Introduction

I have never been fond of the phrase “bucket list.” Maybe it is because the term has become an overused cliché that evokes thoughts of movies, books, and countless pop culture references.  Or maybe it is because the phrase gives away the ending – that the list is going to end with the proverbial bucket being kicked. Sure, we know that ending is inevitable, but it seems to me that “bucket list” unnecessarily reminds us of the fact.  Now that does not mean that I do not have such a list, because I do.  I simply prefer to call my list something else, like maybe a “life to-do list.”  A name like that puts the emphasis on life instead of on that dreadful bucket waiting to be kicked. My life to-do list has a variety of different items both big and small.  Some are already accomplished, some well within reach, and others whose attainability is in question.  A few of them: 

• Become a published writer: Done.  Sure, it was only a business article in an obscure trade journal, but it counts. 
• Visit the Baseball Hall of Fame: Done in summer 2010. 
• Bicycle a Century (100+ mile ride):  Done…8 times. 
• Visit all 50 states: 36 down, 14 to go. 
• Drive the Alaska Highway: Done. Bonus points for doing it in winter. 
• Live in Alaska: Done. 
• Visit every Major League Baseball stadium: Not even close…still 25 to go. 
• Finally earn the Bachelor’s degree I started working on in 1989:  Will happen this year if I can survive this semester.     

In a perfect world, I would celebrate accomplishing that last item by embarking on another of the items on the list: to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.  The AT, as it is commonly known, is probably the most famous and popular hiking trail in the world.  It traverses more than 2000 miles along the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine.  It is not an idyllic walking path, but rather a challenging and intense collection of rocky ascents and slippery descents requiring endurance, patience, and perseverance. A continuous “thru-hike” from one end to the other generally takes roughly five to six months. The vast majority of those who attempt a thru-hike do not make it.  I think I could make it, but I am sure all those who fail think the same thing as they lace up their boots for the first mile of the journey. 

 But the world is not perfect, so a trip on the AT is simply not possible for me.  Work and family obligations simply will not allow me a five month furlough right now. More importantly, my finances will not allow it. Even if I had the few thousand dollars needed to outfit me for the trip, the loss of income while on the trail simply would be too much for me to overcome. My only option right now is to travel the trail from a distance, through the writings and journals of others who have had the good fortune of making the trek. So that is what I will do. I will journey up the trail through a series of personal essays that will allow readers to go along with me. I will introduce readers to the trail and the story behind its history. I will offer a guided virtual tour of the trail’s journey through the Eastern United States. I will introduce a number of personal stories from some of those who have gone before on the trail, offer insights into their motivations for hiking the trail, and look at the results of their journey.  I will look at the behind the scenes details of the AT and take a peek at what the future might hold. 

I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to a number of people: the forward-thinking visionaries who conceived the notion of such a trail; the persistent and tireless pioneers who both literally and figuratively blazed the trail; the scores of volunteer groups who work tirelessly and without fanfare to maintain and sustain the trail; and the hikers who have walked the trail and have passed along their stories for the rest of us.  I will highlight a number of these individuals through the course of my narrative.  I will provide information on how to learn more about them and their works, as well as links on how to obtain their books or writings.  Sadly, I will only be able to highlight a few of these individuals and their works.  For every one I mention, there are a hundred others just as worthy of our attention. I think that is an illustration of the power of the Appalachian Trail. It is more than simply a footpath in the woods.  Much, much more. 

Throughout the blog, I will mention a number of references, web links, books, and other sources.  When referencing websites, I will try to post web links directly into the text.  I will cite other sources as needed, and the information for those can be found in the bibliography at the end of the blog. I also will provide amazon links for some of the books along the side of the page.  In particular, I want to point out one book that has become a favorite of mine.  The Appalachian Trail Reader is a collection of a wide variety of writings edited by David Emblidge. Included in the book are historical writings from the likes of Thoreau and Thomas Jefferson, nature essays from Aldo Leopold and many others, poetry by Robert Frost and Walt Whitman, and trail journals from many hikers.  It is a fantastic collection, and one that I am thankful to have in my personal library. Many thanks to Mr. Emblidge for putting together such a useful and entertaining collection of readings about the AT.