Dream. Plan. Live.
The main side effect of Springer Fever is the overwhelming desire to hike the Appalachian Trail and most often a specific draw to Springer Mountain in Georgia. The draw to this one specific mountain is currently undetermined as it is hardly noteworthy. As the fever takes hold, individuals begin to look unkempt, have an uncontrollable stench, walk long distances without awareness of their surroundings, and have an increased appetite that is seemingly unending.
When backpacking, whether it be one night or one hundred, the Big Three can make or break your trip. The big three entails a hiker’s tent, sleep system (sleeping bag and pad), and their backpack. Here is a brief rundown of the Big Three for my 2022 Southbound (SOBO) thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.
Join me as we explore how my experiences on long distance hikes have prepared me for the journey of fatherhood.
The idea to establish the Appalachian Trail was formulated in 1921. My idea to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail was in 2018, a brief 97 years later.
I’m so happy with how my trip turned out and I wouldn’t do most things differently because what I did worked for me. Hopefully though, with my guide, someone who is thinking about thru hiking the Appalachian Trail will consider heeding my advice and learning from some of the mistakes I made along the way.
I keep my eyes on the calendar, watching the days move by and watching October 11 creep closer and closer. A day that is inscribed in my memory just as much as any birthday or holiday, an occasion I can’t forget. When the calendar reaches October 11 this year, It will have been one year since I completed my northbound Appalachian Trail thru hike.
Popularized on the Appalachian Trail, and now adopted on many long distance trails, it is customary to be given a new name, a trail name. The reasons for this can be many, but put simply you take on a new identity from that you which previously possessed and are renamed.
In less than a week, yours truly, Goatman, will step back onto the Appalachian Trail to finish the last 969 miles of a thru-hike that began in 2013 with a 1200+ mile trek. The time for planning, prepping, training, and ruminating is over. And good riddance. I know this may come as no surprise to […]
Despite current fashion or gear trends, the gear you take on the AT should do the following things for you: keep you safe, keep you happy, and keep you moving.
Read the first article in the Return of the SLOBO series, 799 Zero Days Later “Whatcha wanna do today? Go on a hike? I know this great trail.” We would joke like this in the morning as I filtered water from a stream and Jubilee broke down our tent. And sometimes it was funny. Sometimes […]
