Roughly 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine. Six months away from ordinary life. No more waiting for someday.
I’m Alex. I’m 47, an experienced section hiker, and I’ve spent years imagining a full Appalachian Trail thru-hike as something I would do later.
After a year of family wake-up calls, later no longer feels like a plan. On March 1, 2027, I’ll step away from work and begin walking north.
“The mountains are calling and I must go.”— John Muir
A conservative opening, a steady build, room for hard terrain, and enough flexibility to respond to the trail.
The current setup is light enough to move efficiently and substantial enough for an early-season start.
More than 500 completed AT miles provide a foundation. A thru-hike still asks a different question: can I wake up and do it again for six months?
The work before the walk: a practical September-to-February plan for stronger legs, longer days and getting up to do it again.
I grew up hiking and camping in Cub Scouts. Summer vacations with our dad often meant backpacks and trails—in the Smokies, in Glacier, and later, hiking in Switzerland. When my uncle started tackling sections of the Appalachian Trail, I tagged along. He’s covered more than 700 miles; I’ve logged about 500.
Somewhere along the way, hiking the whole thing became a goal I couldn’t shake.
The last two years have been hard on our family. We lost our dad, and we nearly lost my older brother. Those experiences changed the way I think about “someday.” I knew I couldn’t keep putting this off.
So I’m heading north, grateful for my partner, Lauren, my daughter, Sam, and the family and friends who are helping make this possible. I’ll miss them while I’m out there—but I’m hoping a few familiar faces will join me for a stretch, meet me in town, or share a meal along the way.