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Have a marvelous hike. Hope you see lots of wonder out there. Be safe (I had to say that, it's the mom in me). Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

I have a PHT from Ohio State - that's Putting Hubby Through. Education has nothing to do with hiking. All I need is a measure of health and heart.

Awesome post! ...and so each day I read this site to learn a little bit more about backpacking...each day I try to do at least one thing towards accomplishing my dream and watch my soul wake...

We talked to a ranger and he set us up on a loop hike so we could end up back near our car. WHITE OAKS TRAIL, absolutely gorgeous, 7 waterfalls or something like that. We did it as a overnight...

Thanks for the photos. It makes it more interesting to see some of the hikers actually out there after reading about some of them for months.

It's a life long addiction. It's a healty addiction. You wouldn't believe what a marvelous life my son has had since his thruhike in 2000. I got bit when we camped with him at Amicalola State Park...

Vagrant referred readers to http://wonderofitall.com - incredible. Check it out. Last photo could be AT.

one large and one extra large, I love the picture and the saying

Where do the avatars come from? It seems like the hiker has the wrong leg raised. Did a non-hiker draw this?

Besides everything mentioned already, hiking poles help take up to 1/3 of the stress off the body (according to Backpacker Magazine). Happy hiking.

Yes, ridge runners can be very helpful to newbies. When my son thru hiked starting in early March 2000, he was not expecting such cold weather. After the first night at Springer the ridge runner told...

If you're on the trail and you get a couple feet of snow, can you still find the trail? Doesn't the trench get buried? We were there last April when the road to Newfound Gap was closed for a couple...

Wow! I can hear your excitement. My husband and I hope to be out there in 2005 as well. Happy planning.

Papa John, I got the book from Amazon.com. It appears he started his hike just a few days after you. You probably would know some of the people he talks about. Author is Bill Maroni.

Papa John and Little Bear, Did you know Straight Jacket? I'm currently reading a book he wrote about thruhiking, "When Straight Jacket Met Golden Sun". He talks about characters they met and helped...

In 2000 I met Walking Wounded at Walasi-Yi. We watched her dog while she took a shower. She was an older lady and said her kids wanted to put her in a nursing home so she took off for the trail...

Just too many trails out there, so we're taking early retirement in 53 days and going to go see how many trail miles we can get under our feet!!!!

In 2000 we met my son there on his thruhike. He took a few days off to camp with us and took us on one of my first backpacks on a side trail. We did the White Oak Trail that a ranger suggested a way...

Thanks Uncle Wayne - what a nice way to start my day - looking at waterfalls and dreaming of hiking - before I head out the door to scrape the ice and snow off my truck.

Depending on the size of your pack, you may be able to bring a Crazy Creek Chair which can double as your sleeping pad. Usually I just bring a large trash bag, spread it out on the ground, put my...

I'm planning on how to get to Springer (In 2005) and how to get somewhat in trail shape be using '04 to do alot of short backpacks out west, but I can't see doing all that maildrop prep and...

I've used dirt and pinecone to really clean a gooy pot. Works great. Never thought of using leaves. Will give that a try. Love all the useful tips I learn from this site.

Thanks for all the info. All of you are so helpful to us beginners. When the grandkids go home I think I'll round up all my gear and put it in a trash bag and weigh it. Never thought of that. Thanks...

Chris, I don't know if I've reduced my weight enough as I don't own a scale. I've ordered an antigravitygear pot, cozy and pepsi can stove, husband (sherpa ?) will carry Cloudburst tarp tent,...

Haven't backpacked much. Trying to go lighter. What would be the pro's and con's of just strapping waterproof bags of gear to an external frame and not having an actual bag that you stuff things into?