Date: 2012-02-10
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey all, thanks for checking out our trail journal! My name is Lauren, and I'm originally from Dallas, TX. My boyfriend, Eric, is from Ashland, OH. We have both been living in Albuquerque, NM for about a year, doing avian and forestry work, respectively. It was about a year ago when Eric told me about his dream to hike the Appalachian trail - all the way from Georgia to Maine. I don't think he expected me to want to go, but in 5 weeks we will be in Georgia at the start of the Appalachian trail! Over 2,000 miles is a long way to go, and we certainly don't expect this to be easy. Lately I've been pouring over other trail journals, which has been tremendously helpful in getting me excited about starting, and of what to expect on the trail. It has helped us make important gear decisions, as well as deciding where to stay, what to watch out for, and just general inspiration by learning the spirit of the AT. Hike your own hike, they say. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!To give you a general sense of us, I've included some FAQs:-Why thru-hike the AT? Simply put, it's been a dream of Eric's and I'm up for an adventure. A break in employment helped us make the decision. Also, the idea of trail life appeals to me: the simplicity, comradery with other hikers, being in top physical form, etc.-When? March 14, 2012 to mid-August, 2012 (thereabouts hopefully)-How? Hiking northbound. But also, we will be shuttling from places like the airport to the trailhead, and will get rides into town for resupply by trail angels and also probably by paid shuttle services. We have a general plan, but surely this will be tossed out and we'll make decisions on the fly.-What if we get hurt/sick? We are aware that bad weather occurs or we may fall or injure our poor, over-used bodies. And what about Lyme Disease? All of these occur with regularity on the AT. We will hopefully be prepared for bad weather (or just stay off the trail if we must), take first aid or time off for injuries, and take precautions when in tick country.-What is the AT anyway? The Appalachian trail is approximately (mileage can change from year-to-year) 2,184 miles of continuous trail that spans 14 states in the east, starting on Springer Mountain in Georgia and ending at Mt Katahdin in Maine. See the wiki page for more facts! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Trail-How do you train? It's been said by many that the only way to train for walking 2,000 miles is by walking 2,000 miles. That being said, Eric and I, over the past few years, have been fortunate to have active, outdoor jobs that demand camping and hiking day in and day out. If anything, I hope it will help us acclimate to the trail lifestyle. Lately, yoga, sporadic running, walking miles every day, and tossing the frisbee has been my training. . I basically try to stay active, and not get crazy with it. There are lots of logistics to planning a thru-hike, from storing all our belongings and moving out of the apartment to organizing food drops along the trail and getting bills taken care of. It helped that we started our prep last year. Plane tickets have been bought, so there's no turning back now. We still have some food to buy and packing to do, but other than that, it's mostly just anticipation!