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Anniversary and The Historian

In 2025, Anniversary finished the Appalachian Trail hike she initiated in 1975. Most of the 6 months she hiked in 1975 were solo, but she shared a few weeks with the man she married after her return, The Historian. In 2025, he accompanied her on her journey to finish the last 666.5 miles of the AT. After returning to their daily life, they decide it was not time to hang up their boots. Buoyed by their success, and the wonder of the thru hiking experience, they decided to take on the Long Trail for 2026. Out of a healthy respect for the technical aspects of the Long Trail, they plan a slow walk, allowing themselves 4 to 6 weeks in August in September. Anniversary set out to hike the AT in 1975 but fell short of a full thru hike due to blisters and winter. A rare female solo hiker, she stopped at the base of Katahdin November 11, 1975 having covered all but Virginia. To support her in her original thru hike attempt, The Historian joined her twice, hiking along through the Smoky Mountains and the White Mountains. After her return they married in 1976 and lived busy lives. About two years ago, during a day hike, The Historian asked if she would like to finish the AT in 2025, the 50th anniversary of that attempt. Her answer was a resounding yes. Together, they have spent the past two years carving out the time and re-tooling their aging bodies to try. Come along and see how they did on the way to Katahdin.

Posts

Bear Can Flies Off Cliff

Bear Can Flies Off Cliff

Vandeventer shelter perches, a little off kilter, amid rocks on a narrow ridge with steep cliffs on both sides.

Apr 30, 2025 : Anniversary and The Historian
Leaving to Finish 1975 Thru Hike Attempt

Leaving to Finish 1975 Thru Hike Attempt

Hearing of our friend's auto accident, and seeing Helene's impact, along with leaving family behind, was a sobering backdrop to the start of the hike.

Apr 29, 2025 : Anniversary and The Historian
In Memorium for Janice Balza c1953-1975

In Memorium for Janice Balza c1953-1975

To my knowledge, there was only one other solo female thru hiker in 1975 when I made my thru hike attempt. The other “girl” was Janice Balza, 22, of

Apr 17, 2025 : Anniversary and The Historian
A Journey of Anamnesis: The Past made Present on the Way to the Trail

A Journey of Anamnesis: The Past made Present on the Way to the Trail

It has taken three days of travel to get close to our starting point. Each step of the journey has been soulful, a parade of anamnesis.  A

Apr 11, 2025 : Anniversary and The Historian
Packing Our Fears: Mailed Resupply Boxes

Packing Our Fears: Mailed Resupply Boxes

Mailed resupply boxes made me think of packing our fears like when our house burned to the ground in a wildfire in 2012. We thought we were doing

Apr 5, 2025 : Anniversary and The Historian
Planning on Less Hiker Stink: Musings on Distance-Hiking Nutrition

Planning on Less Hiker Stink: Musings on Distance-Hiking Nutrition

Hiker-stink comes from hard work, polyester, and nutrition. That oh so familiar urine smell is ammonia buildup caused by an under-fueled body

Mar 27, 2025 : Anniversary and The Historian
The Pre-Trail To-Do Emotions: Anxiety and Gratitude

The Pre-Trail To-Do Emotions: Anxiety and Gratitude

As our departure date looms and our to-do list is long, we seem to be filled with two strong emotions. Anxiety and gratitude. The anxiety is not

Mar 25, 2025 : Anniversary and The Historian
Our Body’s Demands for Thru Hiking

Our Body’s Demands for Thru Hiking

Bodies make demands for thru hiking. They want to be fed and kept warm. They quit working if they are not healthy. They balk at carrying heavy loads

Mar 22, 2025 : Anniversary and The Historian
My “Through” Hike: After 50 Years, My Eyes are Still on Katahdin

My “Through” Hike: After 50 Years, My Eyes are Still on Katahdin

On Mother’s Day, May 11, 1975, my mother and sister dropped me off at Nimblewill Gap, 2 miles short of Springer Mountain. My eyes were on Mount

Mar 14, 2025 : Anniversary and The Historian