Date: 2012-12-11
To: Pre-AT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Alex: This will be my first Journal entry of many. I'm writing my first journal to give a little background on my life. That's one thing I'm typically curious when I'm reading others' journals. Where'd you come from? What was your life like before the AT? Why do you plan on hiking the AT?My answers are simple. Where I'm from.. My name is Alexandra (Alex), I'm 25, and I'm from Phoenix, AZ. Why I plan on hiking the AT... I'm planning on hiking the AT because I love to backpack. I'm a goal setter and I like a physical (as well as mental) challenges. I completed college three years ago along with playing four years of college softball and finish very well in both. I have met many goals with some exceeding my expectations. Once I finished college, my goals became more simple and too common like spend plenty of time with my family, getting a good job, buying a house and hiking with my mom but I haven't had one that's challenged my physical ability. So since I don't have a house or any family responsibilities yet, this would be a good time to take on this adventure. Life like before the AT... I am currently working as a Claims adjuster at an Insurance company (Goal accomplished). It is a great job but everyday I dream about being outside in the woods with nonstop backpacking. On the weekends, I play on two slow pitch tournament teams, coed and women's. When I'm not playing I'm typically backpacking up North or hiking a trail in Phoenix and playing card games with my grandparents. How I got into backpacking the AT... After a year of living back with my parents, my mom got me into backpacking and from that point on, I was hooked. I have read several books about the Appalachian Trail and have decided to hike it in March 2013 with my mom by my side. Cindi: Well as Alex states, we are going to thru-hike the AT starting in March 2013. She indicated her reasons of hiking the AT and unlike her, I don't have any substantial reasons...other than "lets give it a try." I probably would have not thought of hiking the AT other than to be with Alex my hiking partner. What started this all was one night about eight months ago, we rented the movie "The Way." So after that movie, Alex announced that she would like to hike Camino de Santiago. I thought that would be great but suggested hiking a trail closer to home like the AT. I should have done my homework as I knew it was long but I didn't know it was over 2,100 miles besides I just figured hiking a section for a couple of weeks would suffice. So as Alex would typically have it, anything less than the whole trail wouldn't be enough. So the past six months, we have been preparing to start sometime in March at Springer Mountain and head north. Fortunately we have most of the hiking gear so it was now just putting things in order so we could be away for six months. I really like to hike and backpack but with everything that I have read about the AT, I have concluded that the odds of finishing are against me for several reasons. I have been living in Phoenix for 16 years. I am not used to cold, rain, sleet, mosquitoes, or humidity. On a positive note, I am used to heat, snakes and rocks and we do have some great trails here in Arizona. To make this journey complete would be to enjoy this with my other daughter Stacy, so hopefully Cody and Stacy will be able to come out and visit us for a week or two. Overall, I am excited to start and see how far we can go. Be it two weeks, two months or 2,000+ miles, it is going to be a great adventure.