Footprints and Ripples

I am so excited about returning to the Appalachian Trail this fall to complete the Georgia section. Last fall, I tried a slackpacking trip and stayed at Above the Clouds Hostel to complete the first 52.5 miles, ending at Unicoi Gap. This fall, I will return with my friend and trail sister, Robyn, (trail name “Buster”) to complete Georgia and start into North Carolina—32.5 miles. The big difference is that this will be my very first time camping on the trail which also means carrying a heavier pack!

I have always worked out, and even with the heat and rain, I have gotten out on the (flat and wet) Florida trails this summer—typically with a pack weighing between 15 and 17 pounds. My goal for September is to increase my pack weight, moving to my larger pack, and to find some elevated trails for training. I planned to be ready! I found a local park—Dyer Park—with a 2.5 mile mountain bike trail with elevation I can use–it’s amazing what the county did with a dump site. During September, I will “hike” this trail a dozen times or so, increasing my pack weight to at least 25 pounds.