73athiker

I hiked 1225 miles of the AT in 1973 from Shenandoah National Park in VA to Mt. Katahdin in ME. I joined my uncle in Shenandoah after I graduated from high school. He started April 1, on Springer Mtn, and we finished October 3rd. He is recorded as the 169th person to complete the trail. We are in the process of compiling newspaper stories he wrote while on the AT and putting them into book form. My plan is to do the 900 miles from Springer to Shenandoah in 2013 under the trail name of "40 years ago". I live in Colorado and have section hiked 175 miles of the 500 mile Colorado Trail. A great video of the AT is "TREK". I have read many books on the AT including Ed Garvey's origional book "Appalachian Trail, Adventure of a Lifetime", published in 1971 (which I have a copy of).

It is amazing how simple it all seems while packing in the living room... Yes, on the trail every ounce counts. If the item can't be used for dual purposes or is not used on a daily basis, leave it at home. Even if it is a cool item, if it's only purpose if "just in case" for get it. As for the trail... being from FL there is no real way for me to train. I just get on the trail, huff and puff for a few days and then gradually it gets easier. Each trip will get better but first days are always first days. KEEP on HIKING... Hammock Hanger