10th Anniversary of a Thru Hike - Part 2 - One Week and Counting...

One week to go - ten years ago - before the adventure of My lifetime and also the title of a book I read every year from my teen years on - Ed Garvey's book - Appalachian Trail: Adventure of  Lifetime. The book is actually a nostalgic look at hiking in the 70's before the advent of the thru

hiker craze, free dried meals, lots of shelters, multiple trail magic feeds, no road walks, and internal frame packs. I recommend it.

Here is my post dated February 22, 2007 -

"I sit here pondering the fact I have but a mere one week before my feet hit the AT to complete the trail this year. I don't care to ponder the fact that I still have a zillion things left to accomplish. But I do ponder how the journey first began as a teenager thirty years ago and now has come to this momentous point in my life. And I'm even more excited and in awe when I hear of others who are sharing in my thrill of this journey - from my family who visited or e-mailed encouragement, to friends who have been praying, the neighbor next door giving me postcards to send to her son's 2nd grade class, to the people that have already volunteered along the trail's route for us to stop by and stay with them (from VA to PA to CT). All point to a trip in stages but one that must and will be completed, by the grace of God in Whose strength I can do all things.

I have enjoyed writing down tidbits of this pre-journey in my blog. Now the journey and its wonders will turn to my trail journal site. So be certain to check it out where I am and what's happening when the journey begins March 1st, 2007."

My friends threw a party for us

(Just to let you know - even the start date did not go as planned - more on that in Part 3. And also taught me a valuable lesson about "plans" - they are always fluid and/or should be thrown out even before Day One)

Our book chronicles our adventure physically, emotionally and spiritually I don't gloss it over either! Mountains, Madness and Miracles - 4000 Miles along the Appalachian Trail