Category: Appalachian Trail

We have had 59 different people from 16 different states and Ecuador (thanks Von & Carol!) pledge a total of $9.13/mile.  That’s $20,000 split between Sun Dial Manor, K9s For Warriors and the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital.  Awesome!

A huge thank you to each of you who have pledged.  I hope you realize how much I appreciate the generosity of each and every one of you.  Thanks much!

If you haven’t had time to pledge and are planning to, don’t worry, you’ve got time!

If you are unable to pledge or these charities don’t work for you, that’s cool too.  I appreciate your support through your following of my blog.  Much appreciated.

Your support for these charities will be a huge motivational force for me over the next 5 months.  I’m hoping to get the total pledged to $50,000 before I finish the hike in early-September so please feel free to share with your family and friends!

Below is a list of our current contributors:

Name	City	State	Charity
Adams, Tom and Lisa	Wharton	NJ	Pete Choice
Albrecht, Dexter and Clare	East Grand Forks	MN	Sun Dial Manor
Anderson, Sandy	Forman	ND	Pete Choice
Barker, Jim and Mary Lynne	Lake Hopatcong	NJ	Down Syndrome
Bohlen, Earl and Lena	Littleton	CO	Pete Choice
Bohlen, Julie	Littleton	CO	Pete Choice
Bowser, Gregory	Abingdon	MD	Down Syndrome
Boyer, Jackie	Ponte Vedra Beach	FL	Pete Choice
Brandlee, Deb	Bristol	SD	Sun Dial Manor
Caloggero, Joe	Forest Hill	MD	Down Syndrome
Christensen, James R	Ponte Vedra Beach	FL	Pete Choice
Cropper, Steve	Ponte Vedra Beach	FL	Pete Choice
Cruickshank, Todd	Hopatcong	NJ	Pete Choice
Dolney, Bonita	Bristol	SD	Sun Dial Manor
Dyste, Jiggs and Julie	West Fargo	ND	Sun Dial Manor
Ellerbrock, Marybeth	Burlington	WI	K9’s for Warriors
Erdahl, Dennis	Sioux Falls	SD	K9’s + SDM
Formanack, Tom and Gail	The Villages	FL	Sun Dial Manor
Fransen, Victor	Ponte Vedra Beach	FL	Pete Choice
Frisina, Teri	Ridgewood	NJ	K9’s for Warriors
Garbarini, Bill	Cranford	NJ	Sun Dial Manor
Gjokaj, Justin	Oceanport	NJ	Down Syndrome
Haar, Dawn	Miller	SD	Sun Dial Manor
Howard, Mike	Ponte Vedra Beach	FL	K9’s for Warriors
Hupke, Carlton	Sioux Falls	SD	K9’s for Warriors
Johnson, Aaron	Bristol	SD	Sun Dial Manor
Johnson, Karen	Webster	SD	Pete Choice
Johnson, Sue	Arden Hills	MN	Sun Dial Manor
Karczeski, Dave	Bel Air	MD	Down Syndrome
Knox, Donna	Baltimore	MD	Pete Choice
Lundeen, John	Salt Lake City	UT	Sun Dial Manor
Maccini, Paul	Flemington	NJ	Pete Choice
Mallery, Richard	Salem	OR	Pete Choice
Marsh, Keith	Lake Hopatcong	NJ	Down Syndrome
McKittrick, Joyce	Bristol	SD	Sun Dial Manor
Mehlhaff, Joann	Frederick	SD	K9’s for Warriors
Michael, Betty	Jackson	MI	K9’s + SDM
Mikes, George	Ponte Vedra Beach	FL	K9’s for Warriors
Moore, Terra	Bel Air	MD	K9’s for Warriors
Olson, Pat	Bristol	SD	Sun Dial Manor
Osborne, Al	Lenexa	KS	K9’s for Warriors
Patton, Laurie	Spokane	WA	K9’s for Warriors
Paulson, Virgil	Overland Park	KS	Sun Dial Manor
Peterson, Brooke	Baltimore	MD	Down Syndrome
Peterson, Dennis	Seattle	WA	Sun Dial Manor
Peterson, Jim and Alice Jean	Bristol	SD	Sun Dial Manor
Peterson, Kerri	Pittsburgh	PA	Pete Choice
Polizzi, Kristin	Boonton Twp.	NJ	K9’s for Warriors
Polizzi, Paul Vincent	Boonton Twp.	NJ	Down Syndrome
Reidenbach, Jay	Ponte Vedra Beach	FL	K9’s for Warriors
Robert, Tom	Ponte Vedra Beach	FL	Pete Choice
Rovito, Lisa	Weehawken	NJ	K9’s for Warriors
Schmidt, Beth	Aberdeen	SD	K9’s for Warriors
Skaare, Jerry and Carol	Glendale	AZ	Sun Dial Manor
Van Beek, Jan	Webster	SD	Sun Dial Manor
Van Hunnick, Kim	Montgomery	AL	Sun Dial Manor
Vital, Walt	Ponte Vedra Beach	FL	Pete Choice
Von Eschen, Larry and Carol	Cuenca	Ecuador	Sun Dial Manor
Zimmerman, Perry	Andover	SD	Sun Dial Manor

Each year, thousands of hikers attempt a thru-hike, only about one in four make it all the way.

In 2016 3,377 thru-hikers started at Springer Mtn, GA.  1,535 made it to Harpers Ferry WV (roughly 1/2 way).  There were 620 completions reported.

There have been 17,510 documented thru-hikes since the Appalachian Trail was formed in 1936.

The number of thru-hikers in their 60’s is fewer than 500.

I am 59 1/2.  Wish me luck!

If you want to get a feel for the Appalachian Trail, I would recommend the movie A Walk in the Woods (and/or book by same name).

I think Bill Bryson is a very amusing author and Nick Nolte and Robert Redford are perfect casting.  A few LOL scenes.

The book will give you much more detail regarding life on the trail.

I previously shared the hardest sections of the AT.  Luckily there are some easy parts as well (https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/easiest-sections-appalachian-trail/).

Happy trails.

The Appalachian Trail has a lot of ups and downs. Thetreck.com polled 2016 thru-hikers on a number of different aspects of their hike, including the sections they found to be most difficult. Check out the list of The Hardest Sections of the Appalachian Trail and see all the fun I will be having! Anyone want to join me?

Below is my hike in thru-hiker terminology.  Definitions are provided at end!

I will be attempting to be a NOBO thru-hike beginning March 31 at Springer Mt, GA. I’ll be a hicker for sure but will be a white-blazer as well.  No blue-blaze or yellow-blaze but I may slackpack.  As for you, feel free to HYOH.

Vitamin I and mountain money will be extremely important. I’ll also make sure to camel every morning.

I’m looking forward to meeting my tramily and lots of AYCE’s.

With the help of trail angels and their trail magic, I’ll complete my end-to-ender in Maine. I hope to finish by Labor Day…assuming I don’t take too many zero’s and nero’s.

AYCE (adj) “All You Can Eat”; it’s a thru-hiker’s dream

Blue-blazer (n) term of gentle derision for one who periodically uses shortcuts, connector trails, or alternative routes

Camel (v) to chug large amounts of water before the day’s hike

End-to-Ender (n) a thru-hiker who starts at one end of a long path and hikes straight to the other

Flip-flopper (n) a thru-hiker who starts at one point and uses a shuttle and a change of direction to complete the hike

Hicker (n) an inexperienced thru-hiker who’s still figuring out his/her gear

HYOH (v) “Hike Your Own Hike”; in other words, don’t tell others what to do

Mountain money (n) toilet paper

Nero (n) a conglomerate of “near and zero”, as in a very low-mileage day

NOBO (adj, n) northbound

P.U.D.’s (n) “pointless ups and downs”; stretches of monotonous trail that have elevation gain and loss for seemingly no reason

Slackpack (v) to hike without a pack (also: “mule”)

SOBO (adj, n) southbound

Trail angel (n) a person, usually not a thru-hiker, who takes care of hikers, often in the form of food, rides, and lodging

Trail magic (n) altruistic gestures administered by trail angels; known to restore fail in humanity

Trail squatter (n) a local who seeks out prime trailside camp real estate

Tramily (n) people you meet along trail that you may hike with, camp with or share a hostel, etc.

Vitamin I (n) ibuprofen

White-blazer (n) a purist

Yellow-blazer (n) term of derision for a quasi-thru-hiker who hitchhikes portions of a trail

Zero (n) a zero mileage day; usually taken for a much needed day of recovery

On March 31 I will hit the Trail,

Follow my blog and you will see each detail.

2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine.

There will be some pain and lots of rain.

The NFL may have parity,

But I’m doing this for charity.

I think I’ve been a good planner

So I hope to raise lots of money for Sun Dial Manor.

I’ll be working hard and hope no one forgets,

Donate to K9s For Warriors and support our Vets.

There’s lots of adventure and excitement to come,

Your donation will help kids with Down Syndrome.

Think I’ve got everything of import,

I really appreciate your support.

Pete OUT!

 

Introducing my sleep system :

On the left, weighing in at 2 lb. 3 oz. Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 1 (tent).  In the center, weighing 1 lb. 10 oz. REI Flash (sleeping bag).  And on the right, Sea to Summit Sleeping Mat weighing 1 lb.  Total weight of 4 lb. 13 0z.

My new home.  22 square feet of luxury living.  I’m going to have to practice setting up a few more times.  Took about 1/2 hour and several curse words (sorry, Mom!).  Now, if I can only get them back into their tiny little stuff sacks!

Thanks for following my adventure.  Hope you are able to pledge support to one of 3 charities.

Happy trails!

We launched my website earlier this week (thanks to my daughter, Brooke). In a few short days, we have had 25 people pledge a total of $5.32/mile.  Assuming I complete all 2,190 miles this represents a total of $12,206.  WOW!  I am so thankful and grateful to each and every one of you.  Thanks and feel free to get all of your friends and family following along on this big adventure.  These are 3 great charity options and I hope to get the total up to $22.83/mile.  That would mean $50,000 split between these organizations.  Thanks again.

I get lots of questions about the Appalachian Trail and this hike. I will try to give you my answers to some of the most asked.

Are you going by yourself? While I am not going with any individual or group, there are about 4,000 people who attempt to thru-hike the AT in a year.  About 1,000 of them complete.  In addition to those crazies, there are countless other section hikers and day hikers out on the trail all the time.  I expect to meet a lot of interesting people.  Eventually you develop a “tramily” (family on the trail).

How long will this take? I’m aiming to complete by Labor Day so that’s about 5 months.  I hope to average about 18 miles/day with about 1 “zero day”/week.  The first week or 2 will probably only be 10 miles/day but eventually will build up to 25 miles…and then back to 10/day when I get to Vermont and Maine.

How much does your backpack weigh? I am hoping to be very close to 36 lbs including 3 days of food + water.

How are you training for this? I have been walking about 25-30 miles a week (on the golf course).  I’ve added weights to my golf bag so that it is now about 32 lbs.  I’m betting on the fact that I’ll get in better shape as I get my trail legs.  I’m also pretty convinced that this journey is 25% physical and 75% mental.

Please let me know, through contact page on my website, if you have other questions. I will try to answer them before I leave on March 31.

I look forward to sharing this adventure with you! Keep those pledges coming.  Thanks again for your support.