Appalachian Trail Thru Hike Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 20092009

John Suhar and Joe CollinsJohn Suhar and Joe CollinsApril 18April 18thth – September 12 – September 12thth

148 Days148 Days

OutlineOutline1.1. Appalachian Trail OverviewAppalachian Trail Overview2.2. Thru Hiking - DefinedThru Hiking - Defined3.3. Why HikeWhy Hike4.4. PreparationPreparation5.5. A Day in the Life of a Thru HikerA Day in the Life of a Thru Hiker6.6. Trail TalesTrail Tales7.7. TakeawaysTakeaways8.8. Contact InformationContact Information9.9. QuestionsQuestions10.10. Our Expedition Slideshow - DVDOur Expedition Slideshow - DVD

Appalachian TrailAppalachian Trail

GeorgiaGeorgia

North CarolinaNorth Carolina

TennesseeTennessee

VirginiaVirginia

West VirginiaWest Virginia

MarylandMaryland

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

New JerseyNew Jersey

New YorkNew York

ConnecticutConnecticut

MassachusettsMassachusetts

VermontVermont

New HampshireNew Hampshire

MaineMaine

Thru Hiking DefinedThru Hiking Defined► Thru-hikingThru-hiking is the process of is the process of hikinghiking a a long-distance traillong-distance trail from end from end to end. The term is most commonly to end. The term is most commonly associated with the associated with the Appalachian TrailAppalachian Trail, , but is also used for other lengthy but is also used for other lengthy trails and long distance hikes, trails and long distance hikes, including the including the Pacific Crest TrailPacific Crest Trail and and the the Continental Divide TrailContinental Divide Trail. Thru-. Thru-hiking is also called "end-to-end hiking is also called "end-to-end hiking" or "end-to-ending" on some hiking" or "end-to-ending" on some trails, like Vermont's Long Trail. trails, like Vermont's Long Trail.

Long Distance TrailsLong Distance Trails

Why HikeWhy Hike►Enjoy Backpacking and the OutdoorsEnjoy Backpacking and the Outdoors►Simplicity of LifestyleSimplicity of Lifestyle►Exercising our Passions & InterestsExercising our Passions & Interests►Health and WellnessHealth and Wellness►Educational OpportunityEducational Opportunity►Ability: Regret MinimizationAbility: Regret Minimization►Overcome a Challenging EndeavorOvercome a Challenging Endeavor►Reacquaint Ourselves with the Scale & Beauty of Reacquaint Ourselves with the Scale & Beauty of our Native Land our Native Land ►New PerspectivesNew Perspectives►Enhance Transferable SkillsEnhance Transferable Skills►Reward Ourselves / Reflect on SuccessesReward Ourselves / Reflect on Successes

PreparationPreparation►EquipmentEquipment►Maps – Data BookMaps – Data Book►FoodFood►CostCost►PhysicalPhysical►MentalMental►TransportationTransportation

A Day in the Life of a Thru HikerA Day in the Life of a Thru Hiker

Trail Magic and Trail Trail Magic and Trail AngelsAngels

The Trail CommunityThe Trail Community

Trail DaysTrail Days

Trail TownsTrail Towns

Trail DetoursTrail Detours

Joe’s TakeawaysJoe’s Takeaways► Physical ChallengePhysical Challenge► Simple LifestyleSimple Lifestyle► The CommunityThe Community► BerriesBerries► Effective CommunicationEffective Communication►OrganizationOrganization► Adapting Well to AmbiguityAdapting Well to Ambiguity► ResourcefulnessResourcefulness► Self FulfillmentSelf Fulfillment►Hard to ExplainHard to Explain

John’s TakeawaysJohn’s Takeaways► Dedication, Commitment, Focus Dedication, Commitment, Focus

Reinvesting that same Energy in post trail opportunitiesReinvesting that same Energy in post trail opportunities► Sincerity of those helping youSincerity of those helping you

Unexpected kindness, it only takes a very little bit and it Unexpected kindness, it only takes a very little bit and it means so much to the people who are the object of that means so much to the people who are the object of that kindness - especially when they don't expect it.kindness - especially when they don't expect it.

► Transferable Skills Transferable Skills Setting and achieving an ambitious goal (20% completion Setting and achieving an ambitious goal (20% completion

rate), preparation, planning, research, budgeting, team rate), preparation, planning, research, budgeting, team building, effective communication, critical decision making, building, effective communication, critical decision making, judgment, decisiveness, self motivation, organization, judgment, decisiveness, self motivation, organization, creativity, innovation, initiative, detail-orientation, adapting creativity, innovation, initiative, detail-orientation, adapting well to ambiguity, resourcefulness, stress management, well to ambiguity, resourcefulness, stress management, leadershipleadership

Closing ThoughtClosing ThoughtIn the adventure known as lifeIn the adventure known as life►““There are those who live it vicariously and There are those who live it vicariously and enjoy the ride from the safety of an armchair. And enjoy the ride from the safety of an armchair. And that’s good–that’s good–►There are those who have a few chances to There are those who have a few chances to realize incredible and life changing experiences realize incredible and life changing experiences and though they don’t repeat them, they carry and though they don’t repeat them, they carry with them a growth and personal philosophy for with them a growth and personal philosophy for the rest of their lives–the rest of their lives–►And there are those for whom a taste is never And there are those for whom a taste is never enough. For whom the lust of adventure is nearly enough. For whom the lust of adventure is nearly insatiable. And if you add to that the insatiable. And if you add to that the overwhelming desire to create and to share then overwhelming desire to create and to share then you get where I reside–you get where I reside–►For the end of one adventure only signifies the For the end of one adventure only signifies the beginning of another.” beginning of another.”

Inspiring monologue given by Les Stroud, SurvivormanInspiring monologue given by Les Stroud, Survivorman

Thank YouThank You

John Suhar – jtsuhar@gmail.com – 262.707.4477Joe Collins – coll0389@gmail.com – 262.488.1442

QuestionsQuestions

Our Expedition – DVD Our Expedition – DVD SlideshowSlideshow

Available Upon RequestAvailable Upon Request►40 minute video consisting of still 40 minute video consisting of still images, video footage, audio voice images, video footage, audio voice over’s from Bill Bryson’s book “A Walk over’s from Bill Bryson’s book “A Walk in the Woods” and musical tracksin the Woods” and musical tracks►Similar video sample viewed below:Similar video sample viewed below:

AT Video 1AT Video 1 AT Video 2AT Video 2

Quotes/References/AppendixQuotes/References/AppendixListed on the Following SlidesListed on the Following Slides► Aldo Leopald, A Sand Country AlmanacAldo Leopald, A Sand Country Almanac► Benjamin Franklin, Elizabeth Gilbert, Mark TwainBenjamin Franklin, Elizabeth Gilbert, Mark Twain► Thoreau, WaldenThoreau, Walden► RumiRumi► Dali LamaDali Lama

► ReferencesReferences

Why HikeWhy HikeAppreciation of Lifestyle:Appreciation of Lifestyle:►““Like winds and sunsets, wild things Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them. Now we began to do away with them. Now we face the questions as to whether, a face the questions as to whether, a still higher standard of living is worth still higher standard of living is worth its cost, in things wild, natural and its cost, in things wild, natural and free. For us in the minority the free. For us in the minority the opportunity to see geese is more opportunity to see geese is more important than television.” – Aldo important than television.” – Aldo Leopald, A Sand Country AlmanacLeopald, A Sand Country Almanac

Why HikeWhy HikeAbility – Regret Minimization:Ability – Regret Minimization:►““A couple of hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin shared with A couple of hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin shared with the world the secret of his success. Never leave that till tomorrow, the world the secret of his success. Never leave that till tomorrow, he said, which you can do today. This is the man who discovered he said, which you can do today. This is the man who discovered electricity. You think more people would listen to what he had to electricity. You think more people would listen to what he had to say. I don't know why we put things off, but if I had to guess, I'd say. I don't know why we put things off, but if I had to guess, I'd have to say it has a lot to do with fear. Fear of failure, fear of have to say it has a lot to do with fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, sometimes the fear is just of making a decision, because rejection, sometimes the fear is just of making a decision, because what if you're wrong? What if you're making a mistake you can't what if you're wrong? What if you're making a mistake you can't undo? The early bird catches the worm. A stitch in time saves nine. undo? The early bird catches the worm. A stitch in time saves nine. He who hesitates is lost. We can't pretend we haven't been told. He who hesitates is lost. We can't pretend we haven't been told. We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn poets urging us to seize the day. Still sometimes we have to see poets urging us to seize the day. Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore. Until we finally understand tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore. Until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin really meant. That knowing is for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin really meant. That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the heck out of even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the heck out of never trying.” – Benjamin Franklin and Elizabeth Gilbertnever trying.” – Benjamin Franklin and Elizabeth Gilbert►"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. things you didn't do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." – Mark TwainDream. Discover." – Mark Twain

Why HikeWhy HikeSimplicity of Life:Simplicity of Life:►““I went to the woods because I wished to live I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it.” – Thoreau, Waldenmeanness of it.” – Thoreau, Walden

Why HikeWhy HikeExercise Passion:Exercise Passion:►"Let the beauty you love be what "Let the beauty you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways to you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth." Rumikneel and kiss the earth." Rumi

Why HikeWhy HikeTransferable Skills:Transferable Skills:►““Determination, courage, and self-Determination, courage, and self-confidence are the key factors for confidence are the key factors for success. In spite of obstacles and success. In spite of obstacles and difficulties, if we have firm difficulties, if we have firm determination, we can work them determination, we can work them out. Whatever the circumstances, we out. Whatever the circumstances, we should remain humble, modest, and should remain humble, modest, and without pride.” – Dali Lama, The Path without pride.” – Dali Lama, The Path to Tranquility to Tranquility

ReferencesReferences

1.1. Bill Bryson Bill Bryson 1.1. Audio DVDAudio DVD

ReferencesReferences

1.1. SouthBounders SouthBounders 1.1. AT Intro DVDAT Intro DVD2.2. Trailer to Trailer to

MovieMovie

Appendix/Additional Appendix/Additional ClipsClips

1.1. Trail Days – Video ClipTrail Days – Video Clip2.2. Trail Angels – Video Clip Trail Angels – Video Clip 3.3. AARP – The Walk of a Lifetime – Video AARP – The Walk of a Lifetime – Video

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