Share your stories... Who are you?... Why hike the AT? [Archive] - WhiteBlaze

Socrates

01-09-2007, 11:12

:welcome I thought this would be a great oppurtunity for everyone to share a bit about themsleves. Say whatever you'd like. Some of you already know each other, but the vast majority of us are probably strangers. (You guest users hiding in the corner should register and join in!) Who knows, you just might make a new friend! We're all around a toasty cyber campfire!

My real name is Jason. I elected the trail name of Socrates because my passion is philosophy. (And quite frankly, I'm scared what others might call me on the trail!) I'm 29, Born in Alabama, lived in Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado, California, and Virginia. I recently moved to Florida because me and my fiance broke up and I needed to be close to my family. I've also visited New York, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, and Australia. Yes, I LOVE to travel! Road trips are the best, but will fly if needed. I like California rolls, pizza, Corona, and Jack n Coke. I don't have a career yet because I've spent the last 11 years traveling and "living". I'm hoping that after my '07 thru hike, I'll finally be able to settle down long enough to get my degree as an RN because I'd like to work in th ER... Since money doesn't grow on trees! And when I start school, I'm finally going to get my dream dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, best dogs on earth! I'm a tall guy so I like a tall dog and I really dig their personalities. An interesting note, they were once used to hunt lions in Africa.
Anyway, I wish I could give you some special magical reason for hiking the AT this year, but honestly, I'm just doing it for something to do. Life is interesting to me no matter where I am so I figure "Why not experience it hiking and camping for 6 months?" I have no expectations, good or bad, so I'll either be getting great surprises and at the least, I'll never be disappointed. I'm very tolerant and easily adapt. I do love the woods and nature and meeting people from all walks of life so this should be an experience to remember.

Gray Blazer

01-09-2007, 11:42

Where do you live in FL? Maybe you can get the Florida WBers organized. I'm sorry to hear that you and your fiance broke up. That means she's not your fiance anymore, right? I'm not trying to be insensative. I'm an elementary school music teacher. My teaching philosophy is to try not to make any kids hate music because of their music teacher. I love my job almost as much as I love hiking on the AT. My family has a little history of being in the White Mountains near the AT in NH. My ancestors (not direct if you know your history) ran the original Willey House AT Crawford Notch. Neo has a good pic of Mt. Willey in his gallery.I have a collection of original AT photos in homemade barnwood frames. I haven't sold any yet. Speaking of pics, I plan on having a spot set up AT Ron Haven's April Fool's Bash in Franklin. If you don't have any money to buy your favorite maybe we could trade some hiking equipment. Come by the 2nd annual Rocky Bald Hiker Feed, Mar-30-April1.

maxNcathy

01-09-2007, 12:12

Hi Jason, I just watched a documentary that talked about Socrates's life and how he asked lots of questions to himself and others.
One of my majors was philosophy as I have been interested in "what it is all about" -this life we remember from birth and just accept or tolerate as the real deal.

I retired from teaching in '99 and now spend time reading, kayaking, camping, motorcycle touring, snowmobiling, woodturning, and hiking.
This March will be only my second backpacking hike.Cathy and I hiked 42 miles on AT back to Damascus last April and really enjoyed the challenge, the scenery, the camping, the other friendly hikers.

After 5 weeks of hiking I will come back home.The number of miles total is not an important concern.I hope I meet some great trail friends as I hike. Cathy and I have 3 sons in their twenties.They are happy in and too busy with careers now to come hiking.
I hope to chat with young and old to share my very optomistic attitude towards life. I also hope to learn from other hikers new ideas about hiking and life in general.
I will not look outside for happiness on the trail but rather have many quiet moments to go beyond my ordinary daily thoughts and senses to experience the peace that always lies within.I view all my fellows as equals thus sparing myself of endless judgments and comparisons that tend to sap the joy of relationships.
I am as God created me.Thank God it was not the other way around.

Usually I keep my thoughts to myself and maybe I should have here.
Anyhoo, let the hike begin!!

Sandalwood

copythat

01-09-2007, 13:04

my name's john and i hike because i can afford to. and because i find peace outdoors. tremendous peace. but if i had a sailboat, pretty much the only time you'd find me hiking would be trails on block island (tracking down cemeteries) or cuttyhunk (looking for the high ground) or acadia (my second-favorite rocks in this great land). that doesn't mean i don't love hiking. i do, and the more i do it the more i love it. but i crave distant, wide-open horizons, such as the "nothing" off block.

i work at a newspaper. i'm sarcastic (check my posts) to the point of embarassing myself sometimes. swore off dating a few years ago. just quit smoking. haven't had a drink in going on four years. (so what do i do? i dunno. post, i guess.) spent a bunch of time in the hospital (let me tell you THAT interferes with life!) but i'm doing ok for now (and exercise helps me stay that way, so hiking helps). outside interests include the usual: reading and music, and one unusual: been studying letterpress printing for a while (had to give up my gear when we moved two years ago).

and more important than all of this are my three daughters (16, 13, 9). they are my world. i've made a lot of mistakes along the way, but i'm hoping life is for learning and that we get second (and third) chances and that someday they'll figure i'm worth forgiving.

hey, jason ... toss me one o' them marshmallows.

4eyedbuzzard

01-09-2007, 14:12

Hi, my name's Len and I'm a recovering wise-ass, but not doing too well at the recovery part as you all may have noticed from my posts.:D

I live in northern NH, near Littleton. I've been married 24 years - to the same woman, and have four children(two boys and two girls (ages 14 thru 20). I've lived in OH, NJ, UT, and in now in NH for the past ten years. I love hiking/camping, though it does interfere at times with my other passion, golf. I hiked large sections of the AT in my youth(Springer thru Damascus, all of NJ, NY, and NH, part of ME and many shorter hikes in these areas with the kids. The time and financial demands of raising a family took firm root over the past 20 years, and have limited my hiking from what it used to be. Only one of my kids is an avid hiker, the others preferring to just camp or do an overnight on the trail. She[the hiker] wants me to thru with her in 2010 when she graduates college. We take a couple of short 2 to 5 day hikes together every year. Time will tell if her enthusiasm and desire(and mine!) will remain the same, especially as I am more a section hiking stop and smell the roses type at heart. I work on contract as a field engineer/technician(electrical/instrumentation), my non-hiker wife is with the USPS, so time off and finances to do a thru or long section hike are realizable. In that sense, I am very fortunate.

"Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through
(Everybody sing) I'm cool (He's cool):cool:
I can't complain but sometimes I still do
Life's been good to me so far"

:sun

Mags

01-09-2007, 14:20

:welcome I Say whatever you'd like.

Can't do that...Jim Sproul will edit ya! :D Only he knows what is "Straight forward" or not. Be aware! ;)

Having said that, from my web site:

Who is this Paul Magnanti fella?
If you actually bothered to click on this link, guess you really want to know about me for some odd reason. The name is Paul Magnanti. Paul Mags or just Mags for short. Mags is a family nick name that goes back to at least my grandfather. Having an unusual last name of Italian origin leaves many English speakers stumped. Easier to say "Mags" than trying to pronounce the last name. (In Italian is is pronounced Mon-nyan-tee, like lasagna. "Americanized", we pronounce it Mag-nan-tee. Rhymes with bag-fan-tea).

I am a Rhode Island (http://quahog.org/) native; which leaves me with a fondness for Del's Lemonade (http://www.dels.com/) , Dunkin' Donuts (http://www.dunkindonuts.com/) iced coffee, clam cakes and "chowda". In addition, I insist that Disney World is in a state called "Flah-ra-dah". One year to the day after finishing my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail moved to Colorado. Currently I am living in Boulder, CO (http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/) . This town is situated at the very edge of Rocky Mountain foothills and within an hour of my home is Rocky Mountain National Park, the Indian Peaks and many other outdoor pursuits. I also get to have coffee in one of Boulder's nearly one-million coffee shops.

If you haven't guessed it, love the outdoors; hiking and backpacking in particular. Love the simplicity, the personal challenge and how physical activity seems to make everything that much more beautiful. Since 2003, have started running. Introduced to to this past time by my good friends Marni and Josh (http://marninjosh.com) one New Year's Eve "Fun Run". Had so much fun, decided to do it regularly. Enjoy running for many of the same reasons why I love long-distance hiking. Was ambitious enough to do the Boulder Back Roads Marathon in Sept. '03 and felt, that "Hey, If I can do 26.2 miles...maybe I can do 52.4 ?". So, I did my first ultra marathon in Wyoming on Memorial Day Weekend in 2004. My next running goal is eventually a 100 miler. My first attempt at the Leadville 100 did not end in success (did 71 out of 100 miles), will have to go back and do it right next time! Never did say I was sane!

Life is good for me. Done some awesome adventures, have great friends and live in a place I love. What more can a guy ask for? --Mags

Vi+

01-09-2007, 14:27

Socrates / Jason,

You advised. “And when I start school, I'm finally going to get my dream dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback ...”

I lived with a Rhodesian Ridgeback more than a dozen years.

You need some things for this breed:

Land. My wife and I live on almost 100 acres and walked him a mile twice each day. That was about minimal.

Time. My wife and I each spent a minimum of 12 hours each day away from home, leaving him alone, given work and commute. We still regret this. When we arrived home, our dog was absolutely wild about getting out and running around; I mean RUNNING non-stop in large circles.

Patience. Never hit a dog of this breed; they are extremely sensitive. This may sound like common sense to you, but this breed is STUBBORN to the point of seeming stupid, which it’s not; it’s quite smart. It will take many years for this breed of dog to become accustomed to paying attention to you when there is anything else of interest about - bear, beaver, birds (which it will stare at as they migrate overhead), cat, child, deer, dog, fox, possum, raccoon, skunk, snake, turtle. Our dog ate two television remote controls one day, two complete MSR stove repair kits another day, and we’ve forgotten what all else. I notice you live in Florida; if you live near water and like recreating in it, be assured, this breed HATES water. Ours hated even to have a single paw moistened and would detour far around water he couldn’t leap over. Our dog knew there is no god; it rains doesn't it?

On one of our walks, we encountered two black bears. They were distracted by something and didn’t realize we were nearby. I, the Rhodesian, and a terrier mutt I had gotten from the shelter the day before, were standing about three feet away from them. I was fairly relaxed about the whole thing, knowing bear are afraid of dogs and man. The Rhodesian, Charlie, sniffed one of them for a while, became frustrated and came forth with an impressive bark. One bear turned left and ran up a trail. The second bear turned about and chased the Rhodesian.

I was all “Mr. Science” calculating the bear’s weight relative to the long, tall, 120 pound Rhodesian as the bear turned next to the dog; the bear had to have been well over 400 pounds.

A shallow pond was to my right. A line of cedar trees was to my left, across a couple feet of trail which dog and bear were now flying along faster than the speed of sound.

When you’re scared, your mind races at one million miles per second - I timed it - and I calculated: the bear can outrun me on land; it can out climb me in a tree, and; it would easily have gotten to me in the pond. I considered the bear probably hadn’t noticed me and would just pass by. I considered bear have an excellent sense of scent, would recognize me when it came alongside, and might panic. If the bear merely knocked me down and ran over me, it would at least break some of my ribs. I conceived of no viable options. I ran through my checklist twice and resigned myself to remain motionless and see what happened.

My new-best-friend-in-the-world, my terrier mutt, Carmen, ran forward. I thought the bear would swat her, tearing her up in the process, and knock her into the pond. I thought, well, alright, better her than me.

She darted between the bear’s forelegs, and almost disappeared beneath its chest. I heard three little sharp terrier barks. The bear immediately turned right and ran up the trail its partner had taken. The Rhodesian was nowhere in sight.

Rhodesians hunt as a pack and take turns worrying an animal until it takes refuge somewhere they can’t get at it. The hunter eventually comes along and kills the animal. Now, let me tell ya, partner, that’s some damn fine hunting.

Charlie and Carmen died some time ago and, though we still love them dearly, we’ll never have another Rhodesian Ridgeback.

You will need to pay attention to school. Wait until you can devote a substantial amount of time and effort before getting a Rhodesian Ridgeback. I strongly urge, get another breed. All parties involved, dog and human, deserve it.

Lone Wolf

01-09-2007, 14:32

Hi. My name is Lone Wolf and I'm a hikeaholic. I'm a drinker with a hiking problem.

Pacific Tortuga

01-09-2007, 14:39

FYI - The topic is "Your Story" and the IS the Straight Forward Forum - js

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic.

Straight Forward Forum posts are moderated. Postings in this forum must be on topic. This forum is intended for a more straight forward discussion. Other forums on Whiteblaze offer wide ranging dialogue.

Your views and posting are always welcome at Whiteblaze.net when they stay within the user agreement.

http://whiteblaze.net/index.php?page=agreement

Gray Blazer

01-09-2007, 15:02

woodsy

01-09-2007, 15:16

Pacific Tortuga

01-09-2007, 16:01

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic.

Straight Forward Forum posts are moderated. Postings in this forum must be on topic. This forum is intended for a more straight forward discussion. Other forums on Whiteblaze offer wide ranging dialogue.

Your views and posting are always welcome at Whiteblaze.net when they stay within the user agreement.

http://whiteblaze.net/index.php?page=agreement

Chaco Taco

01-09-2007, 20:28

My name is Jeff, trailname Chaco. I live in Chapel Hill, home of the Tarheels. I am a student at UNC trying to graduate. I took a few years off from school because I know more than all of my teachers. I live with my girlfriend and our dog Rosie. She puts up with all of my crap. I work in a locally owned restaurant in the catering department.The pay sucks. I spend most of my free time planning my trips coming up and watching Tarheel basketball. I spend most of the very little money I make on gear. I read alot. Im trying this sobriety thing and it has been good to me. I have been studying and reading alot about Buddhism and learning to meditate again. I love music and going to live shows. I really like Widespread Panic ( the band, but I do cause it sometimes). My family lives in Greensboro, NC. I live for camping and if I could do it, i would live in my tent. The reason I hike is for my sanity. Gettingh away from the stresses of the real world is what keeps me going. I have no car, by choice, so I walk everywhere. I play disc golf at a local course to keep my in shape for my hikes. I spend way too much on this website, but that isnt a bad thing. i have met a ton of new people I hope to meet in person on my hike or at Traildays 07. So thats me!

terrapin_too

01-09-2007, 22:28

Got bit by hiking in 1975. Somewhere up on Franconia Ridge, shortly thereafter, became aware of the A.T. Much schlepping thru Whites and Baxter with my buds and very heavy packs, had a great time... Since 1989 have walked about 3/4 of the AT in sections ranging from 650 miles down to 10 miles. I think maybe at heart I've always enjoyed camping as much as hiking -- hanging out with decent, smelly folks 'round a fire deep in the woods, passing a bottle or a haebar.

My longest section was an attempted thru, in 1990. Everything up to then was just practice, sorta. In recent years I've gotten more serious about completing the trail with decent-sized sections. With some luck, this process concludes in 2007. There's a chunk of time this summer that just about covers the miles I need to walk... :) It would involve a section just a bit shorter than the one I did in 1990. Trouble is, I'm... uhh... sixteen years older. Trying to compensate for age with a lighter load & high technology.

Engineer by trade. Geeky stuff, good pay, not much free time. Other pastimes: skiing, sailing, photography, reading, politics. (A discernable shift toward the more sedentary pastimes with advancing years.) Happily married DINKs. Wife does not hike, but tolerates mine. She's very cool. :sun

map man

01-09-2007, 23:35

Namaste

01-10-2007, 02:04

I've always loved hiking and "roughing" it. Since I was 12 growing up in Brooklyn, NY my first dream was to hike in the Himalayas (thanks Sr. Ellen/geography class teacher) which I did in 2000. My next dream is thru hiking the AT. This hopefully will become a reality in 2010. I teach wilderness survival skills at a private girls camp in Maine during the summer. This enables me to spend lots of time on the AT in the great north woods. I've also hiked many parts of the AT in different states including the one I currently live in, NJ (land of those annoying rocks). I've done some other hikes such as the Grand Canyon, Long Trail and throughout the national parks in Utah.

I love the challenge of living out of a backpack.

RAT

01-10-2007, 02:25

Hey, I'm RAT > PATROL and "I aint nuthin' but drunken blue-blazin hobo hiker trash from hell" ;)

RAT

bfitz

01-10-2007, 03:30

This message has been edited due to deviation from stated intent of this topic. See removed postings HERE (http://www.hikenow.com/edits.html#a10)

cbabs

01-11-2007, 00:50

As long as I can remember I have always loved hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking. I have always felt hampered by the fact that I live in Ohio, it always seemed there was more to see elsewhere. Then one day when I was a junior in high school our teacher told us of a previous student who was leaving to hike the AT to find himself. At the time I thought "sounds great I'll do that, but what's the Appalachian Trail?"

To make a long story short, two friends and I planned to hike the trail this summer, but they both pretty much backed out so it's just me. I have from about May 15 until August 10 (between semesters) to hike however far seems good. Then, after I graduate and get one of those real jobs as a teacher, I have summers to finish whatever I don't do this summer. I look forward to meeting some pretty awesome people on the trail.

hopefulhiker

01-11-2007, 10:12

I live in Charlotte NC, I had wanted to hike the trail since I went on a summer supported hike in the Shendoah's when I was thirteen... I manage property and have been a teacher and an electronic technician. My next dream is to hike the PCT.. and also to talk my wife into doing a long distance hike with me....

Joopster

01-11-2007, 12:24

My name is Josh and I am 24 years old. I am an aviation student at the Ohio State University. I have my private pilots license and am currently working on my commercial rating. I am in the ANG part-time as an aircraft mechanic (C-130's) and work at UPS part-time.

My wife and I got married almost 3 years ago and last year we traveled to arizona with 2 other couples and hiked down into the Grand Canyon for 4 nights. My wife is a physical therapist assistant, that coupled with my schooling year around and work, we don't have much time to go anywhere.

After the great hike in the Grand Canyon (pics can be found here http://www.harpie.net/GrandCanyon/GrandCanyon.html) we decided that this summer we would like to try and hike a portion of the AT.

Just wanted to introduce myself a little and say hi.

Oh yeah and I will add the dancing banana man ;) :banana

Joopster

01-11-2007, 12:27

Well I am not sure how to edit my post, but here is the correct address for the pictures.

Http://www.harpie.net/Grand/GrandCanyonSedona1/Index.html

Nean

01-11-2007, 14:17

Nean is my lifelong nickname. I used to be a hiker 'till I got hooked up with my sweety.:cool: Now I live near the trail(s):) , do the hostel thingy:welcome , and bs here on WB.;)

jen515

01-11-2007, 15:54

I'm Steve Shuman, and I have one of the greatest jobs in the world -- I'm map room supervisor at the library at Iowa State University (and that explains my user name). And because I love my job I don't plan to quit it until I retire, so doing an AT thru-hike until then does not look likely unless I somehow negotiate a six month leave of absence. My wife and I are also DINKS but we do have two beloved greyhounds we adopted after the racing industry was done with them. My wife has no interest in camping, or hiking for longer than a couple hours, but she is cool with the fact I have caught the long distance hiking bug.

My two biggest interests are hiking and reading, and it was through this latter interest that I arrived at my current love for hiking (my family did no hiking or camping when I was growing up). I read a book or two about outdoor adventures, which led to a book or two about long distance hiking, which led to trailjournals.com, which led to WhiteBlaze, and the rest is history. I had always done a lot of walking (I lived without a car for large chunks of my twenties and thirties) and why it didn't occur to me until recently to do a lot of this walking out in nature -- well, I guess I'm a little slow:D . But luckilly I did find it. Last year I hiked the length of the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota and enjoyed it more than I would have thought possible, and this May I plan to do it again, only this time southbound instead of northbound.

Someday I will hike all or part of the AT -- hopefully sooner rather than later!

HEEEYYYYYY neighbor! (Im from Boone originally!!)

My name is Jen Wilson and I live in Des Moines IA. I have wanted to hike the AT since my college days when a friend of mine did a section hike for about 6 weeks.
I am going to be 32 this month, Im married and I have 2 boys ages 8 and 4.
I quit my corporate constipation job last month and launched my own business. Im a personal chef.
My hubby and I want to thru hike when our youngest is 15 and the eldest is out of school. Well see if they want to do it or not. If not, then they will have to sag wagon with grandma and grandpa in their RV meeting up with us when they can.
Im obsessed with the trail. I try to do something that moves us one step closer to getting there every day.
Until we are able, we like to spend the summers camping and fishing and hiking and being outdoors. I tend to an incredible garden which is another passion, and am a book-a-holic. When Im on a bender, my kids have no mother and my hubby has no wife because I am on a reading frenzy.

Were heading to Isle Royal this summer for a few days backpacking, and though Im excited for it, its just not quite enough. You know?

This trail,
it's my dream.

Chaco Taco

01-11-2007, 17:07

Hey, I'm RAT > PATROL and "I aint nuthin' but drunken blue-blazin hobo hiker trash from hell" ;)

RAT
FINALLY My kind of people. We need a smiley that is the DBBHH. Make it look like pigpen from Peanuts with a backpack and a bottle!

jmaclennan

01-11-2007, 17:33

howdy, my name's jamie (trailname: graymatter) and i currently live in maryland (originally from new jersey). hiked the AT in '03 during which time i met the woman (ladybug) who i've been married to now for 3 years at the Mt. Collins shelter in the smokies. we have a 2 year-old trail-daughter kaia. wrote my doctoral dissertation on the social processes taking place on the trail. teaching at UMBC now and i love the AT!

4eyedbuzzard

01-11-2007, 22:03

... wrote my doctoral dissertation on the social processes taking place on the trail.

Cool. Can you make it available electronically to interested members here?

Socrates

01-11-2007, 23:47

My name is Josh and I am 24 years old. I am an aviation student at the Ohio State University. I have my private pilots license and am currently working on my commercial rating...

Hey there Josh, I got my solo license to fly Cessna 152s when I was 17... Didn't even have a driver's license yet and I'm cruising OVER the town! I wanted to be an airine pilot, but was convinced that I needed to fly in the military first and since they wouldn't accept anyone that didn't have 20/20, I just moved on to other things instead. But I'll never forget those days of freedom in the air. Who knows, maybe I'll take it up again one day just for fun.

totally Boagus

01-12-2007, 00:08

Joopster

01-12-2007, 08:56

Hey there Josh, I got my solo license to fly Cessna 152s when I was 17... Didn't even have a driver's license yet and I'm cruising OVER the town! I wanted to be an airine pilot, but was convinced that I needed to fly in the military first and since they wouldn't accept anyone that didn't have 20/20, I just moved on to other things instead. But I'll never forget those days of freedom in the air. Who knows, maybe I'll take it up again one day just for fun.

I plan on flying for the military when I finish up my degree. Your right you almost have to fly for them to get your foot in the door anywhere else....

I wish I could have started flying when I was younger. My dad always wanted to learn but never did....

Talk to you later.

Kerosene

01-12-2007, 11:12

Without trying to repeat my profile too much, my name is Michael Karaman. Whenever my wife or 16-year old daughter catch me in contemplation they know exactly what I'm thinking about -- my next AT section hike! I was an Eagle Scout with bronze palm in the early 70's and started backpacking with two scouting buddies over spring break in April 1973 (DWG to Unionville). I did most of the Mid-Atlantic states through the 70's, including the 110 miles from Duncannon to Harpers Ferry with my future wife (carrying an engagement ring the whole way, but never feeling like it was the right time since we were both dirty and smelly).

I carried a 40-45 pound pack and walked in cotton for most of the 70's, covering about 500 AT miles and capping off my youthful backpacking experience with a SOBO thru-hike of the Long Trail in August '79. From there I moved out to Ann Arbor, Michigan where I work as an information technology executive. Between starting up a career, living in the flat Midwest, getting an MBA, buying a house, and starting a family, I pretty much stopped backpacking until 1999, but I can remember almost every day of every hike I've taken.

I was cleaning my garage in the summer of '99 when I ran across my old Kelty Tioga external frame pack. As I went to move it I discovered that part of the aluminum frame had corroded over the years from all the road salt in the garage! I decided that I'd try to get out there again, starting off with a lovely Fall 3-day, 37-mile hike across one of the few trails in southeast Michigan. I came back extremely refreshed (I encountered less than a dozen people and no other backpackers), to the point that my wife really notices that the stress lines are diminished and I'm much easier to live with after being out for a week. I had always hoped to hike the entire AT, so in September 2001 I headed out to eastern Vermont to extend my coverage, toting a brand new Dana Designs Terraplane X and lugging 32 pounds of gear (plus another 8 pounds for the pack!).

I was hooked, and over the past 6 years have reworked my gear to get me the weight down to 25 pounds with 3-4 days of supplies. I should finish (at the summit of Katahdin of course) in September 2013 after I knock off some of the nicer AT states (NC, TN, southern VA, ME). I've been lucky that I'm still out playing competitive soccer against younger guys, which helps a lot with my leg strength and aerobic capacity, so I'm able to ramp up the daily mileage a little faster than most people.

Over the past 3 years I've done several hikes with fellow WhiteBlazer Hikerhead (aka, Hokey Pokey) who first helped shuttle me around the Roanoke section of the trail. We finished up an incredible hike of the Whites this past September.

Besides backpacking and soccer, I read a lot, play piano and sing, and try to keep from working too much so I can get home to help my daughter with her math and opera training.

It's been great to run across other WhiteBlazers in my section hikes (Flash Hand, CoreyZ/knees, walkerat99, and a few others I can't recall right now). Hope to see you out there!

Lilred

01-12-2007, 13:00

My name is John, and I am the Master Wheelwright at Colonial Williamsburg. I have been building 18th century wheeled vehicles for over 20 years.
I have been hiking since about 1973, got my first geat at the old Appalachain
Outfitters in Oakton Va. I hike because I love the outdoors and grew up close to the AT. How when I'm out on the trail, besides having a great time with friends and family, I feel a close connection with the poeple I study who for the most part walked where they had to go

Nice to meet you John, My name is Mary and I'm a teacher near Nashville, Tn. I'm taking some of my eighth graders to Washington D.C. the first weekend in May, and we'll be stopping for a day in Williamsburg. I'll look you up.

I first heard of the AT in high school and had been fascinated with it ever since. Hiking in the Smokies one year, I crossed the AT and my heart started racing. I wanted to get on it then. I guess that's when my obsession started. Rain Man got me on the AT for the first time, hiking Neel's Gap to Deep Gap and I was hooked. That was in Nov. of '03. Since then I've sectioned each summer and have gotten as far as Bland Va. I'm hoping I can get out this year too, but we're in the process of selling two houses and buying another, so time will tell if the money is there.

Great thread.

Bilko

01-12-2007, 13:41

My trail name is Bilko. A catholic nun gave me my trail name. Air Force Master Sergeant Ernie Bilko was a television character in the 60's. I'm a retired Master Sergeant from the Air Force myself. I started section hiking the AT in June, 1994 at the age of 41. I have hiked the trail from Springer,GA to Pearisburg,VA. all in continous sections. I figure everyone is a section hiker until they complete the entire trail.

My wife and I got married when we were teenagers. We have 4 children that we are extremely proud of. I taught and coached for over 20 years, I have been a school administrator for 10 years. I have worked in Georgia and Rhode Island. I now find myself employed in a college 15 miles from Springer Mountain. Every morning when I drive to work I can see the beautiful Appalachian skyline. If anyone needs the college to help them out with anything let me know, I'm the Director of Activities, we would be glad to help.

I hike in the summer months. I have meet only a handful of hikers. The social aspect everyone talks about does not exist in the summer months. I have spend more time alone in an empty shelters than in shelters with others. Mice are usually my only companions. Hiking during the day is just as quiet. I should change my trail name to Solitary Man.

Real name: Tim Walsh

buckowens

01-12-2007, 20:17

Hi everyone, I am Steve and my trail name is "Buckowens". I am currently on Active Duty with the National Guard here in West Virginia working for a Homeland Defense unit. I have been in the Army for 24 years, and have been and still am a pilot. I now fly the C-12 (King Air) airplane, and am a recovering Blackhawk Medevac pilot;) . Much easier to read a newspaper in a King Air than the Hawk...
I deployed to Kosovo and spent each morning walking the fence of my base (about 7 miles) and thought about spending more time with my family. I began upon getting home by Geocaching and using our new RV, the whole time hiking everywhere we could. Nothing like good old Army "prison" to get you thinking...
I leave in June for Amicalola with my 9 year old daughter (trail name Roo) to hike for two weeks. I will do the same with my 6 year old son (no trail name yet...) when he is ready, and assuming he wants to. Roo cannot get enough of the outdoors, and can hike with a 25 pound pack all day. The goal is to finish the trail with one or both kids before I die.
Life is short, so enjoy you're families and the time together.

Programbo

01-12-2007, 22:34

Oh my..I think I could fill up the whole board if I wanted but I`ll make it brief....I`m not sure how AT related this is suppose to stay or if we are suppose to say who we are in general so forgive me if I stray to far afield. (If anyone finds anything I am about to say interesting and/or objectionable please direct your comments to me in a private message instead of causing disruption to the board)
I`m 49 years old and have covered a wide range of activities and adventures in my life (I`m currently writing a book on my life)...When I was a kid we lived in a middle class area but when I was 10 my father was shot and killed while working in a gas station..My mother who had never worked in her life suddenly had 5 children to care for and being a proud woman she refused any sort of government assistance and worked 2 jobs 7 days a week so we could stay in our home..But being so poor we were often picked on by the other kids because of our old shabby clothes etc..I often got in fights and grew withdrawn..As I got older I found comfort and acceptance in my love of nature..I would often spend all day in the large wooded area near our home...Once I discovered the Appalachian Trail from going out on day hikes with a local hiking club it became my second (And most loved) home..I felt so at peace and was so content on the trail and staying in the shelters..No matter what problems I had in life the trail was always there and unchanging..I can remember standing on an overlook and almost crying with happiness at the beauty and solitude and peace of mind I felt..I just wished I could hike and be free forever
But at the same time I was a troubled young man...Rejected by my peers at home and abused by my older sister who was left to care for us while my mother worked I searched for acceptance..I was in a witch coven..I hung out with the Pagans Motorcycle Club..I was friends with a couple of the Manson girls..I was heading for trouble big time.
Then in March of 1977 the chance came for me to escape all of that and thru-hike the AT...Unfortunately I didn`t have quite the amount of funds I needed and only made it from Springer-Duncannon,PA..But it was the long break I needed to clear my head and get a bit of direction..I spent the next year or so working odd jobs and riding the Greyhound bus coast to coast or taking hikes on my beloved Trail...
My mom sold our home shortly after that and I joined the Army...I served 2 1/2 years and was stationed at Fort Lewis and in Germany and had 2 months of Arctic Training in Fairbanks Alaska..I was eventually put out of the service because it was at this time I began to have gender identity issues...I traveled to California and got involved in the adult film business for a number of years but eventually returned to Baltimore where I got what I`m sure most here would call a dream job selling backpacking equipment for almost 11 years.
I left that job due to conflict with the owners and got a job with my brother running our own auto detailing business..Things were great for awhile and I had my own home for the first time in my life...With lots of free time..Lots of cash and the acceptance of my friends and family I started on my journey to transition into the person I felt I was inside...But alas my younger brother got hooked on crack cocaine and lost the business (At this time I was making trips overseas for up to 3 months at a time and not there to oversee my share of the detail shop) and I was forced to move in with my older brother.
I kind of bummed around until my money was getting low and got a job in the transportation business with an old friend...At this point in my life I had been diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder and being as I had the support of all my friends,family and co-workers I began the process to undergo sex reassignment...But in 2004 I suffered what is commonly called a "massive heart attack" due to my estrogen therapy...I was clinically "dead" for several minutes but luckily the paramedics were able to shock my heart back into rhythmn...However I did suffer a bit of damage to my heart and had to discontinue my HRT...Because of my age,health and finances it is questionable if I shall be able to complete my transition any longer but regardless of how one looks on the outside as long as they are true to themselves and at peace within that is all that matters
That brings us to now...As part of my rehabilitation I started walking and finding I needed goals to work towards I began to set distance marks and then goals of hiking on the trail once again....I returned to the Appalachian Trail for at first very short walks and have built back up to longer day hikes.....I discovered that all the magic and peace of mind and sense of belonging I felt as a young man was still in the air as I followed those white blazes and that wonderful feeling of happiness always comes over me whenever I can find time to get out..I hope to one day soon start taking some overnight trips with a pack :)

Bilko

01-13-2007, 00:58

Programbo, you should change your name to Dead Man Walking. Keeping it real brother. We are glad to see you are a survivor. Good luck with the recovery. I believe we all find magic and peace of mind and sense of belonging when we follow those white blazes. Bilko

RAT

01-13-2007, 01:22

FINALLY My kind of people. We need a smiley that is the DBBHH. Make it look like pigpen from Peanuts with a backpack and a bottle!

I'll start working on that ;)

Programbo, you should change your name to Dead Man Walking. Keeping it real brother. We are glad to see you are a survivor. Good luck with the recovery. I believe we all find magic and peace of mind and sense of belonging when we follow those white blazes. Bilko

Ditto :)

RAT

Heater

01-13-2007, 01:43

ImkerVS

01-14-2007, 00:55

I'm Steve. I live right near the trail (Unicoi, 3 miles from Iron Mtn Gap, Cherry Gap shelter, etc). I work on line and got out of Nashville a year or two ago. Decided I had to live in the mountains. Now I'm here, and I've started section hiking.

I'm a beekeeper. "Imker" means beekeeper in several languages, though only in Dutch does ImkerVS mean something - "VS" is the abbreviation for United States in Dutch. Yeah, that's a hobby of mine, the Dutch language. It's pretty absurd. They all speak English, you know. And Beekeeping is pretty absurd for me too, as I'm a type 2 diabetic so I can only take the smallest taste of it. I guess it's my way of community service. I used to live in Hollywood and worked some as a professional actor, which was fairly absurd, too, so I left there.

I have always liked walking. Walked all over Hollywood when I was there, which is fairly absurd, it being a car town. That seems like yesterday but it was years ago.

Hiking provides me a sense of accomplishment. It also exhausts me, which allows me to sleep very deep. Before I started hiking I wondered if I would be able to sleep out in the woods by myself, or whether I would worry and be lying there listening for wildlife slowly creeping up on me.

Oh yeah, I get letters from AARP. That irritates me. Oh, I don't care that I'm in their age bracket. I just don't like junk mail. Maybe I will take one of their postage paid envelopes and tape it to a heavy weight and send it back to them.

Right now I am planning a section hike from Sam's Gap to Hot Springs.

ImkerVS

01-14-2007, 00:57

Gorp-Gobbler

08-02-2008, 15:17

Hi! Jason:
My name is Greg and I'm hoping to do a 'Thru-Hike' in 2010. I've been a section hiker since discovering the trail in 1973 while attending a National Scout Jamboree.
I'm 56 and working as a Grill Cook at a Travel Centers of America Restaurant even though I have a degree in Culinary Arts with a B.S. in Business Management.
Working at this job has given me the incentative to get all of my creditors paid off and then save up the necessary funds to do the trail (this being one job I wouldn't mind quitting).
I'm happily divorced with three grown children/adluts.
I'm originally from Ohio and made the biggest mistake in my life in 1993 when I moved out here to Indiana.
I enjoy long distance running, bike riding and reading anything I get my hands on concerning the Appalachian Trail. I'm also a Civil War nut and have written an article according to my English Prof. while in college is worthy to be published.
That's about it in a nutshell from this former "Buckeye", pardon the comparison.
Peace!

Plodderman

08-02-2008, 15:44

My name Trail name is Plodder. Given to me by the guys I hike with because I am not a fast hiker but I always catch up at the end of the day. I have been hiking the AT for the past five years with two long hikes in June. The Smokies and from Atkins VA to Damascus.

Later this year I am going from Springer to Fontana.

I have backpacked all my life and thought why not try to put together some hikes in a more orderly way and complete the AT. Over the past ten years I have mainly hiked the Smokies and Wayne National Forrest in Ohio.

Bear Cables

08-03-2008, 15:54

Hi! I'm Rhonda. I'm 54 , married for 32 years to non hiking hubby Ed. I will retire this year after 32 years of teaching physical education.(Yay! plan to celebrate with a friend and hike some JMT and more AT) Grew up camping but didn't get into backpacking until my boys, now 26 and 23 were in boy scouts. I was invited by the scout master to "come and play". I fell in love with it. After the boys went off to college I found girlfriends who like to hike. We love to canoe as well. I've hike Philmonts Scout ranch in NM twice( what a great experince), several hikes on trails in VA, MS and recently started section hiking with a friend on the AT. I'm a gear junkie! Love all the new stuff. My husband ask me what it was I loved so much about back packing....It's the athletic challenge of it and being unconcered about appearance. You see in real life I such a "girly girl". Hair , make up , nail, and clothes always just right ....on the trail its freedom from this. I like it both ways.

Jason of the Woods

08-03-2008, 16:33

I would love to share the real reasons of my extended trips to the woods but they would just be censored or deleted.......

HikerRanky

08-04-2008, 17:31

I would love to share the real reasons of my extended trips to the woods but they would just be censored or deleted.......

In an effort to help Jason come out of his shell here, I'll give my story.

My name is Randy. I'm 48 years old, married to the same wonderful person for 25 years. I am a Project Portfolio Director for MTV Networks, working with CMT here in Nashville, TN.

My first trip on the AT was many years ago with my family..... Over time I got into other things, such as teaching scuba diving, and just recently got back into backpacking.

Currently I am planning a couple of section hikes and getting back in shape for the trail.... but my main reason for getting back into this is to really unplug from my job... Scuba Diving does that for the short term, but even on vacation, I get hassled if it's anyplace that has connectivity. Since the trail is relatively close to me, I can get on the trail and be away from email and cellular service for many days....

My trail name is HikerRanky.... I was given that by Rain Man on here at a WB dinner.... It was a Freudian slip, but everyone liked it, so it has stuck....

Randy

Jason of the Woods

08-04-2008, 20:13

In an effort to help Jason come out of his shell here, I'll give my story.

My name is Randy. I'm 48 years old, married to the same wonderful person for 25 years. I am a Project Portfolio Director for MTV Networks, working with CMT here in Nashville, TN.

My first trip on the AT was many years ago with my family..... Over time I got into other things, such as teaching scuba diving, and just recently got back into backpacking.

Currently I am planning a couple of section hikes and getting back in shape for the trail.... but my main reason for getting back into this is to really unplug from my job... Scuba Diving does that for the short term, but even on vacation, I get hassled if it's anyplace that has connectivity. Since the trail is relatively close to me, I can get on the trail and be away from email and cellular service for many days....

My trail name is HikerRanky.... I was given that by Rain Man on here at a WB dinner.... It was a Freudian slip, but everyone liked it, so it has stuck....

Randy

OK, You got me. I'll do this because right now is a very good example! I just found out that I am losing my income. I had a failed back surgery two years ago and both of my doctors say that I am disabled. Though in this great country that we live in my Company's doctor has determined that I can go back to work, thus my employer no longer pays me. I am appealing this now but don't have high hopes because it is reviewed by the same insurance company who is owned by, you guessed it, my former employer. To top it off I can't find an attorney to take this on because it's a private disability matter.? So due to all of this the next couple of weeks I am just gonna go hike and hide out in the woods. It is something that I go to in times like this and also in times that are better for my piece of mind. I went away from the woods for a few years only to come back with a greater passion than I already had. I feel very passionate as well about passing these values on to my daughter and keeping her as interested through her life in the outdoors that she is now. Everyone that I see who gripes about losing weight or is stressed at work my response is always the same, "Walk it off". So I guess I hike for myself, for those around me, and most of all because it's there and ours to enjoy!:D

gghiker

08-04-2008, 20:55

Hi, my name is John. I found hiking the way people find religion. I went through suicidal depression as a teenager, followed by years of incredible alcohol abuse. Dead-end jobs, burned bridges, substance abuse with crack whores. Basically, as low as it gets.

Somewhere around turning 30, I got my act together. I got away from all the people I knew, changed phone #s, changed addresses, and got cleaned up and sober. Sick of being sick, and facing certain mortality. I decided I wanted to live. I started weightlifting, I mean heavy workouts an hour a day every day. And, like an idiot, I was using every chemical I could get my hands on to get bigger. It was a rush, but it still left me feeling like I didn't have a direction or a purpose.

I'm not sure what did it, but I fell in love with hiking. I mean madly, truly, passionately in love. I can be alone for days, come upon a break in the trees, and I cry. Its just so beautiful. I am so incredibly lucky to know this feeling, I wish I could share it with the world...but they just don't understand. Not even my wife, whom I love dearly. I'm glad I found this place, because I know you know what I'm talking about.

As for the AT, I will hike it all one day. The promise of that to myself is the best goal in life anybody could have.

musicwoman

08-05-2008, 13:57

Hi All,

My name is Julie, I am 43 years old, newly divorced after 21 years of marriage, and have 3 wonderful kids. Fell in love with hiking many years ago, when I lived in a house surrounded by woods not too far from the Greenbelt Trail here on Long Island. I had never experienced such peace and solitude. Still love it to this day, although my hiking time is limited by my job and being a mom.

TwistedToad

09-30-2008, 20:57

humm... Well I've never been good at this, but here it goes.... My name is Todd. I've been called Toad so long I don't even remember where it came from or who first called me that. As for the Twisted part... Back in 1999 I had my left eye shot out. I now have a "glass" eye. That happened in April.... well in Aug. of that year I had a motorcycle wreck. I was doing over 150mph and I went off the road and hit the corner of an overpass. Six inches to the right and I'd be with the good Lord. I was VERY LUCKY the only major thing that happened to me was my left index finger was broken in a few places!! I had some road rash and a few cuts and that was it! I don't remember and of the wreck its self just right before it. I remember saying, oh $hit I'm going to wreck and then the next thing I said was, GOD please be with me. I know he was without a doubt!! Well after a week or so I went and bought.... yes you got it... a new motorcycle! My friends and friends of friends said I must be twisted.... so now it is TwistedToad.... Now the reason I hike.... I guess to make it short and sweet.... because I can. With everything that has happened in my life I'm glad I still can. I feel so alive when I am out in the woods. I now have a 5yr old lil girl that I take hiking when ever I get to see her. She lives in Knox. with her mother sad to say.... She loves it too!! When we are headed back I tell her she can be the trail guide and walk in front of me showing me where to go. Does she ever get a kick out of that!! Yeah 5yrs old and already telling me where to go! lmao!! I hope that she will continue to have the love for the trail that I do. My dream would to be able to thru-hike it with her! God only knows...

CowHead

10-30-2008, 15:37

I grew-up hiking, fishing and hunting from the time I was 11 to 25 born in raise in Ohio, small town of 400 people and other than school the foothills of Ohio was where I played. 25-49 Outdoors was a view from my care window, at 50 I have lost 115 lbs and have hike Maryland 4 times VA once, GA once and one of these days (get kids, wife through College )that whole darn thing...Hiking is a way to test your soul, cleanse your mind, and feed your spirit.

"It is not talking but walking that will bring us to heaven."
- Matthew Henry

greg burke

10-30-2008, 19:39

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22466&highlight=trail+essay+2175

This is who I am
This is my story
Thanks for checking out.

Erin

10-30-2008, 23:49

I am Elizabeth.
My brothers hiked the AT when I was little and I begged them to let me go. I was thirteen. Nope, it was a guy trip. My dream came true on our section hike last year.
I did not start backpacking until 1994, I was early 30's. I wish I had done what I saw kids do on the trail last year...take off after college and just do it. It did not even cross my mind, I was so focused on post college education and career. So, since 1994 , that first backpacking trip to Colorado, I have made up for my lost dud 20's years of too much work and too many cigarettes.
Better late than never. I hope to hike the AT when I retire in 8 years, and ride a bike across the U.S. Between now and then, I enjoy my vacations and weekends. Next weekend, it is the Buffalo River trail in Arkansas. It is beautiful and only two hours away.

rdsoxfan

10-31-2008, 00:41

I 'm from ME originally but have lived in 9 different states. AK, TX, GA, SC, NC, NY, MA, NH, ME. I have always enjoyed the outdoors. Camping, Fishing, Hunting, Camping etc. Have hiked since I was about 11 yo. Have hiked the White Mt.s, the Presidential Range, Katahdin dozens of times, the Biggelows, Mt. Lafayette, Maroon Bells in Colorado and bits and pieces of the AT throughout VT, NH, and ME. All I can tell you is that, I feel like a different person when I'm in the woods. I feel at home, at peace with mother nature and myself. Its escaping everyday society thats polluted, noisy and dependent on a life that they have become a slave to. Theres alot to be said for experiencing an everyday life of simplicity where less is more. You become so in tune with sounds of nature, sights of wildlife, the falling of leaves, or the rustling of leaves in the wind. Just you and your thoughts to keep you occupied along miles of trails. I feel alive and energized. And at peace with my maker. Who needs drugs when you have hiking? Its definitely a natural high. ;)

Rem Dawg

Deerleg

11-04-2008, 21:05

My name is Kevin and I live in beautiful Doylestown Ohio. I grew up in Akron next to the Gorge Metro Park and loved running wild all summer in that park while I was growing up. I rafted the river on old chunks of Styrofoam, rode my bike on a giant pipe that supplied a hydro electric plant that has been closed since the 1920’s and ran and hiked the trails hundreds of times in the 70’s. I was a scholarship middle distant runner at a division ll school and almost broke the 4 minute mile. I have enjoyed a 30 year career in the tire industry and have been a manufactures rep since 1988 and have been happily married since 1980. I’ve hiked in Big Bend, Yosemite, Death Valley, The Grand Canyon, Canyon Lands, Zion, Reyes Point, Arches, and all over the PA and Ohio. In recent years my wife and I have enjoyed nightly walks at Silver Creek, our local Metro Park. We have walked the same trail almost daily for 17 years and though it’s hard for me to believe myself we have probably logged close to 10,000 miles on that little 2 mile trail! I have always had a passion to push myself hard physically. I read Dean Karnazes book, Ultra Marathon Man a couple of years ago and was inspired and also understood a little better how we can go farther and dig much deeper physically than what we think we are capable of and like to apply those principals on the AT from time to time. I like to no trace stealth camp these days with my hammock and have refined my gear before food and water down to about 12 lbs. I have logged a 1000 miles on the AT mostly alone but my best hikes have been with my wife or my 2 sons.

I have loved reading everyone’s stories!:)

gentlebb

11-05-2008, 16:14

I am a 51 year old executive that has always enjoyed nature. I was raised in a rural town in Northern Alabama and used to go walking in the woods. I have a good friend that owns several hundred acres in the area and several years ago he and I created a campsite in his woods. We enjoyed getting together with more of our friends to drink a few beers, sit around a roaring campfire, and have good fellowship in the woods. This same friend was invited by some co-workers to go to Helen, GA for the Octoberfest back in the mid 1980's. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the beauty surrounding Helen and told me about it. I first went to Helen in 1986 and learned about many of the local hiking trails. This same friend of mine and I happened upon the AT at Hogpen Gap and hiked a short portion of it. I had heard of the AT, but at that point in time did not have a real appreciation for it. I looked it up on the internet and the rest is history. That next year, I purchased a McGregor backpack and started backpacking.

About 5 years ago, I decided to start hiking segments on the AT in GA. I am proud to say that last week I completed the AT in GA and am now looking to start in NC and go from there. I wish I had more time to hike the AT, but my family and creditors appreciate the fact that I am employed. As I look out my office window on this magnificent autumn day with the brillant colors as a backdrop, I can honestly say that I wish I was on the AT at this very moment.

dperry

11-05-2008, 22:04

I'm David. Why do I hike the AT? Because it is there.

Oh, you want more details? :) Well, four reasons. First, it's lovely out there. I've done a lot of day hiking, but I always wondered what it would be like to go out farther. So far I'm enjoying it a lot, and I haven't even gotten to the really wild parts yet.

Second, I've always been interested in the routes various forms of transportation follow--"rights of way" if you want to be technical about it. I love railroads and highways for the same reason. I love to see where they go, how they get from point A to point B, what obstacles they have to get over/under/around, and why exactly the builders made the choices they did. So the AT is really cool for me from that standpoint.

Third, I love the organizational challenge. What to pack, where to start and end each section, setting an itinerary, figuring out where the water is and where to camp--I find it a stimulating exercise. And since I've always loved maps, you can just imagine how I get off on the navigation. :)

Fourth, hiking the AT is a big project that I can share with my wife. I'm really blessed, because I would have hated to do something like that alone, but it turned out that she's as interested in it as I am. It gives us a chance to be along together and enjoy each other's company, as well as a good opportunity to practice working together.

I had always been interested in the AT from when I heard about as a kid, but for much of my life, I didn't live very close to it, and it was more of an intellectual interest for me. Well, I moved back East, and a few years ago, I just really started getting interested in actually doing it. Then I met my wife, and she was into it too, and we went from there. With a couple of years off to have kids and so forth, we're hoping to finish up around 2033. We hope the Lord preserves us in good health long enough for that to happen.