Image may contain: Yolonda Johnson and Judy Gentz, people smiling

Two days left before we head out to Georgia and Springer Mountain! We have six boxes already sent out for us to pick up along the trail. This will be quite a contrast to how we have spent our last week at Kathryn and Jake's destination wedding in the Bahamas! That was a very happy, warm and fun week.  Next week's fun will be chilly and rainy! I was following the weather in Georgia and it appears to be raining daily.  I am sure we will soon be covered in mud. 

This is an approximate itinerary I have attached. I am sure it will change with weather conditions, our health, people we meet  and just because we want to make a change. 

We have many people who have encouraged us, supported us and will continue to support us through this trip and for them we am most grateful. All of our children and family members have been super supportive and many are going to join us along the trail at some point. The picture here is of a good friend Yolonda Johnson who will be staying with our old dog Asia, Maggie and Pansy (our two cats). She has also agreed to send us two boxes of food and provisions a week. Judy's friend Erin is bringing us to the airport and she and Bardz will meet us in VA for a day in May. Rachel and Patrick we will see in 3 weeks from the start, then Sharon and Terry in April. We just met with a friend who did the trail in 2017, Mo Tait. She has given us information and inspiration all along.  A neighbor John Scott is going to plow our driveway for Yolonda. I had a long talk with a great friend Gerald Stribling from KY who I backpacked with many years ago. It turns out his daughter has a place along the trail.  Countless people have talked to us about this trip, asked questions and given suggestions.  Yes we are blessed with great support. 


Judy and Steve Appalachian approximate itinerary (does not include “zero” days when we don’t hike)

                These are the places we will be stopping to pick up supply boxes about once a week. VERY approximate



3/2 Springer Mountain, GA  START!



3/9 Dicks Creek Gap; Hiawassee, GA



3/14 Nantahala Outdoor Center; Bryson City, NC



3/21 Hot  Springs; N.C. (Meet Rachel and Patrick)



3/31 Buck Creek; Elk Park, NC



4/5 Laurel Ave.; Damascus, VA



4/13 Bland W. V. (Meet Sharon and Terry)



4/20: Catawba, VA



4/26 Glasgow, VA



5/5 Elkton, VA



5/11 Bluemont, VA (meet Bardz and Erin)



5/12-13 Harper’s Ferry WVA (1/2 way point)



5/21 Boiling Springs, PA



5/27 Port Clinton Ave.; Hamburg, PA



6/2 Delaware Water Gap, PA



6/10 Bear Mountain Circle; Ft. Montgomery, NY



6/13 NY22 North Railroad; Pawling NY (overnight w/ sister of Judy’s friend)



6/19 Great Barrington, MA



6/28 Manchester Center, VT



7/5 Dartmouth College; Hanover, NH



7/12 Crawford Notch; Bartlett, NH



7/20 Mooselookmequntic Lake; Oquossoc, ME


7/25 Caratunk, ME



7/28 Monson, ME



8/3 Millinocket, ME;   8/6 Mount Katahdin summit; hike out;  8/7 shuttle to Bangor ME to fly home

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