Blog
Takeaways of a Section Hiker
Over the past five summers, because of my schedule as a teacher and the fact that I married a trail junkie, I’ve had the good fortune of leaving behind work, bills, and- for all intents and purposes- the world to go for a walk in some of the …
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Mother's Day Remembrance
On book tour, Brew and I try to visit National Park units as often as possible. These landmarks include well-known parks such as Yellowstone or The Great Smoky Mountains, but also encompass National Scenic and Recreation Trails, as well as...
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Astronauts are Campers, too!
When Brew, Charley and I went to Houston on book tour, we took some time to visit the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Not only did we get a private tour of the facility, but our family was able to have lunch with two different astronauts. …
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When Quitting is the Right Decision
He has dreamed about it for years. He spent time and money investing in all his gear. He practiced physically; he trained mentally. He even sold his business and gave his family long hugs that would last for five months!
Then, after 28 days of hiking the Appalachian …
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Training - YOUR BRAIN - For the Appalachian Trail
Hikers spends months, sometimes years, preparing for their shot at thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. They pour through hundreds of gear articles in hopes of cutting their pack weight down a few more ounces. They cook, dehydrate, pack, and ship dozens of priority mail boxes full …
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Fundraising and the Appalachian Trail
A few thousand folks will toe the Appalachian Trail this year with the goal of hiking the entire length of the trail. A few hundred of those folks are using their hike to raise awareness for a cause or raise money for a non-profit.
Fundraising …
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Sawyer: Water Filters and More
Gear Review: Sawyer “Mini” water filter, Picaridin, Permethrin and Deet
When I began my first thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail, I did not carry a water filter. Warren Doyle, who has hiked the entire...
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Going Backwards
During the summer of 2011, I was hiking to the top of Baldpate Mountain in Maine – on Day 5 of the Record Attempt – and I started to feel a really sharp pain in my right shin. By the time I reached the ridgeline, my leg hurt so badly …
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The Trail Taught Me to "Lean In"
I just finished reading the current female business manifesto Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. And for the record, two thumbs up. I applaud the way that Sandberg urges us to reexamine gender roles in the workplace. But like most business books – and most books in general – …
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Wild - Odyssa - Strayed - Pharr
Several months ago, on a late September afternoon, Jen and I were having lunch in this gorgeous Central Asian tea room in Boulder, CO with legendary hiker Andrew Skurka and his wife Amanda. An hour into our conversation, Skurka asked, “Who are the two most famous thru-hikers in …
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