New Year, New Plans for 2022

This time last year, I was in the final stages of planning for a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. My bags were packed, my reservations were made for Amicalola Falls, and I had shuttles reserved for rides to and from the trailheads in the first few weeks of my hike. Then COVID hit and everything went awry. Following the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s advice, I delayed my hike with the hopes of hitting the trail in 2021.

Dreams were dashed in 2020, but I spent that time not upset or disappointed, but appreciative of the extra time I got to spend with my family. We biked, swam, and stayed close to home. Now with 2021 kicking into gear, it’s time to start planning for the summer hiking season.

I won’t be hiking the Appalachian Trail until 2022 as the COVID pandemic still makes it difficult for me to hike with my children. This is an individual, very personal decision and not one I apply to everyone. If you want to thru-hike and can do so safely, then go for it. I look forward to reading your story!

Instead, I am considering alternate, shorter hikes that’ll get us outside without all the logistics of a long-distance thru-hike. I also look forward to re-planning my AT thru-hike for 2022. A year seems a long way away, but it’ll be here before I know it!

Would love to hear where you are hiking this year and what you are doing to get outside in 2021!