Begin the Countdown!

Welcome to my Appalachian Trail blog!

I finally have a start date of MARCH 9th! Mark the calendars. 45 Days and Counting...

In this post, I'll go over what the Appalachian Trail (AT) is, why I am doing this, what I am bringing, and what I'll be posting on this website. 

So, what exactly is the Appalachian Trail? The AT is a long-distance hiking trail that stretches approximately 2,197.4 miles (3,500 km) along the Appalachian Mountain Range in the eastern United States. It is one of the longest continuous footpaths in the world. The trail traverses through 14 states, starting from Springer Mountain in Georgia and ending at Mount Katahdin in Maine. The idea for the Appalachian Trail was conceived in the early 1920s, and the trail was completed in 1937. It was envisioned as a continuous wilderness footpath for hikers, providing a connection to nature and a refuge from urban life.

Why do I want to hike nearly 2,200 miles for 5-7 months? Well, the short answer is, why not? I love being outside, observing nature, and spending time with good people. I also love a good challenge. Yes, I am hiking alone. However, I will meet nearly 2,000 other people attempting to do the same thing (see picture below of registered hikers as of 1/23/24). I'll also create memories that will last a lifetime, and I get to share them with you! 

What does one need to bring along on this journey? Every hiker must have a few essential items (backpack, sleep system, shelter, etc), and now there are so many options that each comes down to personal preference. I will list a link here to my LighterPack link. We hikers use this website to categorize our packing lists to see how much things weigh and cost. The goal is to get your total pack considered as light as possible while having everything you need. Right now, my pack sits around 21lbs as my base weight (this is without food and water). I'm still adjusting what I'll bring so that that number might change. 

What will I be blogging about? Well, the hike, of course... Jokes aside, I plan to document my daily life along the trail as frequently as possible. So stay tuned!