I’m sitting at the airport exhausted but excited. Exhausted because I don’t think I have slept more than 4 hours a night in the last two weeks in the mad dash to get 26 years of stuff (so much stuff!) sorted, packed, and donated, tossed, or moved! It was a herculean task made possible by my friend Shanna and all of the amazing helpers she knows. Even as I type this she and her husband are taking one of many, many loads of stuff out to the farm.

Excited because this is the biggest solo adventure I have ever attempted, maybe the biggest adventure I have ever attempted period, although solo traveling internationally with two very small children may be a contender. It is definitely the longest adventure I have ever attempted. If I manage to finish it will take me 6 months give or take. 6 months of walking while carrying a 25-30 pound pack ( weight varies with food and water) up and down mountains.

The Appalachian Trail (AT) is a 2,197.4 miles long (does not include all of the side trails necessary to get water and resupply). The altitude gain and loss is equivalent to climbing from sea level to the top of Mount Everest 16 times. I’m doing a “flip-flop” thru hike. Which means instead of staring at the southern terminus in Georgia and hiking north (nobo) or starting in Maine at the northern terminus and hiking south (sobo), I’m starting in the middle. To be an official thru hike it doesn’t matter where you start or which direction you hike. But you do need to hike all 2,197 miles in a 12 month period.

I’m starting at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia and hiking north toward Mount Katahdin in Maine. If I make it that far, I will come back to Harper’s Ferry and hike south to Georgia. Stay tuned to hear about my progress.