The Appalachian Trail...2013

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.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Fossils

May 9

We've seen lots and lots of rocks. If fact, I'd say this hike is a rock hound's dream. You spend a lot if your day watching the ground immediately in front of you so you don't trip and end up seeing some amazing rocks.
Today seemed to be fossil day. Lots and lots of fossils in the rocks. We are used to seeing fossils in museums. Not sure what these were millions of years ago, but they are cool to see in the wild.

That's my size 13 boot in the lower left to give perspective.

Another Old Barn

May 7

I love these disused buildings that are still (barely) standing. This one is several stories tall and standing right next to a fast flowing river.

Official AT Marker

May 7

We've seen lots of boundary markers and I've written about them before. Today we saw the first that mentioned the AT

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

More ponies

May 3

More from the same area. I love the long mane on this one

Location:Grayson Highlands, VA

Ponies on the trail

May 3

The AT goes right through the Grayson Highlands, an area with wild ponies. We saw a couple of dozen or so. I could walk right up to them as you'll see in the video.
They're beautiful creatures.

A few grazing quietly:

These three were right on the trail so I took a video as we approached and then walked around them. As we were passing them two others came galloping by. Exciting to say the least. Actually a bit frightening. It was awesome.

Location:Grayson Highlands, VA

Old School

May 6

We walked by this old school house on the trail today - Love the outhouse still standing in the background.

Monday, May 6, 2013

More Trail Angels

May 4

We came upon a couple of coolers of supplies and food kindly left there by the Valley View Baptist Church Youth Group. Unfortunately the sodas were gone but we did enjoy some peanut butter crackers and rice cakes.

Our thanks to this very kind organization.
Much appreciated.