2015 Early Starters

[Veeyayhoh]

Are you planning a through hike? I am planning a flip-flop starting in Atkins, Va around the middle of March. Hiking through to Katahdin returning by public transportation (probably Greyhound) and finishing SOBO from Atkins again.

[Tabasco Hikes]

Hey Boots! I am leaving Springer on 01/09/15. You'll have a bit of a jump on me, but maybe we'll link up on the trail. I am hopeful that I'll meet someone to hike with. There's safety in numbers, especially on a challenging winter hike.

Did you say that you were skipping the Smokies?

Best wishes!

Tabasco

[Tabasco Hikes]

Did you say that you were skipping the Smokies?

Ignore this comment. I just read your Blog. Hope you and the pooch have a good hike!

[shelb]

She is a high school English teacher, and is the first teacher is district history to be granted a leave of absence.

That is SO cool! I, too, am a high school English teacher. In fact, it was my teaching and a friend who inspired me to begin hiking the trail. Between teaching about Emerson and Thoreau, in conjunction with watching "Into the Wild," and my friend's motivation, I have fallen in love with the AT. Unfortunately, I can only complete it a section at a time...

Good luck to you!!! Enjoy your walk Into the Wild!

[Boots and Backpacks]

then,



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I'm going to assume you're asking a question about why we're skipping the Smoky's? You can't have a dog on the trail in National Parks. We're hiked the entire AT through the Smoky's a couple times, and in the winter too. We could have border her with Standing Bear, but that would have cost around $300.

Are you planning a through hike? I am planning a flip-flop starting in Atkins, Va around the middle of March. Hiking through to Katahdin returning by public transportation (probably Greyhound) and finishing SOBO from Atkins again.

We'll be NOBO the entire time. Should put us around a Mid-June finish date. Picking a time to finish isn't a priority since we have until Mid-August to get home. We're going to take side trips to see friends, and take our time.

Hey Boots! I am leaving Springer on 01/09/15. You'll have a bit of a jump on me, but maybe we'll link up on the trail. I am hopeful that I'll meet someone to hike with. There's safety in numbers, especially on a challenging winter hike.

Did you say that you were skipping the Smokies?

Best wishes!

Tabasco

My wife and I will be there starting on the 12/30, and you might be able to catch up to us. We plan on shelter hopping most of the way to Hot Springs. We'll make sure to leave our status in the shelter log books so you can gauge where we are.

That is SO cool! I, too, am a high school English teacher. In fact, it was my teaching and a friend who inspired me to begin hiking the trail. Between teaching about Emerson and Thoreau, in conjunction with watching "Into the Wild," and my friend's motivation, I have fallen in love with the AT. Unfortunately, I can only complete it a section at a time...

Good luck to you!!! Enjoy your walk Into the Wild!

We got started on the AT by section hiking. For the past 7 years we've been hiking around a 40-70 mile section from Christmas through New Years. It seems like all of our time on the AT has been during the winter.

Scruffs

[squeezebox]

At first the chair sounds kinda too much to bring until you think about the shortened daylight in winter. You'll be spending a lot of time in camp.
I hope you are planning on doing a trail journal.
Where in Missouri do you live?

[Boots and Backpacks]

At first the chair sounds kinda too much to bring until you think about the shortened daylight in winter. You'll be spending a lot of time in camp.
I hope you are planning on doing a trail journal.
Where in Missouri do you live?

We're ditching the chair. With trying to cut weight, and keep our bulk items to a minimum it's not possible. However, we're bringing a couple hammocks instead. Both of the hammocks weigh right around 19oz together. We'll save some weight, and they pack down to nothing. I've looked into Trail Journal, but I'm not sure if we'll be using it. I know my wife will have her own, and our blog will get updated as much as possible. We'll most likely be hiking through all the daylight hours, and maybe some after the sun goes down or before it comes up.

We're just west of St. Louis in Pacific.

[KimmyWasHere]

Good luck to both of you & happy trails!

[Boots and Backpacks]

Good luck to both of you & happy trails!

Thank you!

[apple_muncy]

So no tent?

Good luck to both of you.
I look forward to reading about your experience starting so early

[Boots and Backpacks]

So no tent?

Good luck to both of you.
I look forward to reading about your experience starting so early

We have a North Face MICA 2 that we'll bring with us. We'll most likely send it home in April, and switch to our hammocks. I'm looking forward to getting to the trail! With the weather here starting to settle in around freezing during the, and the upper teens at night we're itching to get out. Starting at the time we are takes a certain person, and most can't deal with the constant cold and wind. With us 90% of our backpacking is from December to February. The trails a quiet, no crowds, crisp air, and amazing views.

[squeezebox]

If you come into town to REI or such let me know, It would be nice to meet you folks, Go for coffee or such. 314-773-8929

[Boots and Backpacks]

If you come into town to REI or such let me know, It would be nice to meet you folks, Go for coffee or such. 314-773-8929

I think we'll be heading in this weekend to pick up a couple things. Will most likely be Sunday afternoon.

[JBandStacy2014]

We are starting on December 18th....We look forward to meeting you two out there. We are also a couple.

[Boots and Backpacks]

We are starting on December 18th....We look forward to meeting you two out there. We are also a couple.

We'll having some catching up to do, but we should cross paths at some point.

[Boots and Backpacks]

I guess you can say that things have officially started as of today. I quit my job this morning, and my last day of work is the 26th. On the 27th we're heading to Helen GA for a couple nights, and starting on the 30th.

[JBandStacy2014]

I guess you can say that things have officially started as of today. I quit my job this morning, and my last day of work is the 26th. On the 27th we're heading to Helen GA for a couple nights, and starting on the 30th.

Good for you! JB and I both did the same!

[Boots and Backpacks]

Good for you! JB and I both did the same!

Now if these next 25 days would hurry up!

[JBandStacy2014]

Yes, I know the feeling....I am so anxious, I almost wanna leave RIGHT NOW...We are still in Nevada though, so we got a little bit of a drive. Stacy is a little more nervous than I am at this point, but that's because she hasn't researched this thing for the last three years. I am as excited as can be.

JB

[Boots and Backpacks]

Yes, I know the feeling....I am so anxious, I almost wanna leave RIGHT NOW...We are still in Nevada though, so we got a little bit of a drive. Stacy is a little more nervous than I am at this point, but that's because she hasn't researched this thing for the last three years. I am as excited as can be.

JB

With any luck we'll come together on trail, or get some beers in town!