Date: 2012-12-09
To: About Me and Why the AT?
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

After reading several Tj's it seems that introducing myself and telling the reason(s) why I am hiking the trail is in order! So here goes:MY OCCUPATION: I've been a physical therapist for 20 years. I work in a skilled nursing facility-working with our elders is my fav!!!                                                                                                                                                      WHERE DO i LIVE: I live in Maggie Valley NC. The Smokie mountains are in my back yard....couldn't ask for a better locationMY AGE: I'm 46 years old and will turn 47 while on the trail. I feel like Im in my ealy 30's though...most of the time ;0)WHERE I'M FROM: I'm originally from Chicago but have moved around a ton since my Dad was in the service and I was too (it paid for all my college!!)FAVORITE COLOR: Green...imagine that! I'm sure its a lot of our favorite!!FAVORITE FOOD: Mac N Cheese!FAVORITE SPORTS TEAMS: The Bears and Cubs of course! Even though it is painful ;0)FAVORITE TRAIL TOWN: So far I would have to say Hotsprings. I love the AT blazes down the middle of the town:0) It was also my first hike on the AT. Got shuttled to Max Patch and hiked back to Hotsprings....awesome day!!!FAVORITE SINGER/BAND: I love all kinds of music but really enjoy Mumford and Sons and Old Crow Medicine Show right now.FAVORITE CITY: Besides Chicago I would have to say Boston! Love it there.FAVORITE AT OR HIKING BOOK: Wild was an amazing book even though it's about the PCT. AWOL on the Appalachian Trail is awesome and very candid.FAVORITE AT TRAIL JOURNAL: So far Persistent's 2007 journal. She's funny and has a lot of useful info about the trail and what you will experience.FAVORITE HOBBIE: Well that's easy...backpacking! But I love to snow shoe, cycle, trail run and travel as well. Just got back from Edisto Beach SC!!! It was so peaceful and beautiful! I'm a mountain girl through and through but the ocean is amazing too!!!!HAMMOCK/TENT/OR SHELTER:   I have a great Lighthearted Solo tent that I use but also stay in the shelters every now and then.FAVORITE TRAIL FOOD: Snickers!!!!! It has saved me and my hiking/backpacking partners several times when we were out of calories! :0)FAVORITE AT SECTION: I love the Smokies!! Fontana to Davenport is an amazing section! However, I did all of Shenondoah from Waynesboro to Front Royal a few weeks ago and the views were spectacular. I enjoyed the waysides too-ya can't go wrong with a burger and a beer available about every 20 miles ;0) WHY AM I THRU HIKING THE AT?: Well...that is a big big question! I'll try to explain it as best I can. You see, there are so so so many reasons that I'm hiking the AT next year. I just feel like it's been calling me for so long...if that makes any sense. I need to walk for a long time. I've been out for a week at a time but I feel like I'm just getting some clarity and settling into trail life when BAM I have to head back home and to the rat race. I have had a pretty colorful life...a difficult life in many ways but an amazingly adventurous life in so many other ways. It just seems that it has been a whirlwind of good, bad, crazy, baffling experiences. Especially the past 20 years. When ever I try to make sense of my life and why Im here and what Im supposed to do in the future...I get side tracked by something- a move, the war (I was a combat medic on the front line of Desert Storm), a new job position, a death in the family, getting hit by a truck while running (this really happened-took 5 months to get back on my feet), a new relationship, a failed relationship, .....The list goes on and on. Anyway, the point is that I just haven't allowed myself to be with ME in my mind to think about all the happenings in my life and my future. The only time I feel like I can really really think is when I'm on the trail. But, I need a long long time to think and process everything that I need to. So, I thought 5.5-6 months of thinking ought to do the trick! I hope, anyway! :0) That is the main reason why I want to hike the AT. There are a couple others but I will keep that for another entry. I'm taking the pups to Hotsprings for lunch...Im still getting over the crud so I can't hike but I can at least hang out for a bit in my fav trail town....!!!