I would like to welcome friends, family, professors, advisors, and all who make their way to this blog. This website is intended to share with all of you the incredible journey of two best friends, Madison and Fred, on their trek from Georgia to Maine. Madison had talked about the trip for a long time, but not until a year and a half ago did we agree to take on this adventure together. In fact, it begins with your classic story of a couple of guys talking about the future over some over-sized burgers in downtown Raleigh. Madison was graduating from NC State the following semester (Spring ’08) and had intended to start the hike immediately afterwards. I still had another two semesters left because of all the co-oping I did throughout college but did not want to miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Maybe it was the one-pound burger I had just eaten or maybe I realized that there was no better time in my life to make this happen, but I said to Madison, “Buddy, if you can wait for me to graduate, I will hike the AT with you.” He would have to postpone the trip for one year just for me, so there was no way I could back out; thus a pact was made and we shook on it. After his graduation, Madison moved out to Asheville to work and I worked on finishing my Computer Science degree.
Many people have asked: “How have you guys prepared or trained for such a demanding trip?” Madison and I have been backpacking and camping partners since we entered the Boy Scouts at age 11. While backpacking together, we have a system that is so deeply ingrained in each of us that it would be unthinkable to do things any other way. For example, I have always been responsible for the stove and most of the food, and he has always been responsible for the tent. We have supported each other on long-term treks which include sectional hikes of most of the NC/TN section of the Appalachian Trail, southern VA, and even out west at Philmont Scout Ranch in NM. Our experience on the trail makes for an impressive resume for qualifying for the Appalachian Trail. Yet, both the most important thing and the one thing you cannot prepare for is the mental stress. We will push each other to the limit, pick each other up on the worst of days, and both be driven by our hardheaded will and determination. Besides, there isn’t anyone else I would rather experience this with.
Visitors to this site should expect to see blog posts semi-weekly as we pass through towns and get a chance to access the internet. I will be able to use my iPod to type up my daily journal entries and send them via email once in town. Also, galleries of our pictures will be added under the “Photo” tab section, and you can track our progress with an interactive Google Map of the trail (under the “Trail” tab). Be sure to check out the statistics page for some fun information on our speed and distance traveled.
Of course, I must thank all of the people who have supported us and will support us on this trek. Every person who wished us luck and told us that we could do it will motivate us to the finish line. Thanks to my mom for being the home base of operations for this website, for maintaining it while I’m on the trail, and to my dad for making himself available for our resupplying or gear replacement needs. Thank you to all that have made and will make this epic journey a reality.
Happy Trails,
– Fred Gunther
