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03/04/07 - Canton Repository - Giving to charity will be six-month adventure for Lake Township man
Josh's Autobiography and Information about the Appalachian Trail (A.T.)
Who I Am
I am 23 years old, and I have two siblings: Audrey, 20, & Kristy (Waldeck), 26. I studied at Lake High School, as well as, the Universities of Akron and Kent. I worked for the past 4 years as a production supervisor at Wengerd Custom Homes. My weight is 165 pounds, and the Prescription Assistance Network of Stark County, Inc. will keep track of my weight changes during the hike on their web page.
I am very interested in real estate and building. I spend a lot of time learning as much as I can about the business. I bought my first house and rehabbed it at age 19, and I really can’t see myself in any other line of work. I also love music! If I'm not working, chances are you'll find me with guitar in hand. In my spare time I enjoy the outdoors (obviously). In particular, I like fishing, hiking, biking, and...actually, just about anything that has to do with being outdoors.
Surprisingly, I don't have a very extensive background as far as hiking goes. The longest trip I've taken, last spring, lasted about three weeks. However, I've hiked enough to know that there's really nothing I enjoy more.
The personal reason why I want to hike the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is a tough one! I originally became interested in doing a thru-hike when I did a section hike on the A.T. last year. I had the opportunity to hike with a few thru-hikers for a week. As I'm sure it does to you now, the idea of spending 6 months in the woods seemed absolutely insane and incomprehensible! Yet, the more I thought about it, the more I knew it was something I wanted to do. Six months of traveling the country, meeting some of the most interesting people from all around the world. Six months away from the hustle and bustle of the high-paced world we live in. Suddenly I realized I've only got one life to live and I'm positive that if I didn't take a stab at this journey, its something I'd always regret. After all, there are some things you just can't experience sitting on a couch in front of a TV. Of course, there is also the amazing challenge of it all. I could probably list a thousand more reasons; if I thought you’d have the time to listen to me ramble on, trying to figure out why exactly I would want to subject myself to the many possible miseries that lie ahead of me in the next 6 months. Nonetheless, I heard the easiest way to get around a question that you truly don't know the answer to is to follow it up with another question.
So I suppose I should leave it at...if given the opportunity, why on earth wouldn't you want to?
Preparation for my Journey
Due to a lack to time, very little of my prep time has been spent on the physical side of it all. I'm banking on the idea that I'm in good enough shape at the moment that if I start out slow and give my body a chance to adapt I'll be just fine. Although, beginning this week, I plan on making daily trips to the YMCA with a fully loaded backpack to make use of the treadmills (should be interesting).
For the past year I've spent my evenings and weekends working for families in the community to raise enough money to cover commitments while I'm gone.
I spent countless hours researching and trying to gather every bit of information I could on everything from food, gear, and other needed supplies, to the basic history of the trail and stories of past hikers who have accomplished what I'm dreaming of.
Why I am taking this journey for the
Stark Prescription Assistance Network
When I knew I was going to go through with the hike, one of the first things I did was begin researching different charities I could hike for. After all, there are very few times in a person’s life in which they have the opportunity to help others on such a large scale. I wanted a charity that would inspire me to be successful on my journey. I found the Prescription Assistance Network of Stark County, Inc. and the more I learned, the more excited I became about doing what I could to help. Prescription medications are an extremely important part of doctors’ treatment plans for their patients, and I strongly feel that everyone should be able to have their needed medicine. PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE NETWORK OF STARK COUNTY, INC. helps make that possible.
“You need special shoes for hiking - and a bit of a special soul as well.”
~Emme Woodhull-Bäche
Click here to donate to help Josh in his journey raising money for the Stark Prescription Assistance Network, Inc.
Facts about the Appalachian Trail
* The Appalachian Trail stretches about 2160 miles through 14 states including: Georgia (75 miles), Tennessee/North Carolina (371 miles), Virginia (544 miles), West Virginia (2 miles), Maryland (41 miles), Pennsylvania (232 miles) New Jersey (74 miles), New York (88 miles), Connecticut (52 miles), Massachusetts (90 miles), Vermont (146 miles), New Hampshire (161 miles), and Maine (281 miles).
* Its southern terminus is Springer Mountain in Georgia. Its northern terminus is Mt. Katahdin in Maine.
* There are more than 350 peaks over 5,000 feet along the Appalachian Trail and perhaps a thousand more peaks that are close to 5,000 feet.
* The highest peak on the Appalachian Trail is Clingmans Dome, in Tennessee at just under 6,700 feet.
* On average, it takes 5-7 months and 5 million steps to walk the Appalachian Trail.
* Among other mountain ranges, the Appalachian Trail travels through Blue Ridge, Great Smokies, Cumberlands, Green Mountains, White Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley.
* Some of the interesting wildlife in the Appalachians include, rattlesnakes, water moccasins, copperheads, bobcats, bears, coyotes, wolves, wild boar, moose, and there have also been a few unconfirmed sightings of cougars in the past few years.
* Around 1,500 people, from all over the word, attempt a Thru-Hike each year. It’s estimated that 12%-20% complete it successfully.
Websites to Learn More about the Appalachian Trail
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General Thru-Hike info
Maps Google Image of Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail History Important Dates in Appalachian Trail History |
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