Well folks, I’ve been to every outfitters in town (and some in other towns).  I’ve spent obscene hours researching wicking properties, loft and synthetic insulation, and everything ultralight.  I’ve read countless books.  I own a pair of Crocs.  …Bright purple, neon-green Crocs (affectionately called my “Barney shoes”) for wearing at camp.  My living room has been a rotating circus of boxes – purchased gear, gear that needs to be returned, and gear I’m keeping.  Piles of miniature first aid supplies and toiletries dot the floor.  There are bags of granola, peanut butter and noodles lined up for consumption.  Every single day for the last month, I’ve gone from “this is a GREAT idea!” to “WHAT in the bejeezus am I thinking?!”, back to “nope, this is IT – I’m doing it.”   I paid off most of my car.  I sold my house.  I quit my job of eleven years.  My life will soon fit into a backpack that I will wear for 2,189 miles on the Appalachian Trail.  I can only hope I’m ready.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail is something I decided to do many years ago after an extended solo vacation traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The road was great, but the hiking unexpectedly called my name.  It was all I wanted to do and it felt like home.  After years of planning and plotting and thinking and dreaming about it, I’ve created the opportunity.  To quote the infamous naturalist John Muir, “the mountains are calling and I must go.”  So here I go!  In T-minus 2 days, I will be on the Trail.

To all my friends and family and hometown Memphis peeps, THANK YOU for your support!!!  Words cannot express my gratitude for your kind encouragement as I undertake this journey.  It has been most unexpected.  And to my most amazing husband, Neal, who has listened to me talk about this forever, and who loves me for my adventuresome spirit (and who also likes to remind me that he has a lifetime free fishing pass for “letting” me go), you are my hero.

Please bear with me as I get acquainted with this here blog thingy.  More sections – gear lists, about me, location tracking, etc. – will be added as time allows.

Until later, and thank you for following my shenanigans!  – Nicci