Help Jen hike the A.T. after her cancer and husband's death

Hi, I’m Jen, and last year I decided that I need to go for a very long walk outside in 2025. I’m 56 years old.

The Short Story:

Seven weeks ago, my husband Christopher died after living with early-onset Alzheimer’s for over six years. Three weeks ago, I had a breast biopsy that, thankfully, was clear. A week ago, I had half my thyroid removed after learning it was potentially cancerous. Right before my surgery, I moved all our belongings to a storage unit. Even after all that, I’m still able to go on the Appalachian Trail hike I’ve been planning, and I could use your help.

The longer version: At the time I made the decision to make this long hike happen, my husband was still living in a facility, his Alzheimer’s in late stage 7. For those who don’t know us, we married in 2014, and he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2018. I have been consumed with Appalachian Trail thru-hike planning for months. I can’t really explain how I know that going on this hike now is the thing I need most. I had arranged for a friend to check in on Chris regularly while I was on the trail. Caregiving with Alzheimer’s is a long road, and I knew that I needed to go on this hike for me, regardless of Christopher’s state. And then . . . Christopher died on January 5, quite quickly at the end. All my momentum for hike planning and training as well as moving prep came to a screeching halt in the face of grief. While I am relieved that he is free of this disease, I am still grieving.

On top of that I have been dealing with an unexpected cascade of my own health issues. A doctor felt a thyroid nodule back in November, so I proceeded through the steps of blood work, ultrasound, and biopsy. Also during this time, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and in need of follow-up mammography and then a breast biopsy. I found out that my thyroid is suspicious for cancer three days before having my breast biopsy. Thank goodness my breast lump is benign. But half of my thyroid had to come out. My thyroid surgery was one week ago, and I am now waiting for the pathology report to find out whether I got lucky and it’s benign. Fingers crossed. I am not supposed to lift 10 pounds or more. I’m trying to go easy on myself while I am healing. But I also must finish moving the last few things out of my apartment. It’s a lot.

I feel a deep desire, need, and calling to go live in the woods for several months. As John Muir wrote, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.”

I have a post-op appointment at the UVA Cancer Center next week. I hope to be able to start my hike shortly after that. I will have to get off the trail and come home to have bloodwork done.

Several friends have asked me to create this GoFundMe so that they can help and share with their friends. THANK YOU! My hike is likely to take nearly seven months, and I estimate that it will cost $10-11,000 (depending on how often I need to come home and whether I need to slackpack at the start and stay in hostels or hotels to make it easier at the beginning due to my surgery). On-trail expenses include food, in-town lodging for breaks (when I need to do laundry and get clean), shoe replacement (four times), and transportation. This total also includes my at-home expenses that don’t stop while I am on trail (storage unit, car + renter’s insurance, phone). And that’s why I am setting a goal of $6,000.

Thanks for your support of my recovery and thriving.

Lots of love,

Jen

p.s. You can follow my hike on YouTube @HikingWithPoles https://www.youtube.com/@HikingWithPoles