A day on the Appalachian Trail

Preparation, planning and perspective

The thing about planning a Big Day Out is you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get once you step into the great unknown. Rolled ankles, upset stomachs, snakes, bears, oh my! 

If we know one thing about the New Jersey section of the Appalachian Trail, it’s that we should expect to be surprised. Some years are positively delightful. Others are tougher than anticipated. Extreme cold nearly got us one year and warmer-than-average temps turned a September expedition into a masterclass in hydration techniques. Every trip is an opportunity to learn new things about the environment and ourselves. 

The ‘we’ in this story consists of myself along with my best friend of over 40 years. If you’ve been reading Running, Probably for any length of time, you’ve heard me talk about my brother, Brad. 

We are family by choice, rather than blood, which makes spending a whole day together more than half the incentive. These AT excursions are usually Brad’s idea, but he doesn’t have to do much convincing to get me back on board for another adventure. 

Our motivation derives from the intrinsic knowledge that we are out there challenging ourselves. The older we get, the more comfort we find in doing difficult things, and it doesn’t come much tougher than the AT where the terrain is rugged and unforgiving. To not only endure, but actually enjoy a day like this demands total commitment and a solid gameplan. 

Here’s ours: