Greetings everyone, I'm delighted to have found this forum.
This may be something you've heard ad nauseum, but after picking up Bill Bryson's Appalachian Trail travel memoir "A Walk in the Woods," I've been itching to do this as a thru-hike. I have bagged 14ers, I've run half marathons, and I've done century cycle events...but that's kind of the extent of my athletic accomplishment. I've never done anything quite like walking for five months straight--and the uniqueness of the challenge sounds appealing.
But sadly, the biggest challenge for me will be when the opportunity will present itself. I'm 33. I have a one year old son. I have a regular job. I can't imagine finding five months of time where I could remove myself from my duties as a bread winner, father, and husband to hike up the eastern seaboard.
Which brings me to the question I have for all of you...What life circumstances make this possible for you? Are you retired? A student fresh out of college? Do you have a job that allows you to take some form of sabbatical or extended leave? Did you actually quit a job to do this once-in-a-lifetime kind of activity?
I'm really curious about the situations everyone is in on this forum. Please clue me in.