prep work

preperation for the hike was very time consuming, tideous and sometimes frustrating. But it will all be worth it once we're on the trail. not only did we make too many extensive trips to REI, but Costco and other supermarkets were always needed one more time. we bought a bunch of quality bulk foods through United Natural Foods though- cheers to Kirsten for that!
a lot of the food we bought before the trail we have put in boxes for mail drops, which Elizabeth's parents are helping us with. the rest we will buy on the way in towns for resupply.

unloading from the road trip

so much food...

...and gear

let the boxing commence!

all the little things

they call it mountain money...

...so chris is loading up!

still working

we're already sick of peanut butter...and we haven't started yet!

thats right, peanut butter in a ziploc. pretty much everything is in a ziploc.
we will try to reuse everything sent as much as possible - i wish there was a good alternative to all this plastic?

the aftermath

and the final products

thought we're done? we still have to label them...then were done!


dryrun near Atlanta/Decatur - panola state park

we can't wait to just get on the trail and start walking. hopefully the planning will pay off!

Looking on to the big adventure!

are we there yet?

These are educated guesses as to where we might be in the near future. Please feel free to come visit!

ETA	Resupply Point
25-Mar	Springer MT, Ga
27-Mar	Neels Gap, Ga
31-Mar	Hiawassee, Ga
4-Apr	Franklin, N.C.
7-Apr	N.O.C., Wesser, NC
10-Apr	Fontana Dam, NC
17-Apr	Standing Bear Farm, NC
20-Apr	Hot Springs, NC
26-Apr	Erwin, Tenn
2-May	Dennis Cove, Tenn
5-May	Damascus, Va
10-May	Troutdale, Va
15-May	Bland, Va
19-May	Pearisburg, Va
24-May	Catawba, Va
27-May	Daleville, Va.
31-May	Glasgow, Va
4-Jun	Montebello, Va
7-Jun	(NP) Waynesboro, Va
12-Jun	(NP)Big Meadows, Va
16-Jun	(NP)Compton Gap, Va
21-Jun	Harper's Ferry ATC, WV
26-Jun	Smithsburg, Md
28-Jun	South Mountain, Pa
2-Jul	Boiling Springs, Pa
4-Jul	Duncannon, Pa
10-Jul	P. Clinton/Hamburg, Pa
14-Jul	Palmerton, Pa
17-Jul	Del. Water Gap, Pa
22-Jul	Vernon, NJ
26-Jul	Peekskill, NY
30-Jul	Kent, Conn
1-Aug	Salisbury, Conn
5-Aug	Dalton, Mass
7-Aug	Williamston, Mass
9-Aug	Bennington, Vt.
12-Aug	Manchester ctr, Vt
18-Aug	Hanover, NH
21-Aug	GlenCliff, NH
23-Aug	N. woodstock, NH
30-Aug	Gorham, NH
4-Sep	Andover, ME
7-Sep	Rangely, ME
10-Sep	Stratton, ME
13-Sep	Caratunk, ME
16-Sep	Monson, ME
	White House land
	Abol Brige
24-Sep	Katahdin

Mail Drops

Mail Locations: in case you would want to send anything, letters of encouragement, lightweight items, this is where we are sending our mail drops. Eta= estimated time of arrival (we will update these as they are sure to change!)

For most packages you can label:

“my name”AT Hiker
Business if applicable
Address

The Post Office is different:
Label:

“General Delivery”-AT Hiker
My Name
Town, State, zip

1. Walasi-Yi center
Ship to 9710 Gainesville Hwy., Blairsville, GA 30512
Eta: March 27th

2. Franklin,NC:
Three Eagle’s Outfitters
78 Siler Rd.
Franklin, NC 28734
eta: April 4th

3. Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 Hwy 19W, Bryson City, NC 28713
eta: April 7^th

4. Post office
Fontana Dam, NC 28733
Eta: April 10th

5. Standing Bear Farm
4255 Green Corner Rd., Hartford, TN 37753
eta: April 17^th

6. Troutdale, VA
Troutdale Baptist Church Hostel
10148 Troutdale Hwy, Troutdale, VA 24378
eta: May 10th

7. Montebello VA :
Dutch Haus B&B
655 Fork Mountain Ln., Montebello, VA 24464
eta: June 4^th

8. Compton Gap VA:
Front Royal Terrapin Station Hostel
304 Chester Gap Rd , Chester Gap, VA 22623
eta: June 16^th

9. Harpers Ferry WVA:
ATC Visitors Center
799 Washington St., Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
eta: June 21^st

10. Post Office
Duncannon, PA 17020
Eta: July 4^th

11. Post Office
Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327
Eta: July 17^th

12. Bennington, VT:
Nature’s Closet Outfitter
400 Main St., Bennington, VT 05201
eta: August 9th

13. Post Office
Glencliff, NH: 03238
Eta: August 21st

14. Post Office
Monson, ME 04464
Eta: September 16th

prelude

hello there, and welcome to our Appalachian Trail blog. first we'd like to share the cross-country trip we took from Seattle to Atlanta. here are some pics from the drive where we stopped with friends in Corvallis (thanks Ruth!), San Fran, Tucson, Amarillo, Fayetteville, AR (thanks Tom & Barb):

elizabeth and oregon

mt. shasta, north ca

north San Fran, from the bay bridge

showing us the ropes was....
....Aaaaahh-knew!....


.....and dios mio, its Tamara!

onto Tucson, home of the famous Saguaro N.P.

and the world renown....
...Bob!! - who runs the joint.

this one's for you Julie:
Dance your cares away,
Worry's for another day.
Let the music play,
Down at ??????? ????!
(have to look closely?)
thanks again nick, julie & bob

the grand canyon.....
....of Texas?
palo dura canyon

camped for a night and onto oklahoma.

oh look...

...its...

and

and

and
finally back to Conyers, GA
time to unload for the next post....

!Down at Fraggle Rock...if you didn't get it!