Finally, after four years, we are going back to the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail, known to many as the AT or simply The Trail, is a wilderness footpath traversing the backbone of the Appalachian Mountains that stretches ~2,175 miles through 14 states. In 2008 we completed 1,008 miles, 800 miles north from Springer Mt., GA, to Shenandoah NP, VA, then we caught a Greyhound Bus to Maine and hiked 200 miles south from Mt. Katahdin. So, this weekend (March 25) we are starting in Shenandoah NP, where we left off at the southern end, and will hike as far north as we can in four weeks. Although the AT might literally wind through our roots in TN, it will touch the roots of any human being that gives it the opportunity. John Muir could not have said it better himself, "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike."
We will be carrying our trusty Spot beacon for fun purposes as well as practical security reasons, so you can check out our location by clicking on the "Find A+J" link in the upper right column of this blog. And, I will try to post updates here once a week when we stop for showers and to resupply.