New Blog

I have abandoned this blog for one that is more user friendly.i will not be on this one any longer.  www.trailjournals.com/Rash check it out and dont forget to bookmark!

Its Official

Last week i made it official. I talked to my Boss, Told Him what my plans are and Put in my notice. The Response was verry supportive. There aint no turning back now. I will be leaving Feb 2013. The exact Date is still up in the air. sometime between the middle and the end of the month. i still want it to be cool oustide. i dont take the heat verry well.

In other news i am heading to bryson city this weekend to jump on the trail at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and hike into Sasafras shelter. its a long straight up climb but should be a good workout. I will get to try out my new tent and thats always exciting. i will post a few pics when i get back.

Weight Update

Well i have been on my diet for the past month. eating right,the correct servings and staying clear of calories. going to the gym when possible and doing allot of yard work getting ready for planting season. in the last month i have lost 22 lbs. a pretty big accomplishment for me because i love to eat! 5 more lbs to get to my target goal and then i will hit the weights trying to gain muscle. I am glad i have a goal and a passion for the A.T. or i dont believe i could be so committed to diet.

In other news me and the shepherd are going on a weekend hike to Brown Mtn. Looking forward to throwing my 30lb pack on my back and hopefully finding a good trout stream.

Thanks to everybody that are following me on here!

Trail Name

Next step is coming up with a trail name. Allot of hikers let the trail name them. My luck i would get some kind of crazy trail name like "Sir Limp Allot". Yea i think i will just name myself. This was much more difficult than one would think. After thinking long and hard i come up with the name Rash.

     Well you see, i am highly allergic to poison oak and ivy. So bad i believe i can look at it and catch it. Some people are afraid of snakes or spiders or bears..... not this guy. Its a plant that sends me running in the other direction. I will probably get some funny looks when hikers ask me what my name is. Maybe it would make a good conversation starter haha.

In other news i am planning to head up to Nantahala and jump on the trail for a weekend outing. Hoping i will meet some thru hikers and listen to there stories. Hearing why people decided to go is interesting. Whether it be a soul searching adventure to find there inner self, or just because they can. Its all interesting. looking forward to it.

Suprising Myself

Here lately I have been trying to prepare myself. Going to the gym and back packing as much as possible. I have been on a few trial hikes trying to test out some new gear and strengthen my leg muscles. Surprisingly my legs are allot stronger than I initially thought. I feel good! I'm getting stronger. On one occasion even clearing 9 miles before lunch time. Maybe this wont be as hard as everyone makes it out to be? Yea right….

                                                                         "Left to Right"
                                      Chaser , The Shepherd , White Man , Dirt Dobber , Rash

  Everything around me is a constant reminder of what I will be leaving behind. Everything that I take for granted on a day to day basis will fade to a memory. Even the monotonous drive to work every morning almost feels comforting in some sort of weird way. The Trail is a little less than a year away. Maybe I am thinking to much

Preperation

Very Recently, i started preparing my body for the abuse it will endure on my hike. I fit somewhere between average and beer belly. So cardio is a must. I have been going to the gym every day during the week with good friends Chase and Nicole. Around a hour and a half of cardio and a hour of weight training. I want to be around 185 when i leave for springer. This will allow me some room for weight loss on the trail and still be healthy.

          Another big step is cutting back on my alcohol. Lord knows i love beer. More than any man should. Iv spent many days at work just counting down the minutes until i can reach into that cooler and grab a ice cold beer. Cutting back from every day to 2 to 3 times a week should be a big help. Is this possible???

Going into a restaurant and ordering a salad and grilled veggies is a big change from a philly, baked potato and a gallon of ranch dressing. It is something i will have to get used to. At least until i drop the weight. Only 15 more pounds until i can start indulging in man food again! My mouth waters just thinking about it...... This is going to be a tough ride.

The Decision To Go

          Lets get something straight. I am not depressed. I am not lost nor morbid. I have a decent job, making decent money. Great family and friends. A house, and a some what dependable vehicle. I am content with myself, who i am, and so far who i have become. I am Truly Happy

"Do i really want to leave all of this behind"

I am sure this is a question that i will ask myself counless times over the next year.

         Maybe staring in awe of the mighty Appalachian Mountians intruiges me, feeling so insignificant in its presance. All of the Challanges flashing before my eyes.  Knowing the physical and mental hardships that will plague me every single inch of this journey.  The reason doesnt even matter. All that matters is i made a promise to myself. A commitment.... to finish what i start. To finish the Appalachian Trail.


I decided to break the news to a few close friends and family members first. To my astonishment the response was suprisingly positive. They Actually believe in me and my abilities. What a wonderful feeling. The next couple of months were full of  "How's,What if's and No ways". Of course i enjoy talking about it. Answering questions and hearing the reactions only adds fuel to the fire.

Is it safe to say i am Obsessed?

Discovering an Obsession

           Backpacking has been a new interest of mine introduced to me recently by a friend. I have Always been an outdoorsman, and i have always enjoyed a challange. Hiking into the wilderness for days with nothing but the bare essentials is a challange right? immediately i was interested.

she also told me about The Appalachian Trail. Sure i have heard of it, but never knew much about it. The more she told me about it the more it sparked my interest. My immediate reaction was "So people actually Hike From Georgia to Maine? Thats a long way aint it? where the hell is Maine"

Before you start making fun of my ignorance, let me put my sheltered life into prospective for you real quick. I am 24 years old. i have never been out of the Carolinas. Never been on a airplane, or a train for that matter. Been to the beach only 1 time in my life. This was as recent as last summer. Never had a interest in traveling. lets just say i have not seen much in my 24 years of existance.

            The Appalachian Trail is a monumental accomplishment for outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. Completed in 1937, It is one of  the longest continously marked footpaths in the world. The trail is roughly 2,168 miles long. Trecking across 14 states from Springer Mountian Georgia to Mt. Katahdin Maine. roughly 2,000 people attempt the trail every year. less than 10% will acheive there goal. Over 30% will drop out before reaching North Carolina. The elevation gain and loss on the trail is equivelant to Hiking Mt Everest "The highest mountian peak in the world" 16 times.

Now that i have your attention. I accept the challange