From Katy:
Our countdown is on! We will be starting the trail on the 13th or 14th of July, after spending some time in Michigan. Traverse City, Michigan is about an 18 hour drive to Baxter State Park, in Maine.
After hearing from Ethan's friend who was on the trail for a few days last week, that he got caught in four days of rain without the proper gear...We found our way to the REI website to reanalyze our hiking gear...at least our pants.
We are set with most stuff, but will be getting a bigger backpack for me. I currently have a 48-liter pack and am looking for something that will hold more food! When we got my pack, we were planning on using it for weekend trips only. Never did we imagine we'd be setting out on a 4-6 month backpacking trip! I'll be trading it in for a 65-liter pack.
Thinking about starting the trail... I have heard from a lot of people (mostly the internet) that hiking the AT is mostly a mental feat. Overcoming obstacles such as cold, rain, hunger, blisters, sore muscles, tired, bug bites, lack of hygiene... I am glad I will have Ethan to encourage me when (not if) the rough days hit and I just want to give up. Although I am excited to start the trail, I believe it will be difficult for me at first. I have little backpacking experience and know it will take some time getting into the swing of being away from our "normal" routine.
I am most excited about getting away. Not having a cell phone, computer, deadlines, traffic...all the normal things that are a part of our society. Escaping from the consumer-driven lifestyle for a while. I am looking forward to living simply and spending time in nature, the way I believe God intended for us to live.
From Ethan:
As we prepare for the trip, I am reading The Wilderness World of John Muir. a professor gave it to me at the end of last quarter. I hope to have experiences similar to what Muir had as I follow in his footsteps. Although it's not the same route he took on one of his walks, I'm sure I (and we) will continue to gain an appreciation for God's creation and nature's beauty, just as Muir did, while we embark on this adventure.
Our countdown is on! We will be starting the trail on the 13th or 14th of July, after spending some time in Michigan. Traverse City, Michigan is about an 18 hour drive to Baxter State Park, in Maine.
After hearing from Ethan's friend who was on the trail for a few days last week, that he got caught in four days of rain without the proper gear...We found our way to the REI website to reanalyze our hiking gear...at least our pants.
We are set with most stuff, but will be getting a bigger backpack for me. I currently have a 48-liter pack and am looking for something that will hold more food! When we got my pack, we were planning on using it for weekend trips only. Never did we imagine we'd be setting out on a 4-6 month backpacking trip! I'll be trading it in for a 65-liter pack.
Thinking about starting the trail... I have heard from a lot of people (mostly the internet) that hiking the AT is mostly a mental feat. Overcoming obstacles such as cold, rain, hunger, blisters, sore muscles, tired, bug bites, lack of hygiene... I am glad I will have Ethan to encourage me when (not if) the rough days hit and I just want to give up. Although I am excited to start the trail, I believe it will be difficult for me at first. I have little backpacking experience and know it will take some time getting into the swing of being away from our "normal" routine.
I am most excited about getting away. Not having a cell phone, computer, deadlines, traffic...all the normal things that are a part of our society. Escaping from the consumer-driven lifestyle for a while. I am looking forward to living simply and spending time in nature, the way I believe God intended for us to live.
From Ethan:
As we prepare for the trip, I am reading The Wilderness World of John Muir. a professor gave it to me at the end of last quarter. I hope to have experiences similar to what Muir had as I follow in his footsteps. Although it's not the same route he took on one of his walks, I'm sure I (and we) will continue to gain an appreciation for God's creation and nature's beauty, just as Muir did, while we embark on this adventure.
