We're both exhausted.
We walked for a couple of miles through a green tunnel of 15 ft tall rhododendron. It must be absolutely amazing when they bloom.
Drinking fresh filtered spring water all day is fantastic. And the food tastes so good. We're eating whatever we can reconstitute with boiling water and it's amazing. Funny how good anything can taste when you're so hungry. I'm still enjoying Snickers bars - calories! We need more calories. From what I've read we should be eating 3-4000 cal a day. We're not.
It rained last night but we were already in our tents and it stopped by morning. Just perfect. Our luck with the weather can't last but we've had four great days so far.

Location:Soapstone Creek Cir,Hiawassee,United States
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Blood Mountain

March 30

From the top of Blood Mountain.



A very rocky climb and decent and the view from the top is outstanding.

Location:Blood Mountain, GA
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Friday, March 29, 2013

Stone Stairs

March 29

These are a lot more vertical than they appear in the photo.




Location:34.74094 -83.93838
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3rd day in

March 29

Beautiful day again. We pitched camp in one of the many areas along the trail off by ourselves again. Started to rain as we finished dinner. Tents already set up so we're ok. Hopefully won't be raining in the morning. We are a couple of miles north of Neal's Gap so we are about 32 miles along the trail.
We are both feeling really well. Sore as expected, but not bad at all for three days in, being so inexperienced at this.



Location:34.72554, -83.88240
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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Set up camp on top of a mountain day two

March 28



Beautiful views. Not near a shelter tonight. Just us.
Walked a bit over 13 miles today seemed to be all uphill. Fantastic day. Great weather again.

Location:Caldwell Mountain Rd,Suches,United States
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Cooking dinner

March 28

Instant mashed potatoes and tuna.  Whatever you can do with boiling water to reconstitute something hot makes a delicious meal.


I'm continually amazed how good food tastes on the trail. I guess we're just really hungry.

Location:Forest Service Rd,Suches,United States
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Filtering water

Yes we do filter our water.



And it tastes great. We have taken water from beautiful streams and many springs.

Location:Appalachian Trl,Dahlonega,United States
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Day 2

March 28

Our water supply.  Matthew collecting water from a stream.



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End of the first day

March 27

About 8 miles in, near a very busy shelter. Counted 11 tents. A beautiful day. We are both feeling really good so far. Cous cous and tuna for dinner. Snickers bars never tasted so good.




Location:34.39659, -84.20736
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Our Start on Springer Mountain, Georgia


March 27

 Matthew (L) and Keith (R) at the start of the AT at noon


Samantha and Steve (Stephanie) walked with us the mile to the start. Beautiful day. Cool and sunny. Perfect for walking.

Location:Springer Mountain
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