I'm a 43 year old mom, wife, teacher, and future thru-hiker of the Appalachian Trail. I began this journey over 16 years ago when I hiked the Connecticut portion of The AT. Then I got married and had two wonderful children who are now 8 and 10. My children are now old enough to attend a sleepover camp in North Carolina which gives me the time to continue my AT adventure. My plan is to section hike the entire Appalachian Trail, one summer at a time. Last summer my husband and I were able to explore part of the North Carolina section of the AT through several day hikes. This summer I plan on section hiking for one to two weeks in North Carolina. My husband will probably join me for part or all of this hike! To prepare, I have changed my diet dramatically. I have lost 30 pounds so far since last summer. I have 20 more to go to be at a healthy weight. I am also an avid runner, and I love adventures! Some challenges I face include depression and anxiety which I work hard to combat every day. I do not let the depression define my life in any way. I take every measure possible to make sure my family and I have the BEST life we possibly can.