John Hartzell

Hello, all! I am a 64-year-old Pennsylvanian (he/him), retired from government legal services and the Coast Guard Reserve, who is excited to be pursuing a decades-old goal of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. I am fortunate to have a likeminded good friend who has the same aim. I look forward to documenting our double flip-flop jaunt!

Posts

So Long to the Shennies, AT Observations, and Bits and Bobs

So Long to the Shennies, AT Observations, and Bits and Bobs

And On We Go! It has been an eventful few weeks since we left the Bear Den Hostel on March 6, 2025.  Relying on shelters, we traversed south,

Mar 18, 2025 : John Hartzell
Southbound through the Rollercoaster

Southbound through the Rollercoaster

Years ago in a different life I would regularly draft standardized reports on unusual events.  Known as “situation reports,” they were

Mar 6, 2025 : John Hartzell
Slackpacking South from PA

Slackpacking South from PA

Decades ago, when I sailed the briny blue on a Coast Guard cutter, we had a salty mustang (i.e., a former enlisted member) serving as engineer

Feb 25, 2025 : John Hartzell
My (Planned) AT Journey

My (Planned) AT Journey

As a new blogger, I thought it would be helpful to introduce myself and answer those two big questions: why I am undertaking an AT backpacking trip,

Feb 14, 2025 : John Hartzell