Training, trash, updates, and such

I hope this post finds you well. This past weekend, both Maura and I had off 3 days to go outside to train and hike in basically Maura's back yard. What a delight! When deciding on where to train, the option to walk out her door in Brevard right to the Art Loeb trail (a premier weekend backpacking trail, highlighting the joyous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Pisgah National Forest) was a no-brainer.

The view from atop Pilot Mountain (Looking Glass in the middle ground)...what a long climb but a worthwhile view! 

As we prepped for the training weekend, Maura decided to put her new book (The Appalachian Trail Food Planner, Recipes and Menus for a 2,000-mile hike) to good use. I was thrilled to get the easy job - deciding where to hike to, setting up a shuttle, and gear needs. I must say, the result was as great as one could have expected on the trail - with the food being plentiful and tasty enough for this growing man!

One take away I have from this weekend was the sense of teamwork between Maura and I. When one would be prepping food, the other would be packing up gear, etc. I feel we are reading each other's mind more and more. And on that note, I was a bit disgruntled this morning to find myself in front of a computer inside at work for my internship after having spent 3 sunny, sometimes chilly days solely outside. Such as life...for now - only makes thinking of the future that much sweeter!

High five!

Keeping inline with our goal on the AT we managed to pick up about 30 or 40 items of trash, ranging from tiny twist ties to beer cans and plastic mountain dew bottles. Thank goodness nothing unusual was found, well, save for the feminine hygiene product that Maura found near one shelter...yuck. Besides that it definitely felt good to pick up items simply discarded by others. For me, it only enhanced the purpose we are planning to take and share on the AT with others.

I also realize the more I pick up trash and other undesirables in the outdoors the more I wonder what the other users of these areas are thinking when they decide to discard? Is it too inconvenient to pack out the trash that you create? Climbers, hikers, locals, and non-locals alike - in my mind we all have a duty to clean up after ourselves...at least from a moral and Karmatic point of view. So besides attempting to restore nature to its natural self, one oddly positive thought I ponder: if people actually picked up their trash, then we would be out of work for the future!

A final shout-out goes to Ozark Sandals! Autumn, the wonderful owner of this small Missouri-based company (started originally by her mother), offered to create a pair of custom colored sandals for us. Perhaps she can do freedom some justice and recreate the freedom sandal?

Till next time enjoy whatever it is that you're doing. And if you aren't enjoying that than perhaps it is time to go outside!  :]

Cheers,
Alan

To view more photos from the weekend check here.


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Leave No Trace and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Not to pop the champagne cork yet, but the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and Appalachian Trail Conservancy have indicated interest in supporting our service-centered thru hike! It brings me great joy to recognize them for initially accepting to support us in some non-monetary fashion (i.e., logistical support, trail blessings, documents, PR, high-fives, etc.).

Many, many thanks to the support of these organizations! I look forward to working out more details in a mutual, symbiotic relationship to benefit them, us, and namely America's most traveled footpath! Happy Day!

Cheers and smiles,
Alan

Outdoor Experiences and Sponsorship Requests

Outdoor Experiences
As I come down the pipes in my final semester here at Appalachian State, my graduate program is keeping me busy! I must say, though, it's a different kind of busy. Instead of classes this semester I have my internship at Outdoor Programs, here on-campus. Part of my duties are as the Climbing Wall Manager. 10-12 hours a week I am paid a small hourly sum to create/update scheduling, staff training, and climbing wall logistics (new holds, inspections, etc.). The other 10 or so hours of the internship is as a Programmer. Basically doing odds and ends supporting the program, with my ultimate goal to create more intentional faculty and staff programming this spring.

This last portion, in many ways, ties in nicely with our upcoming AT experience. How you say? Well, being that the outdoors are a place to be shared, I feel many Americans quite enjoy theses spaces, but do not entirely grasp what it takes to maintain/sustain them. Given that sometime later this semester I anticipate facilitating outdoor experiences with faculty and staff (i.e., adults), I feel this will provide me with a small glimpse into the world of average outdoor users. From this, I feel I will have a better understanding of how to effectively communicate the art of Leave No Trace, as well as treading lightly and giving back to this earthly space we've been blessed to recreate upon!

On Snake Mountain with Elk Knob in the background

Sponsorship Requests
I've been dedicating a few hours over the last few weeks solidifying sponsorship requests. In some way I have a bit of anxiousness about this. I sent my first request to Patagonia only to be denied a day later. Did they even read my proposal?? I feel there is no place for worry amongst this. I have a building confidence that a company will recognize what we are striving to do, and take a chance on us. Perhaps I should put it in more plain language, but if you read the sponsorship requests, I feel like it paints a picture of planned selfless service. Basically, Maura and I are paying money for gear and food to a) experience the Appalachian Trail from North to South, and more importantly b) to give back to the trail in someway that is larger than us! A thought becomes a question...

What if all users of the AT made a point to pick up trash, or to take half a day to work with a maintenance club? What kind of world would we be living in if more people modeled this; and popular society supported it? 

I am hopeful, in all that the word passively means, that our actions will be impactful at some level; smack next to the impact it will leave on us intrinsically as young people - growing up in an ever-changing world!

If you are a potential sponsor, please consider taking a chance on us! Think of a time when someone took a chance on you; are you glad they did? 

On and on the challenges will go for this experience is already committed into Maura and I. Getting closer to the launch date - hitting the road for Maine on June 15th!!

Lots of love and excitement in this shared experience,
Alan

Happy New Year!

I hope that everyone is experiencing a happy and healthy New year so far!

During the Fall of 2011 I would frequently say to myself that I was waiting until the beginning of 2012 to officially start the planning/organizing stages for Al's and my thru-hike. As you can imagine I am now in shock that the before mentioned time has finally arrived! On the menu for the near future includes food planning, researching the best options for re-supply, slowly gathering the necessary equipment, and training! A Southbound thru-hike requires tip-top physical shape from the start.

Today I purchased The Appalachian Trail Food Planner, Recipes and Menus for a 2,000-mile hike. I am also interested in learning more about drying fruits/vegetables at home in order to cut costs on purchasing dried food items, which can often be expensive. If you have any suggestions or knowledge on this topic PLEASE feel free to share with us!

Take Care everyone!

Cheers,

Maura