Derek Witteman

Sup Fam! My name is Derek “Witch Doctor” and I'm thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail NOBO in April 2023. Im from Paradise, CA originally and now I live in San Antonio, TX and have had the pleasure of living in WV, HI and Honduras in between. In no particular order I'm a physician, veteran, hiker, nerd, jokester and student of the game. Follow my journey on The Trek, Facebook or Instagram @Barkelycharles.

Posts

How To Blog DAILY While On Trail

How To Blog DAILY While On Trail

Writing a blog post for every day you spend on trail is not for everyone, I’m well aware of that. But for those that are interested, this post is for

Feb 10, 2024 : Derek Witteman
The 164 Day Recap of Everything You Wanted To Know, And Maybe Some You Didnt

The 164 Day Recap of Everything You Wanted To Know, And Maybe Some You Didnt

I’ve said this before but it’s wild to consider your self an expert after doing something for the first time. But when that first time takes over 5

Dec 30, 2023 : Derek Witteman
The Return To The Matrix

The Return To The Matrix

The following 2 weeks have been a whirlwind, but in the best way possible. The good times kept on coming, just one day removed from trail. I woke up

Oct 17, 2023 : Derek Witteman
Day 164 – The Katahdin Arrival (Fallacy)

Day 164 – The Katahdin Arrival (Fallacy)

My alarm went off earlier than it had all trail long, with the exception of my 2AM wake up before attempting (and failing) the 4-State Challenge. I

Oct 4, 2023 : Derek Witteman
Day 163 – The Day Before Katahdin

Day 163 – The Day Before Katahdin

I woke up well rested but in no hurry to start the day. Today was a day for savoring. Today was a slow burn kind of day. The kind where all moods are

Oct 2, 2023 : Derek Witteman
Day 162 – “I Love That You Get Cold When It’s 71 Degrees Out”

Day 162 – “I Love That You Get Cold When It’s 71 Degrees Out”

I woke up to sunlight bathing my tent near my pond-side location. It was a suboptimal site for tenting and roots permitted sleeping in only a couple

Oct 1, 2023 : Derek Witteman
Day 161 – The End Is Near

Day 161 – The End Is Near

I woke up to an empty shelter. It was mildly alarming, not because I knew anyone in the shelter. But rather when I went to sleep it was full, and

Sep 30, 2023 : Derek Witteman
Day 160 – The Water Filter Hack Sawyer Doesn’t Want You To Know About

Day 160 – The Water Filter Hack Sawyer Doesn’t Want You To Know About

The sun woke me from my TBC around 7. The group has been calling their sleeping bags a ‘Toasty Bitch Cocoon.’ I was fully happy and warm in mine and

Sep 28, 2023 : Derek Witteman
Day 159 – Discomfort Is Where Growth Happens

Day 159 – Discomfort Is Where Growth Happens

The daylight woke me from my tent just before 7AM. I could hear the rushing of the river next to us. I was trying to perceive, based on sound alone,

Sep 27, 2023 : Derek Witteman
Day 158 – Why I Quit In The Hundred Mile Wilderness

Day 158 – Why I Quit In The Hundred Mile Wilderness

Or rather why I wanted to quit (you thought I was done with click bait titles didn’t you?). Also sorry for the delay, Wi-Fi in the 100 Mile

Sep 26, 2023 : Derek Witteman