We'd like to further thank...

Greetings folks,

We've had a few companies, large and small, step-up to the plate lately. I will give each of those companies a spotlight in the near future, but in the meantime I wanted to send a shout-out to Tom (aka Big Bear) at Ursack for sending us a bear resistant food sack; to George at Clif Bar for his willingness to send us product; and finally to Yolanda at Little Red Wagon Granola for offering to send us scrumptious granola!

In these, not-so-awesome but improving, economic times, I appreciate that these companies are willing to help in some gracious way! (again, more to come each about these companies in the near future)

One final shout-out goes to Laurie at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. I spoke with her on the phone yesterday and she was more than willing to help guide and frame the rough, big picture outline of Maura and I's service/trash/Leave No Trace thru hiking experience. Thanks Laurie!

Many, many thanks to ya'll out there at home making things come true by believing. Please keep it coming and be sure to pass it along to the gracious supporters of the AT Service Experience!

Cheers,
Al

Exciting Updates in AT Preparation!

Good Afternoon! I hope you are enjoying your "Winter", whether it be filled with 55 degree days or the occasional snow storm.  As I returned to Brevard today, after spending some time in Asheville and Boone, it certainly felt as if Spring has already 'SPRUNG'.

This past weekend I celebrated my 23rd birthday! As the AT Experience approaches, I feel very fortunate to be given the opportunity to accomplish one of my life's goals at such a ripe age! I am also very grateful that Al and I have such supportive family members, friends, and mentors to offer encouragement and advice along the way. As a very generous birthday gift I received a NESCO Food Dehydrator and Jerky Maker from my awesome parents!!

On Sunday afternoon Al and I were lucky enough to escape Boone for a few hours and head out to Elk Knob State Park to do some hiking/training.

Elk Knob, veiled in clouds

As a gift from Al I received a Kettlebell for my birthday! If you are not familiar with a Kettlebell, it is a heavy weight that is used for CrossFit style work outs (see picture below). Al's background in Exercise Science led us to hiking Elk Knob not once, but TWICE with two sets of CrossFit style exercises in between. Feeling the burn of metabolic conditioning...FUN, FUN! We sure got some crazy looks from other day-hikers. :)

We also found out this past weekend that our reservations at Katahdin Stream Campground in Baxter State Park, Maine are confirmed for the weekend of June 15-17, 2012. Time is flying by and June will be here before we know it!

Cheers,
Maura

Way to go Gear to Grow!

Greetings supporters, readers, and people in bloggie blog land,

Gear to Grow has accepted the challenge! Who is gear to grow? Based in Midvale, UT, Gear to Grow "allows outdoor retailers and manufacturers to donate gear for a tax deduction and for the benefit of educating the public and getting more people involved in outdoor recreation. Simply put, we broker gear between the donors and organizations getting people involved in the outdoors."

As part of the Pacific Mountain Institute, a nonprofit who strives to "foster innovative solutions for complex social and environmental problems, with a primary focus on researching, developing, and incubating projects that are based on social entrepreneurship," Gear to Grow has offered to donate gear I had requested; mostly Cascade Designs items. I was definitely floored to receive a response from then - thinking initially that our cause didn't have what it took to get noticed. Boy, I am glad I was wrong.

Big thanks to Gear to Grow and the Pacific Mountain Institute for taking a chance on us! We will try our darnedest to not disappoint ya'll! :)

In other news, as part of training for our Southbound (Sobo) hike I went for a merry run today. We are experiencing, well as of this morning, nearly 60 degree weather in February! What an odd experience. Nonetheless, I was stoked to get outside for an hour long run - even if the first 20 minutes had me gripped for discovering more oxygen whilst running the hills of the Boone area.

As suggested by Maura, I've started reading the Barefoot Sisters Southbound. It is written eloquently by the sisters themselves, and highlights what Maura and I will likely experience on our own Southbound hike (minus the service and trash removal).

Hope ya'll are doing swell out there in bloggie blog land. Thanks again Gear to Grow!

Cheers and happy Saturday,
Al

Thank You Earth Fare!

Happy winter-like weather. Boone is getting some snow (finally) and while visiting Maura here in Brevard we were fortunate to have sunshine intermixed with flurries as we hiked with friends in Pisgah National Forest.

On Friday of this past week, I met with Tara, the Community Relations Coordinator at the Earth Fare in Boone. She, on behalf of the local Earth Fare (a natural grocer chain here in the SE), offered to support us with some donated goodies from the bulk foods section.

If you live near an Earth Fare, please - on our behalf - show some support to them for supporting us!! Many thanks Earth Fare and happy Saturday to all.

Cheers,

Al

PS We are thinking of creating a Twitter account to feed the blog to those that would prefer receiving updates that way (thanks Paige for the idea!). Stay tuned... :)