We’ve Only Just Begun…

I cannot fully express how incredible this journey has been so far. To be sure, it’s early and our spirits are high but so far we have both been overjoyed. The hiking has been tough but manageable. We currently have about 60 miles behind us…but only about 52 of the official AT since we did the Approach Trail.

We’ve been so fortunate with the weather too! Departure day was sunshine and beautiful but from there we had one full day and night of rain, then another night of severe thunder storms (so bad that several people’s tents were blown down or damaged) but in between we had beautiful sun-filled days that allowed us to recover and regroup. It was as if Mother Nature was purposefully testing us in very measured doses. As a result we’ve figured things out, learned a lot and built our confidence.

The people have been INCREDIBLE!! Whether fellow hikers or support people, they’ve all been fantastic. We’re part of a “tramily”, a group of hikers that stick together and look out for each other, many being solo hikers. They’re a great supportive group and we all learn from each other. There’s about 10 of us and it’ll be interesting to see how long we stay together. We are also hiking with a group of 23 veterans sponsored by the Warrior Project. Big shout out to this group who sponsors veterans for thru-hikes fully outfitted with top of the line gear and support. And lastly, there’s the Trail Angels!!Imagine you’ve been hauling 30 lbs. on your back, you’re feet are starting to hurt and you just climbed your 5th big ascent for the day. You then arrive at a road crossing where a local group is serving delicious gourmet salads, soups, fresh fruits and berries, cold drinks and an incredible array of baked goods…they call it Trail Magic. One group had breakfast sausage biscuits, hot coffee and donuts, cereals and milk. We were even served rice Krispy Treats made with Chex mix!?!?! Incredible!! Even a cooler full of cold sodas and chips is enough to really lift your spirits. We’ve experienced Trail Magic of some kind nearly every day so far. I suppose it’s southern hospitality plus the fact that we are at the start of the trail so there’s a high volume of thru-hikers this time of year.

We also now have our trail names…Katniss and Peeta. 😂. I’m sure I don’t have to explain to anyone which one of us is Katniss. The start of this hike feels like the Hunger Games. There is something of a survivalist element to it and you’re thrown challenges at every turn. One day we had been hiking through the rain and had stopped for a break. I was slumped back on my pack and as I looked up there was Sommer…standing tall, all dressed in black rain gear and tights, hair in braids and she looked invincible!! That’s when I dubbed her Katniss. Several of my missteps later it was only fitting that I was Peeta, although I’ve gotten better. She hasn’t had to carry me…yet!

But Katniss has been CRUSHING it!! It’s such an incredible experience to be sharing together and she is definitely in her element. The trail leaves plenty of time for long talks, silliness and solitude all in a single day and we’ve fallen into a nice rhythm. It’s a rare treat to be immersed in the beauty of nature and we’ve really enjoyed these beautiful mountains in Georgia.

Just a few other stats/info to share: in 7 days we have hiked a total of 61.3 miles with 14,500 feet of ascending and 13,075 feet of descending all with 30 lbs on our backs. We have about 2,146 miles to reach Mt. Katahdin. 😳; it’s a really strange feeling to be carrying everything you need on your person…strange but liberating. We really DON’T need all that we think we do; strangely enough I arrange my pack like a house…I have a kitchen, closet, bathroom, bedroom etc. each area of the pack possessing the items needed for that particular activity; the one luxury item I miss the most is a flushable clean toilet. And with that we are back to the woods!! 🥾❤️🌲🌿