Joys Abounding

the MACK family (Matthew, Amelia, Charlotte, & Kara) take on the adventure of a NOBO thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2022

hypothermia, a bequeathal, and the start of a million steps

(Disclaimer: none of us had hypothermia. Don't worry, mom.) We now hike with Max the Mouse. Max was bequeathed to our family by a sweet old man at our first shelter. Pearwood approached us with a lime green knit hat atop his head, "Are you headed to Katahdin? I was, but I'm not anymore. But Max needs to get there." So into Charlotte's pack went Max. Max's courier was not the only one who left the trail after that first night. The trail tested...

trail names, trail magic, and trail companions

Matthew and I knew that we were taking our daughters out of school and away from their peers for 5 months. That reality was not lost on us and we seriously considered the repercussions of our choice. But we so wanted our girls to have the experience of the trail and the community that hikes it. And I will say that in the first 4 days, my prayers for my daughters have been answered in abundance. Charlotte was so excited to experience "trail...