Well, today marks the day that I first cried on the side of a mountain. Kelly Knob - you beat me going up and you beat me going down. This was our second Tuesday on trail and our second miserable Tuesday morning. It rained all night Monday night. Everything was soaking wet and we had no choice but to get up in the rain and pack up soaking wet tents, food, gear. To make matters worse, our tent fly failed in the rain, causing it to fold inward...
(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...
We have now reached one day before we leave for the Appalachian Trail. And I am currently sitting in our dining room (as I have been all day, every day. All. Day. Every. Day.) surrounded by gear. First aid, electronics, water filters, quick-dry towels, micro spikes, and a small pile of four headlamps. These headlamps are taking on a new significance for me this evening. pile of headlamps, waiting to be packed into packs Everything has felt like...
We are officially 8 days away from our departure for Amicalola Falls & the start of our Appalachian Trail adventure! I am frantically packing resupply boxes (more about that later), organizing gear, and ordering things from REI. Packages are arriving at our doorstep by the dozens. So, what am I doing tonight - 8 days before we leave - while my dining room is covered in boxes and our guest bedroom is covered in gear? Why uploading my first...
It's officially April 2021...that means that the next time we see March on the calendar, it will be time to head to Springer, Georgia! That's surreal to think about.Matthew had his official meeting with his church council and they voted to allow him to take a 5 month Sabbatical from March-August 2022. That was a HUGE hurtle to clear. He has an incredible Sabbatical Team who support him 100%. A few of them attended the meeting as a support...
