Day 18 - Derrick Knob

Today, plain and simple, kicked my butt. It was a new record, though! 17.1 miles from Birch Spring Gap to Derrick Knob shelter.

I think my hiker legs are coming into form. There were some points today where I just blazed ahead, thinking nothing of it. When I reached Rocky Top, with a 360 degree view, it came as a surprise that I only had 6 miles to go to get to the shelter. Those last 6 miles, however, were not fun. The trouble was that I knew the shelter was at the top of a hill, so every time I climbed a ridge I was expecting it, of course to no avail.

 If you look very carefully at a zoom of this photo you can see Scribbles on Rocky Top. (Photo by Purple Blaze)

 A section of the panorama atop Rocky Top! (Photo by Purple Blaze)

The fact that I am finally getting "hiker hunger" is not helping either. Basically, hiker hunger is when you eat a snack and start looking forward to lunch, then when you eat lunch you start looking forward to dinner, and when you eat dinner you contemplate whether you should eat tomorrow's breakfast. Luckily, I did not give in and have food for tomorrow morning.

Everything in the Smokies in at a larger scale. The mountains are higher, the slopes are steeper, the nights get colder, hell, it even rains harder. Today a monsoon-like rain fell for about 10 minutes as I reached camp. Thank goodness all's clear now. Tomorrow I hike Clingman's Dome, the tallest mountain on the east coast. I expect a very good night's sleep tonight.

- Ted
8:40 pm 3/31/2015

Day 17 - Smoky Mountain National Park

Yesterday I left Fontana Dam, and I gotta say it felt like a page in my journey had been turned. 

Amazingly, it's been 18 days since I bid adieu to my old New England home and started this hike. Since then, a whole heck of a lot has happened. I suppose a 2-weekish update is in order. Let's see... 

As of Fontana, I've gone about 166 miles, plus the 8.8 mile approach trail. To be sure, that's a lot. But surprisingly, I still have more than 2000 to go. My pace has been about 12 miles per day, but that will increase to 15 by the time I finish. I've summited God knows how many mountains. I've been up above 5500 feet on Standing Indian. I've gone straight down and straight up, following some seriously steep trail. I've spent 1 night on the bus, 1 night in a bed (at the Hiker Hostel), 3 nights in a shelter (including a recent one at Fontana), and the rest in my hammock. I made it through one whole state and am about halfway through another. I've been through the Chattahoochee and Nantahala National Forests. I've met some people who are becoming good friends, some people who I've made a note to avoid, some people like me, some different, and some with absolutely intriguing, inspiring, or heart-wrenching stories. I've taken 2 showers (one at HH and another in Fontana), and done laundry 0 times (not including when I washed my socks and underwear in a stream near Hiawassee). My pack has lost weight, and I'm sure I have too. Oh yeah, I've slammed some pizzas and grinders. 

And I'm sure it will only get worse. My hiker legs are still developing, but I think that they're almost there. I've gained a good sense for the gear I have. My hammock has worked great, the 5-liter water capability not so much. I've had to adapt to carrying everything on my back. I've also gone from adrenaline to homesickness to, now, anticipation. I am so pumped for the next page. The Smokies! I'm writing this from a bed of oat grass, looking south toward Fontana. It's gorgeous! Oh, and one more thing. I've gained all you wonderful people as readers, people who are interested in this life-changing journey. Thank you for reading and rooting me on! Time for chapter two.

- Ted

2:30 pm 3/31/2015

Day 16 - Fontana Dam

I made it! 

Fontana Dam, located at the foot of the Smokies. 

After shaking the ice off my Thermarest and coming to terms with the fact that my Camelback would not be thawing out any time soon, I left camp wearing every single layer I had. 

Last night, from what I've heard, there was a new record for low temperature in the area, at 16 degrees! I sure hope that's the coldest it gets. 

Here in Fontana, though, that may as well have been yesterday. The shelter I'm staying at, nicknamed the "Fontana Hilton," has bathrooms AND hot showers! Needless to say, I sure enjoyed my first shower in two weeks. Another hiker said I was "the guy who will finish the trail on a budget of $1,999. 

Anyway, the nearby village has my first maildrop and bounce-box. I'll be getting 5 maildrops in strategic locations along the way, mostly in places where the food options are thin. The bounce-box has general supplies I will need along the way, such as duct tape and mini Gold Bond bottles. More importantly, it has my camera charger (which I don't need just yet) and the other 100 some-odd pages of my guidebook. I will get the things I need and send it ahead to Hot Springs, my next bounce-box location, tomorrow. 

I'll also be entering Great Smoky Mountains NP tomorrow, which includes Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the East Coast. I hope it warms up!

- Ted

6:24pm 3/29/2015

Day 15 - Nantahala Gorge

I think I may have taken a wrong turn, because these past few days I think I've been hiking in New England! 

Yesterday's descent into the Nantahala Gorge had terrain that was very reminiscent of home. Combined with the brisk air and blue sky, the sloping terrain covered with red pine needles from the trees around me had me thinking about McLean Game Refuge in Granby, Connecticut, a favorite hiking spot. And then, when I reached the gorge, the narrow road, sandwiched by a river and two high walls of somewhat vegetated rock, had me thinking about Tariffville, CT. The only thing different was that instead of houses and an old textile mill, there was the Nantahala Outdoor Center, a hiking and whitewater rafting facility. I camped just beyond the NOC, opting to stay low because of the cold forecast. It did get pretty cold, and in fact it may get colder tonight. The forecast for nearby Robbinsville is 25 degrees, which means it will be about 20 here in Stecoah Gap, where I'm camping. I'll be using every degree my bag is rated to!

Anyway, when I woke up this morning, I knew I had gotten off the trail and was not in North Carolina anymore...THERE WAS SNOW! It was only a dusting at my campsite, but as I climbed out of the gorge it got deeper. Near the top of Cheoah Bald, which is about 5000 feet, there had to be about 4 inches! I must say, it made for a very pretty hike. However, I hope that that's it for snow on this hike, I'd like to leave New England and get back to North Carolina!

- Ted

9:15 pm 3/28/2015

Week 2 Map Progress & Upcoming Map Week 3

The upcoming AT section that is in front of Ted for Week 3:

A map of how of the AT Ted covered in Week 1 and Week 2:

(Thanks to Master Cartographer Gene Tivnan for plotting the progress!)

Day 14 - 16 Miler!

A lot has happened in the past 36 hours since I left Siler Bald Shelter. I'll start with the details. 

Yesterday I had my longest mileage yet. I wasn't planning on it, but a few factors made it so. At the start of the day, I considered Burningtown Gap a good goal for the day. It was only about 4200 ft, and would have been a 10.2 mile day. Then, throughout the day i heard over and over about the rain that was coming tomorrow. So when I got to Burningtown, and the sun was still out, I thought shoot, why not do some more miles while its nice out, then take it easy tomorrow in the rain. I almost stopped at Cold Spring shelter, what would have been a 11.6 mile day, but convinced myself no, it was too high at almost 5000 feet. It'll be cold up here. Besides, I just stayed at a shelter and despite the camaraderie of other hikers, its just not a good night's sleep. So it was on to Tellico Gap, a 15.2 mile day. But at Tellico, it was so steep that I couldn't find any place to camp! In the end, I set up camp at about 6:30, just south of Wesser Bald. A 16 mile day! 

And that's the story of my first 15-er. 15 miles will actually be about my average for the entire hike, which is hard to fathom because I was dog tired at the end of yesterday. Today I'll be headed through Nantahala Gorge, and tonight looks to be cold, perhaps into single digits at elevation!

-Ted
12:38pm 3/27/2015

Now for the real stuff. I had a kind of realization as I came down Wesser Bald today. It was similar to back in July, when I first realized that the AT was a possibility. And it all started with the Fleet Foxes. I had a song of theirs, Someone You'd Admire, stuck in my head. It was a song that I put on a cd for my fellow seniors back in high school. Some of the lyrics are "I walk with others in me yearning to get out, Claw at my skin and gnash their teeth and shout...God only knows which one I'll become." Then I thought back to high school, and how I could have never, ever guessed that in three years hiking the AT is what I'd be doing with my life. And then, in that moment, I realized that this is what I'd become! I was hiking the AT. I will be hiking the AT for the forseeable future. And darn it, I'm going to do my best to finish the AT. In the end, it was all a very transcendent experience. So anyway, it used to be that when I came across another hiker and the question came up "Are you thru-hiking?" I would say "That's the plan" or "I hope so" or something along those lines. Now, I think I have the guts to say a solid "YES!"

-Ted

3:30 pm 3/27/2015

Day 13 Photos Here! : http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-13-326.html

Day 12 - Franklin Resupply

Let me tell y'all what I saw in Franklin today. I saw some hiker friends, Carrie and Cassie, pick up a lost dog at their campsite and try to locate the owner in town. I saw the road from Winding Stair Gap to Franklin from the trunk of an SUV, cramped by the backpacks of hikers who were lucky enough to get seats. I saw a sleepy town at 9am turn into a hiker haven by 10 from the window of a diner. I saw a large pepperoni pizza from Little Caesar's disappear before my eyes. I saw flowers! White blossoms on trees and some purple wildflowers. I saw a guy mowing his lawn. I saw the same road back to Winding Stair from the bed of a pickup truck. AND, I saw how much is going on in the world outside the trail.

So many emails, so little time. It was nice responding to so many of my friends. Not so nice to start thinking about next semester. The class schedule is up and registration's around the corner! But enough of the ugly details.

Franklin was a really, really, nice. Very pleasant. I ended up doing the same thing here I did in Hiawassee; the old camp just south, resupply, camp just north. Tonight I'm hoping to stay out of the rain at Siler Bald shelter. I hope y'all enjoy the pictures from the first 100 miles!

- Ted
8:11 p.m. 3/25/2015

Day 12 Photos Here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-12.html

Day 11 - Mount Albert

Yesterday was a funny one, I don't know why. I thought about it and I think it was a bit of nerves from the project I will conduct in the fall. It's sort of like learning about a big final paper for a class on the first day of the semester. Except the stakes are much higher.

The LEEP Center gave me an amazing opportunity and I want more than anything to make the most of it. The truth is, I don't exactly know how my final LEEP project will go down. I have a semester's-worth of experience to gain from the trail first!

Anyway, today was much better than yesterday. I held a comfortable pace all day; I didn't feel rushed, but I didn't want to speed up either. Perfect. This morning I climbed another 5000 footer - Mount Albert. Despite being a bit shorter, Albert was noticeably more difficult than Standing Indian. There were some points that went straight up! The summit marked the 100 mile mark of the trail, which is awesome. Only 2092 to go!

I leapfrogged with a group of thru-hikers (Learning Curve, Tex, Tink, Tortuga, The Hare, and Bleagle) all day: they would pass me, then I'd pass them. Somehow we all managed to find the same spot for lunch! Tonight I'm camping overlooking Franklin, where I'll resupply tomorrow.

- Ted
5:12 p.m. 3/24/2015

Day 11 Photos Here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-11.html

Day 10 - Standing Indian Mountain

Not everything about the hike has been roses so far. There are the little inconveniences, sure. No bathrooms, sore muscles, blisters, not much good food (except for my mom's homemade trail food at maildrops!). But the biggest problem I've faced so far is homesickness. It's just like the first couple weeks at college, I suppose. I got homesick then, too. It's funny out here, though. I wake up just before sunrise, hike all day, and everything is great. I feel great, I see great things, meet great people. It's in the evening, as I'm making dinner, that I start to feel it. The sun will be down soon, and then what? Sleep, I guess. The reality is that I have no close friends or family here, and while the opportunity is there to make friends (and I have), who knows if those friends will be hiking at your pace, or even if they'll be hiking next week? So it's a bit different than college homesickness. Concerned friends and family: do not worry! 95% of the time I am as happy as can be, believe me.

After entering North Carolina and camping in a rhododendron grove yesterday (a seriously cool spot), today I traversed Standing Indian Mountain, all 5,500 feet of it. It's amazing: other than a few dips in the high 3000s and one drop below 2000 (at the Nahantala River), the next 50 miles or so are above 4000 feet! In two days I'll be in Franklin. This time around, I promise to find time on a computer and send some pictures your way! Thank you all again for following my journey.

- Ted
6:34 p.m. 3/22/2015

Day 9 Photos Here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-9.html

Day 10 Photos Here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-10.html

Week 1 Trail Map

Week 1 Trail Map
c/o Gene Tivnan

Day 8 - Trail Magic & Fellowship

Today was a short one - only 3.5 miles - but it was busy busy busy. I woke up damp, everything was damp. Evidently a cloud had decided to cohabitate with my camping spot overnight. However, as I descended Powell Mountain to Dick's Creek Gap, the sun came out! 

This was the first in a series of fortunate events:
My trail friend Doc Tater gave me "Trail magic" and paid for my shuttle into town. Hopefully I'll be able to return the favor somewhere down the trail... 

I was able to hitch a ride from Mike out of town. Mike is a former Marine who is about to start a new job with the government in Washington. He also told me that when he left the military, he used hiking as a way to cope with the change, something I found interesting. Good luck with the new job Mike! 

More traditional Trail magic was being served up at Dick's Creek Gap upon my return. With the sun beating down on what had become a gorgeous day, I ate some super tasty rotisserie chicken and talked about the Continental Divide Trail (one day, maybe) with Anne and Pops, the suppliers of the magic. Pops will be thru-hiking next year. Thank you guys! 

In between all the good luck of the day, I was able to stock up on food, fuel, and Subway grinders (dinner tonight!). I also dried off my stuff and recharged for what should be a big week as I enter Carolina tomorrow... 

You may have noticed that the title of the blog has been changed to "Fellowship with the Wilderness". I decided to make this change after pondering the plaque at the top of Springer Mountain, which reads "A trail from Georgia to Maine for those who seek fellowship with the wilderness". I found it interesting that the word "fellowship," which is usually associated with human to human relationships, was used to describe a human to nature relationship. The sentence, in fact, treats "the wilderness" as a person. Now, the foundation of my hike is an exploration of natural and cultural space, with the idea that the Appalachian Trail occupies both. "Fellowship with the Wilderness," in my judgment, is an apt description of my ultimate goal: to understand the dualistic form of this space.

- Ted
7:28 p.m. 3/21/2015

Day 8 Photos Here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-8.html

Day 7 - LEEP Project Approved!

THE LEEP PROJECT IS OFFICIAL! I spoke with Jess Robert of the LEEP Center and Barred Owl and she confirmed today that my LEEP Project has recieved funding! What this means is that my Appalachian Trail journey will not be cut short in Virginia or New York due to lack of funds, yay! Thanks to everybody in the LEEP Center who has guided me along the way. I promise to make y'all proud with the final product in the fall. 

In trail news, I decided not to go into Hiawassee today, and instead make camp about 2.5 miles outside Dick's Creek Gap. I have perhaps the best spot I've ever camped at, right on the edge of an overlook. Now if only the rain would go away and the clouds would clear up! Tomorrow I will get to Hiawassee in the morning, resupply, eat something hot, send some dead weight home, and hopefully be back out on the trail in the afternoon to camp again. It will be a "Nero" day, or near-zero.

-Ted

4:55 p.m. 3/20/2015

Day 7 Photos Here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-7.html

Day 6 - Tray Mountain

What a day. In a word, exhilarating.

I felt a whole bunch of things today, and one of them was not "comfortable."

Last night I slept in Low Gap shelter, as the forcast called for rain. Indeed, after 4 or so days of sunny and 70+ degree weather, today was 45 and rainy.

Every part of my body hurt at some point today, and I've been wet from either sweat or rain since I began hiking at 8 this morning. No matter, I reached a campsite at the base of Tray Mountain, set up for the night, and am now warm and dry enough in my sleeping bag.

Believe it or not, days like today are the ones that make this journey worthwhile for me. Sure, I wouldn't want every day to be like this, but at the same time, days like this are what make sunny and 75 so amazing. I feel pretty good looking back at the 13 miles I did today (a new record!), kinda like finishing a 13 mile run in the rain. 

Tomorrow I will get near or to Hiawassee, so there is the potential for picture update soon!

- Ted
6:05 p.m. 3/19/2015

Day 5 Photos Here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-5.html

Day 6 Photos Here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-6.html

Day 4 - Blood Mountain & Neel's Gap

Today was my most difficult day yet, as I hiked 11.6 miles from Preaching Rock to Levelland Mountain. The hike included Blood Mountain, Georgia's highest peak, and according to fellow hiker Blue Onion, it's best view. The view was marvelous, but I gotta say I'm bushed, and very well may take a shorter day tomorrow.

I also resupplied for the first time at Neel's Gap, which has an outfitter. Unfortunately, I was a little apprehensive to spend much time there. I am no AT expert, and all of the staff were super knowledgeable, something that I should have embraced but instead feared. I got some stuff I needed and left within an hour. My pack was still 45 pounds. Ouch, and at this point it's my own fault! I hope I can be more open to people who want to help me in the future.

The next 4 days to Hiawassee will be spent further examining my weight situation. At camp this evening, I went through every last item in my pack and told myself why I needed it. If I didn't like the answer or have one, it went in the "fluff" bag. I'll tell you more about my fluff when it is sent home!

-Ted

7:59 p.m. 3/17/2014

Day 4 Photos here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-4.html

Day 3 - Preaching Rock

Hey everyone! Day 3 here on the AT, and things are more good than bad.

I have a trail name! I was telling Rowan about Gribouille, the donkey that Andy Merriweather walks across France with in "The Wisdom of Donkeys". Merriweather was in awe at the patience of donkeys, their passiveness, and their stubborn steadiness. I was saying that "Scribbles" the english translation of Gribouille, would be a good trail name because I like to consider myself as having those traits. Well lo and behold, Corrine from the Hike Inn must have heard me because I heard her yell "I'LL CHRISTEN YOU!!" from about 50 yards back. So now I'm Scribbles!

It's 75 and sunny here, and I wore shorts for the first time this year! I've been averaging about 10 miles per day as I get used to my trail legs, last night I stealth camped at Sassafras mountain and tonight's the same at Preaching Rock. I will let the miles build gradually, but without a doubt my biggest fear is getting a sneaky injury a la my cross country days. Tomorrow I will reach Neel Gap and my first resupply!

Oh, and the trail magic is strong down here! Thank you Cap'n Kip, Hayley, and Outside Dog for the hot dogs and hot cocoa. Good night!

-Ted
5:52 pm 3/16/2014

Day 2 Photos here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-2.html

Day 3 Photos here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-3.html

Day 1 - Springer Summited

What a day! And where to start?

I made more trail friends. Rowan and Alex were dropped off with me at Amicalola today and we summited Springer together. They are both around my age. Rowan is taking a gap year before college, and Alex just graduated. More people like me! I also met Corrine on the Approach Trail.

Corrine is the general manager of the Hike Inn, a nonprofit inn that is part recreational and part educational. She was excited to hear about my LEEP project idea and was impressed that I am interested in outdoor education. She told me about Trails to Every Classroom, a program that brings outdoor experience on the Appalachian Trail to kids in need, especially those in cities. I see great potential to do something like that in Worcester.

The hike up was tough, mostly because I need to get used to hiking with a large backpack. In all (with full water, way too much food, and extra gear I'll find I don't need) my pack is 45 pounds. This is what I expected, and it is not getting any heavier. It will be getting lighter, however, something I decided after a couple miles. It was also raining on and off, as it has for the last 5 days here. Very wet, very muddy. But tomorrow promises to be sunny.

Despite there being no view due to the clouds, Springer was wonderful. I am just so thankful to have made it this far. Tonight I am camping near the Springer Mountain shelter, and let me tell you the hammock works great! I'm dry and warm and feeling good about tonight.

Some funny stories:

I though Am-i-ca-LO-la was pronounced Am-EE-ca-lo-la, and when Josh at HH told me he only gives rides there if you know how to pronounce it, I said it was good I had at least made it to Dah-lo-NE-ga (its pronounced Dah-LON-ega).

I thought I lost my watch when I got to the top of Springer. Turns out it had fell off my wrist and into my rain jacket. Do'h!

- Ted
5:45 pm 3/14/2015

All of the Day 1 Images can be seen here!: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-1.html

Today is the Day!

Today is the Day!

Ted starts by climbing Springer Mountain (elev. 3782') in Georgia.

Here is a map of the first segment of the Appalachian Trail northbound.

T-Minus 1 Day!

All this time and nothing to do with it, except rest. Tonight I am lucky enough to call the Hiker Hostel home. It's a 26 bed wood-heated building on the side of a mountain in Dahlonega, complete with a super friendly staff and two big, 10 year old dogs. I am sharing the place with a few folks in town for an ultra-marathon, a couple who just finished a section hike of Georgia, and about a dozen other thru-hikers, including my first AT friend Meghan! Meghan is only a year ahead of me. Amazingly, she too is taking a semester off of college to hike the trail! And I thought I was the only one... Like me, she needed a break from school, and she'll be connecting her experience to her studies in psychology through Hike for Mental Health, an organization that raises money for mental health research. Meghan and I have found a lot in common, including our nervousness for the Smokies and our dislike of talking about gear! It was very nice to have nothing to do today. What a change from the last few months! After spending last night in a cramped bus, I will sleep good tonight. Tomorrow's the big day!

- Ted

7:20pm 3/13/2015

It's Real - From the Bus

A few days ago I said I knew it'd be real once I got to Georgia. Forget that, it's real right now.

I'm zooming down the New Jersey Turnpike, on my way to the first stop in Baltimore (followed by DC, Richmond, and Charlotte before Gainsville, Georgia.) Each minute I'm a mile closer to the AT trailhead, and a mile farther from home.

I am starting to understand the gravity of all my work over the past 7 months. Sure, this will be an amazing experience. Sure, the academic and personal growth I will have in the next 5 months will be immense. But how about the fact that my own way of life is about to be flipped on its head?! There's no turning back here, either, no opting out. What goes up must come down, and each mile I travel south will have to be traveled north.

As the New Jersey chemical tanks fade into Pennsylvania farms, I'm hoping that I am up to the challenge.

- Ted

7:25 pm 3/12/2015

T-Minus 2 Days!

Good morning! Today is the day. I am just doing last minute type stuff now. I will mail my first  bounce-box to Fontana Dam, NC. Hopefully the supplies I put in there will carry me through Great Smoky Mountain National Park... when I get there! New Haven train to NYC, and my bus leaves at 3 pm.

Ted

9:28 am 3/12/2015

He is scheduled to arrive in Georgia on Friday.

Train & NYC images here: http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/nyc-launch.html

T-Minus 3 Days!

According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Voluntary Registration there will be 20 hikers starting Northbound along with Ted on 3/14.

They track this to help hikers from bunching up on any one particular day and overwhelming the overnight trail facilities.

One of those folks in that blue bar is our Ted!

Last night Ted headed out to his backyard to set up his hammock bivy one last time...

(For more information on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy look here: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home)

T-Minus 4 Days!

Only 3 more days at home. Wow!
I said goodbye to alot of my friends and family in the last few days... it's really weird. Once I get to Georgia I know it'll be real.

-Ted

Here's Ted at the base of the Cascades with the Lodge at Cascading Waters in the background.

Ted's trek begins a day early in that he will be taking the bus from New York down to Georgia.

We will be posting not only updates and images from the AT, but also progress maps showing his progress.

Stay tuned and check in!

My LEEP Project on the AT

This spring and summer, I will thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, and use experiences from the hike to tell stories that are based on the theme of nature vs. culture, one of the most pervasive themes in geography. While it may be tempting to look at some landscapes and deem them natural (free from humans), and others cultural (human-impacted), a more careful examination reveals that every bit of space has both natural and cultural traits. Discerning “natural” from “cultural” is often subjective; a matter of perception. The nature vs. culture binary deeply interests me, and a hike of the Appalachian Trail will be valuable research into perceptions of these spaces.

I will begin my hike in Georgia on Saturday, March 14th. I will then spend roughly five months hiking and gaining valuable experience along the trail. Throughout the hike, I will document my activities and thoughts each day with a journal and camera, and I will also send intermittent updates to the GWLT, which will be relayed to their followers through social media (right HERE!) I am planning on reaching Mount Katahdin on or before August 20, and be back at Clark for classes on the 24th.

Once back, I will spend about a month putting together stories for the dialogue sessions. The first of which will be on Saturday, September 26th, at the Barred Owl Retreat in Leicester. This will be followed by sessions on October 3rd, and October 10th.

While it is difficult to gauge the cost of an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, I estimate all expenses to be approximately $4,000. These expenses are for pre-hike preparation, as well as living expenses during the hike. I estimate that, when all is said and done, I will have spent about $1,500 on gear to use on the trail, about $7.00 per day on trail-food, and $2.00 per day on fuel and supplies. For my estimated 164 days of hiking, that’s about $1,500. Additional expenses include occasional lodging, town food, postage for mail-drops, camping fees for National Parks and Forests, and transportation to Georgia.

Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail will be the most difficult and fulfilling experience of my life to this point. The experiences I have on the trail will at the very least change my perception of space, and at the very most change my life.

Ted Randich