Life on the trail is a stripped down version of a life and one that takes things down to the basics. This could be viewed as a simple life but simple does not imply an easy life. Thoreau might say that simple is better (I’ve never actually finished Walden) and … Continue reading
I have had to drastically change my mindset about a lot of things out here, one being food. In normal life, I count calories in and calories out so I can maintain a healthy weight. Out here on the trail, I count the calories to make sure I don’t lose … Continue reading
Jefferson: We tip our hats Happy birthday little brother. We are proud of you and who you are. We think about you often while hiking and have enjoyed simply imagining that you may join us for the second half of our journey. We have literally spent hours talking about it … Continue reading
Something I have been reminded of lately is the swinging pendulum effect in all parts of the trail life. Not that this aspect is special to the trail life, but I believe it’s more deeply felt because of the rawness of the life to begin with. These last few days … Continue reading
Our writing is admittedly biased and we’re not able to give the full report of the trail life. This isn’t some sort of conspiracy but the fact is that there are times that we’re so involved in the moment that we either can’t report about it at the time, we’re … Continue reading
Holy Monday’s! For two weeks straight now, we’ve had huge thunderstorms on Monday night and both nights we’ve had to stay in our tents. Last night was especially trying because we’d just hiked our biggest day yet, 27 miles, and then had to set up the tent on a windy … Continue reading
I have begun to repeat my old habits from the PCT. I find myself looking at my watch, looking at the data book, screaming at a seemingly endless uphill…when will I learn that I make it harder on myself by expecting so much? These last two days have been the … Continue reading
A big part of the trail life is the people and the society that forms out here in the woods and trail towns. We’ve had positive experiences already, some with people we’ve known, and others that we’ve been wanting to meet or have met for the first time. At the … Continue reading
That is the question I’ve been asking myself each night as I lay in our tent, listening to every sound, thinking each one is a bear out to get my food. I don’t remember having sleeping issues on the PCT, but I’m certainly experiencing them here on the AT. Not … Continue reading
We’re getting our hiking legs back quickly and picking up our routine as well. After a crazy night of thunderstorms and lightning, in which our tent performed valiantly and kept us safe an d dry, we are now sitting in our tent near a shelter with the sun going down … Continue reading
It is day two on the trail and I have had many trail similarities and differences already. All the things that I forgot about over the years, like the sore hips and shoulders, the fear of the uphill climbs, kicking a root as soon as I look up from the … Continue reading
I have 4 important numbers to share at the start of this trail. First is weight: 149.6 lbs for me and 124 lbs for Julie. As a point of reference, our normal running weights are 138 and 121 respectively. As you can see, Julie did much better than I did … Continue reading
It is starting to feel real. We are in the final days before the trail in Charleston, SC with Matt’s sister, Emily and her husband Matt and two boys, Austin and Aiden. We made a trip to the Piggly Wiggly this afternoon for a few items, including the all important … Continue reading
Yes, I’m going back for seconds. It’s hard to believe, and it was even my suggestion that we do the trail. The mental and physical scars have healed. I have digested all of the PCT to be hungry enough to do another one. I can’t believe I’m saying this, and … Continue reading
