First Post, Pre AT, Feb 2nd 2011

For your entertainment.

This is my blog for the Appalachian Trail (AT). The AT is a 2,175+ mile trail that goes from Georgia to Maine. I estimate it will take five months to complete. Joining me on this adventure is Michael Moritz and Josh Fowler. I will update this blog by writing letters to my friend Sarah, and she will post the letters. Expect a new post every other week (hopefully every week). I should also be able to upload pictures with my wifi capable SD camera memory card.

Why are we walking for 5 months? It's Moritz's fault. More than half a year ago he read Bill Bryson's book A Walk in the Woods that recounts his very own thru hike experience of the Appalachain Trail. The AT appealed to Moritz and then he asked me if I wanted to join him. Naturally I said yes. Fowler is coming because his parents asked him to go; they even payed for all his gear. For those of you that live near the trail, I will contact you, and hopefully we can meet up.

Anyway, you carry everything you need to survive. We have means to clean 600 gallons of water. Food will be resupplied every 5 to 10 days in town.

My Gear List:
Tent, 20 degree sleeping bag, Sleeping pad, REI Flash 50 pack, Stove, Stove fuel, Pots/bowls/cups for 2, Water purifier/200 gal worth, 2L water bladder, Winter gloves, Thin wicking gloves, Fleece, Wool beanie, Wicking baclava, Ultralight waterproof jacket shell, Sunglass goggles, 2x wicking long sleeve frog tops, 2x wicking long underwear, 2x wicking underwear, 2x wool socks, 2x thin wicking socks, Ultralight waterproof pants, Lightweight waterproof boots, Headlamp w/ extra battery, Knife, Hardplastic shovel, Camera w/ extra battery, Waterproof Pack cover, Hygiene, First Aid, Sewing Kit, Sandals, Trekking poles, 2x Water bottles, 550 Cord, Sketch paper, Pencil, Earplugs, Compass, AT Thru Hiker's Companion

Not counting the clothes I would be wearing, my pack weighs about 25 lbs. I'll add up to 10 lbs of food. I have another set of boots and additional 400 gal of water purifying stuff that will be mailed to post offices for us to pick up. For warmer weather I'll drop: winter gloves, 1x long underwear, 1x frog top, beanie, fleece, and 1x wool socks. And I will pick up: Sunhat, Light sleeping bag, 1x shorts, 1x t-shirt, bug net.



We are going to be miserable. The first month is going to be cold. Later on we will have to deal with freezing rain, lightning storms, week long rain, and bugs. Not to mention pesky hungry bears. Furthermore our bodies will hurt. We will get blisters. Our feet will swell. But, the greatest challenge we face is endurance. 5 months is a long time. The vast majority of people who start this hike quit in the first month. Hah. Well I am not most people.

We meet at the Atlanta airport on February 7th. Shortly after we will begin our journey.