Hello! My name is Jim Wilson and I am attempting a NOBO thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2026. I live near Huntsville, Alabama and love the state and the University of Alabama - Roll Tide Roll! I’ve been married to my wonderful wife for almost 25 years, and have 4 amazing children ranging in age from 11 to 21. I have been backpacking for 3 years now. This is my first attempt at a long distance thru-hike. I will be starting on my 54th birthday! I would love for you to follow along on this adventure!
Posts
The One With Resting Part 2 – Day 36
I can't believe it is the first day of the sixth week on the trail. It doesn't seem that long. Today was a second day of rest. Trail Report The
The One With Resting – Day 35
Today I took a zero at Woods Hole Hostel. I got a bunch of chores done, and just spent time relaxing. This hostel is awesome! Such a special place
The One With Lunch at Trent’s – Day 34
Trent’s Grocery is an iconic spot on the trail. I didn't know if I wanted to take the time to walk the mile round-trip to get there. I'm glad I did!
The One That Was Cold – Day 33
I anticipated it would be a cold day. I just didn't realize how cold. Immediately, when I left the shelter before dawn to use the privy, I found out
The One With Thunderstorms – Day 32
The day ended with the worst thunderstorms and rain I've seen so far. I stayed at the Chestnut Knob shelter. It's fully enclosed with a door that can
The One With a Legend – Day 31
Today I met a hiking legend. I was just walking along when I saw a man, followed by a woman, walking south. I stepped aside to let them pass. The
The One With Hiding Ponies – Day 30
I don't blame the ponies for not wanting to be out today. I didn't want to be out today! It was cold and raining most of the day. Luckily, I did see
The One With a Bad Attitude – Day 29
I left Damascus before dawn with a bad attitude. I really did not want to hike another detour. Missing Whitetop Mountain and a couple other sites
The One For Lovers – Day 28
The slogan for Virginia is “Virginia is for lovers”. Well, after 4 weeks, I finally made it to the land for lovers. I'm finally in Virginia! Not only
The One With a Barn – Day 27
Today was mostly just a walk in the woods. But, I did walk through a meadow, saw cows, and the iconic barn with the AT symbol. I'm pretty sure it's









