Class of 2014 Thru Hiker Registry

[alxflwrs]

Hello All!
It seems like it's just around the bend doesn't it! Everyone in class of 2013 seems to be either on the trail, or frothing at the mouth to get there. I know my start date is over a year away and I'm still thinking about it every day, getting outside and training to prepare.

So, let's all get to know each other here on WhiteBlaze.
Please know there are a few groups on Facebook for the Class of 2014, and if you're interested, feel free to interact there, and here. Both are wonderful communities.

Class of 2014 Group on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/groups/56380495208/

Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Class 2014
http://www.facebook.com/ATClass2014?fref=ts

Don't ask me why there's many groups, as I like to consolidate groups and threads as best I can.

So, if you'd like please include: (all optional, but it'd be nice to have as complete as possible)

• Name
• Trail-name
• Start date
• Approach Trail (yes/no)

Chris F. here
Nearly 90% sure on a trail name, but haven't bit the bullet.
First week in May, 2014 (Graduate U. of Florida May 4)
Yes on the approach

[capehiker]

Name: Tom W. (also on the Class of 2014 FB page)
Trail Name: not yet- will let it happen organically
Start date: May 1st
Approach Trail: Undecided

Journaling/ YouTube: I plan on using Trailjournals and posting random videos on YouTube.

Extra: 15 years after being bitten by the AT bug and a few states section hiked, I'm excited to attempt a thru hike.

[Stir Fry]

Name: Michael Trafton
Trail Name: Stir Fry
Start date: March 30 2014
Home Town: Concord NC
Approach: Yes

[Carol A.]

Name: Carol A.
Trail Name: Not yet
Start Date: March 30 or early April.
Approach Trail: No
Can't wait for the journey to begin.

[scooterdogma]

Name: Robin M.
Trail Name: Not yet Named
Start Date: Mid-March
Approach Trail: No

Thinking of doing a flip-flop ... NOBO Springer to Harper's Ferry, SOBO Katahdin to Harper's Ferry
Looking forward to not section hiking, it will be so wonderful to only get my trail legs once

[forrest!]

I hate to jinx it by declaring myself on here so early, because that is what happened in 2013. I posted for April 1 SOBO, then my retirement got delayed, so I changed to June SOBO, and retirement got delayed again. But this time I am pretty sure, God willing and the creek don't rise, that I will be going SOBO in June 2014.

Name: Sam S
Trail name: Forrest
Start Date: SOBO June 22nd 2014
Approach Trail: not applicable to SOBO - but I have already hiked it 3 times...

I plan to go this year to Maine and hike the 100 mile wilderness at the exact same time as my thru next year - for practice. Starting from Abol Bridge though - saving the big K for 2014.

Forrest

[MattyS]

Name: Matthew Smith
Trail Name: Will let happen organically on the trail
Start date: March 30
Home Town: Madison, Maine
Approach: Yes

[MattyS]

Will be going NoBo so I can end up in my home state!

[finish9]

Name Dennis N.
Trail-name none yet
Start date April 1
Approach Trail Maybe

[Autummyst]

Hi everyone

Name: Kristin. Hiking with my boyfriend Eric
Trail name: we are both going to let it happen naturally on the trail
Start Date: Mid to late february. We are hiking through to the International Appalachian Trail in Canada, so have to get an earlier start (we've been getting gear for winter conditions)
Approach Trail: Yes

[Autummyst]

oh and here's our blog and facebook page:

http://hike2014.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trail...36812963127754

[virginia jen]

Name: Jen F (also in Class 2014 Facebook Group)
Trail Name : Don't have one yet
Start Date: SOBO Early June (1st week)
Hometown: Free Union, VA (outside of Charlottesville, closer to the mountains)

couting down the months!

[ArtificialSunshine]

Name: Cassandra
Trail Name: Have no idea but can't wait to find a good one!
Start Date: Tentatively late Feb 2014 (at least that's when my boyfriend wants to go, we're still in negotiations)
Approach Trail: Not sure
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC

I've been enamored with the idea of doing a thru-hike for the past year, and this year I'm working toward making it a reality. Every day I sit in my office with no windows and daydream about the hike!

[Coosa]

Name: Carol Donaldson
Trail-name: Coosa [Auntie Coosa]
Start date: April 3, 2014 ... expected end date: October 3, 2014 [my 70th Birthday]
Approach Trail (yes/no) No. Already hiked this at least half a dozen times when I lived in North Georgia
Hometowns: Murfreesboro, TN and Catonsville, MD
Website: Chasing the Trail http://chasingthetrail.blogspot.com

[JohKnip]

Name: John K. (Part of the 2014 AT FB Group)
Trail Name: None yet (hoping to get it on the trail)
Start date: March 15th is what I am thinking
Approach Trail: Most likely yes

About four years ago I knew virtually nothing about the AT. One night I watched 'Southbounders' on Netflix and it piqued my interest. Over time (and through quite a bit of research) I determined a Thru Hike is what I wanted to. I can't wait!

[From_Accident]

Name: Wil
Hometown: Accident, Maryland
Trail-name: I don't know yet, might let it happen organically on the trail not sure
Start date: Anytime between march 1 and 14
Approach Trail: not sure yet


After having to wait to Graduate College super excited for it!!

[Kookork]

Name : Soheil (I will hike with my dog Delta ) Nobo
Trail Name: Kookork
Home Town: Toronto, Canada, Originally Iranian.
start date : early to mid April
Approach trail : yes

Now it is official. eh.

[wind2wings]

Name: Rebekah
Trail Name: Red
Hometown: Washington State (temporarily in Ohio)
Start Date: April
Approach Trail:No
I plan on taking the non traditional approach of hiking southbound to Springer from Harper's Ferry and then northbound from Harper's Ferry to Katahdin.

[BrewBaker]

Name: Bret B.
Trail name: none yet
Start date: June 2014 as soon as the wife graduates graduate school
Approach: south bound hike, so no

[EllieMP]

Name: Ellie
Trail Name: "Hummingbird" most likely since I am often called that now. Just love those tiny birds!
Hometown: Santa Monica, California.. originally from the Berkshires in Massachusetts.
Start Date: Plan to leave California on April 1st.. "Fools" day.. Ha
Approach Trail: Deciding on that.. Any reasons why I shouldn't miss that starting point?

Good Luck with your planning.. Maybe we'll meet on the trail!