APPALACHIAN TRIALS...

So, as part of the fun of this journey I spend a lot of time on websites devoted to hiking the AT. I am a total gear geek and get into researching gear, lightweight backpacking (sort of a necessity with my back), and the ins and outs of a thru hike. I have had the pleasure to stumble upon a site called Appalachian Trials @ http://appalachiantrials.com/. I have enjoyed countless hours of pouring over other peoples blogs, reading about advice, stories, tips and tricks. I love the author and webmaster Zach Davis's articles and this blog site has been chosen as one of the best in outdoor adventure. I was on the site a couple of weeks ago and was thinking to myself, "self, wouldn't it be so awesome to be a blogger on this site!?"...now hear me out. I do have a desire to escape our technology-filled world, but I hesitated as I thought what a cool addition this might be to my journey! It would be a way for loved ones to keep up with me throughout my hike....and I might even have a chance to interact and talk with other hikers through this forum. I looked through last years bloggers and realized that out of 1,800-2,000 people that try a thru hike each year there were only about 30 chosen to write blogs on this site. Well, I said to hell with it and decided to apply. My chances were slim, but I figured, "hey, I have a compelling story to tell"...I enjoy writing and taking pictures, I enjoy interacting with others even though I plan to go solo on my trip. WHY NOT me? Well, I got a reply from Zach the other day, I have been accepted to be a blogger on the site for 2016. I was too excited. I think this will add a really cool dimension to the journey, and it will be documented digitally for posterity. LOL...Maybe some day (if that day ever comes), I will be able to turn to my partner and kids and say hey look what I did...or maybe I'll just be 80 in a rocking chair at the retirement home and be able to pull up this journey...and say hey look what I did... :) Well, I am super excited to be a part of the crew. I can't wait to incorporate this blog into my Appalachian Trails blog. It will be an awesome project and I'm excited to see where it goes. Thanks to you for reading and following along on this adventure. It's cool to know that there is support and love out there. Keep checking in as I will have more updates on the blog about the blog under construction... :) :)