Jon

Hi! I'm Jon, but on the trail I'm known as "The Incident." There's a good story behind my trail name, but I'll have to know you better before I tell it. Maybe after I summit Katahdin. Maybe. I'm married to "Princess Beastmode," father of three grown children, one only of whom has a trail name (Poppywhacker). Mrs. The Incident and I will be living the vanlife with our two golden doodles, Gus & Roux, as I hike the AT in 2023. I'm a mostly retired fluvial geomorphologist (I did river studies) and a published author (my River Elegy books can be found on Amazon). I hope to see you on the trail!

Posts

A Cheap Tent and a Grand Canyon

A Cheap Tent and a Grand Canyon

I bought the $24 tent. What could go wrong?

Mar 17, 2023 : Jon
How I’m Training for My AT Thru Hike

How I’m Training for My AT Thru Hike

First, Some Advice I'll Be Ignoring Advice about training for a thru-hike seems to go to two extremes. At one end of the spectrum is the "No

Feb 6, 2023 : Jon
Babies and Blisters

Babies and Blisters

I never get blisters. Not anymore. Some years ago, after struggling with toe blisters (my toes are very closely spaced) and repeatedly losing toenails on long hikes, I made some changes. I haven’t had a blister or lost a nail since.

Jan 31, 2023 : Jon
What’s in My Backpack? My (Pre-Trip) AT Thru Hike Gear List

What’s in My Backpack? My (Pre-Trip) AT Thru Hike Gear List

Disclaimers & Warnings We all know that the main reason anyone bothers to read pre-trip gear lists is so they can criticize someone else's gear

Jan 18, 2023 : Jon
Why I’m Thru Hiking the Appalachian Trail – The REAL Reasons

Why I’m Thru Hiking the Appalachian Trail – The REAL Reasons

Benton MacKaye, who first proposed the Appalachian Trail, wrote that "there are three things: to walk, to see, and to see what you see." I agree. I also want to listen. Specifically, I want to hear what God has to say to me as I stroll through one of his grand cathedrals.

Jan 18, 2023 : Jon
Why I’m Thru Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Why I’m Thru Hiking the Appalachian Trail

I just can't shake the idea of an AT thru hike. Not that I've really tried to shake it, of course.  I've been nurturing it.

Jan 17, 2023 : Jon