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An Introduction Is In Order
Welcome To My Little Space on the Internet
Hi! My name is Nancy Kinnaman (no trail name yet), and I am thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) starting March 2023! Whew, I said it! This is really happening!!
I refuse to call it an “attempted thru-hike”, I will succeed!
Words are everything! Speak your truth into existence!
I am currently 47 years young and live in Phoenix, Arizona. While on the AT, I’ll celebrate my 48th birthday! How awesome is that?!? What kind of “trail magic” might I encounter in May?
My world has evolved into an absolutely wonderful place. After years of soul-searching and emotionally exhausting self-work and healing, I can finally say that I am truly happy for the first time in my life!
I have the privilege of sharing this world with the best, most magnificent man ever, my “Honey Bunny” aka Shade Lizard! I will share more about him and how he became known as the Shade Lizard later.
In our spare time, we can be found whipping up something yummy in the kitchen, hiking, or binge watching something that’s caught our interest. I see you Big Bang Theory!
On weekdays, I can be found at a computer working as an office manager for a construction company. I am also a licensed aesthetician, and my passion occupation is my aesthetic business, Skin Rox. After working decades in the corporate world, I realized what I wanted to be when I grew up. Who knew it would be in the beauty industry? I love it and can’t wait to build my business into a thriving day spa in the Phoenix area.
Aspiring Blogger
Ever since I was a little girl writing letters back and forth to my Grandma Cox, I’ve loved writing. When I started writing her letters, I didn’t know how to write a letter and was at a complete loss for what to write about. My Mom told me to write to her like I was talking to her. The rest is history! Those letters taught me how to be expressive, descriptive, thorough, and most importantly…silly. Over the years, writing has been an emotional outlet of mine, but I haven’t typically shared my work with others. My secret book of poems may never be published by a large publishing house but blogging for The Trek is a good “toe in the water” step of putting myself out there.
Upcoming…
I have so many ideas for future posts leading up to leaving for Georgia and beyond. Posts including gear, fears, and tears! Ya see what I did there?!? Ha!
If you’d like a sneak peek at my gear list, click on the backpack icon above the post “View My Gear List”.
My next post will be my “Why” for deciding to complete the Appalachian Trail in 2023. This seems to be the number one question I get, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
If you have specific questions, you would like for me to talk about, leave them in the comments section below. I’ll do my best to answer them all.
Feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss any of my upcoming posts.
Until next time, go get some dirt on your shoes!
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Comments 8
For a March start a 20 degree quilt is probably not near enough to keep you warm. May want to consider as least a bag liner.
Hi Pete! I do have a bag liner I can bring, but mine won’t provide much additional warmth. I also have booties and a hood on order that I will be bringing. They say you pack your fears, and freezing is one of mine, but I’m trying not to get carried away. My current set up; I actually get hot in the night at low 40’s temps. With the addition of the booties and hood, I’m sure I’ll be fine. We’ll see!
Hello Nancy, I’ll also be starting in March as well and also tend to fear freezing. I’m probably overpacking for warmth, but I can send it home after the Smokies anyway. I would suggest doing an overnight car camping with the gear you have locally this winter on a night that’s supposed to drop below freezing. That’s really the best way to assess if what you have will keep you warm. You can also sleep in your additional warm clothes like your puffy if it gets extremely cold. Have a fantastic journey.
Hello Michael, Thank you for commenting! I have gone on some shakedown hikes and found my current setup should be sufficient. I actually got hot in mid 40’s and had to remove multiple layers. I also have booties and a hood that I’ll be bringing. I’ll update my gear list when they arrive. Maybe we’ll run into each other at some point on trail! Thank you and have a fantastic journey too!
Enjoy the ride as it will change your life.
Thank you Bear! I honestly can’t wait!