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Introduction
Introduce Yourself – Faith. No More
“Then you said in a song
That life was gettin’ real tough
But hey I think that you’re bluffing, what of it? Introduce yourself right on!”
Pleased to Meet Me
Hey folks. Welcome to my blog. My name is Andrea Stilwell and I recently retired after a 30-year career with the USPS. I’m starting my thru hike attempt of the Appalachian Trail in late February 2024.
From now until then I will be training as best I can with equipment I have in my basement. Winter will be knocking on my door very soon and I’m not geographically blessed to be able to work out on mountains like some of my other aspiring thru hiking comrades. But you can’t buy heart and soul and determination and I’m counting on those.
Wherefore and Why
Wherefore and Why – Gordon Lightfoot “Then I got to thinkin’ what makes you want to go
To know the wherefore and the why So many times now, oh Lord, I can’t remember
If it’s September or July”
When I knew in 2022 that I was going to retire in 2023, I started to make plans for my thru hike. I scouted out upcoming sale dates from my nearest REI. There was new equipment that I needed to purchase, equipment I had to replace.
Back in 2015, I took a 2-week vacation and section hiked the Approach Trail to the NOC. My pack weight must have been north of 35 pounds. I took what I had. I hit the trail with wide-eyed enthusiasm and equal naivete. Hostels? Resupply? Farout? Endless YouTube vlogs that proffer countless tidbits of advice? None of it. It was the “learn as you go” school of experience. Thankfully in my second week I hiked with a more experienced older man who hung my food bag when necessary and made calls to hotels for the nights we needed.
That experience gave me the realization that for this thru hike I needed lighter gear and that the terrain was no joke. Plus, I’m 8 years older and my body is not as nimble nor as flexible nor as strong.
This past September I did a 3-day shakedown with my new gear. I hiked the Approach Trail to Woody Gap. I packed out all the gear as if I were starting in February – ok, I left my 10 degree bag at home and took my 30 degree. Everything worked well. The Approach kicked my ass. Time must have erased that from my memory, or my body degraded in the intervening years. Either way, when I returned home, I promptly called my shuttle driver to rearrange my drop off at the top of Springer Mountain. The romance of starting my hike by walking through the arch was replaced by stark reality. I’m not a masochist.
There is no “why” other than I want to do it. Period. I’ve no grand illusions of self-discovery. I’ve no timeline to beat except for winter hitting Baxter. This is my retirement trip. Instead of going to Bora Bora basking on golden beaches and sipping umbrella drinks I’m going to be spending my time trudging up and down countless mountain sides, eating numerous jars of peanut butter, ramen bombs and jerky. Rain or shine. For 2100 plus miles. Hey, wait a minute….
I hope you all come with me on my journey. The good, the bad, the ugly. It’s going to be a trip.
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Comments 15
I’d love to follow along with you on your adventure. Can’t wait!
Thank you. To paraphrase the Grateful Dead, it should be a long, strange trip. I hope I can document it accordingly.
Andrea,
I too will be looking forward to seeing your posts. Sending you positive energy on your journey.
Thank you. I hope to be entertaining!
Hi Andrea. Hiking the A.T. Is my retirement gift to myself as well. 2023 was initially when I hoped to start, however my daughter wants to join me so we postponed it to March 2024. You will likely be a couple weeks ahead of us but we may see your name in the log book. Wishing you safe, happy trails!
Thank you. Have a safe trip as well. We may cross paths!
Hi Andrea. Hiking the A.T. Is my retirement gift to as well. 2023 was initially when I hoped to start, however my daughter wants to join me so we postponed it to March 2024. You will likely be a couple weeks ahead of us but we may see your name in the log book. Wishing you safe, happy trails!
I took am retired and want so much to do the trail. Now my beautiful wife passed I’m planning to relocate in Alabama near pinhoti trail. Maybe see other oldsters on trail someday.
Huge condolences for your major loss. Good luck on your new chapter and after following peg legs blog for 7 months I now want to visit pinhoti. And the iat. Because she did Bama to Baxter to iat and now Bama to key west. I hope you feel your beautiful wife’s presence in your heart always.
I’m sorry to hear of your loss. One day you’ll find peace on the trail and know your wife is there by your side.
Well Andrea, you caught my attention by mentioning ol’Gordy, an all time favorite of mine. I, too will be hitting the trail in April, and until then, I hike each day up to 10+ miles in the mountains west of Denver. A lifetime goal of mine. I appreciate any input from those who have done some or all of the trail, and I thank you for the advice. I, too am one of the elders (66), and look forward to possibly seeing you on the trail. Have a great day and enjoy the journey.
Hiking Mike
I hope to see you out there. I have a good story about Gordy’s music – involving an RV and an East Coast trip with the parents when I was a kid. Maybe over a nice campfire and ramen bomb.
Good luck on your thru hike along the Appalachian Trail. I’m hoping one day to join the thousands who have hiked this amazing trail.
Thank you. The trail’s history is blowing in the wind.
Hi Andrea, would you be interested in doing an interview on the Hikers Dream show in a couple of weeks?