Jessica's AT Adventure
Donation protected
Hello everyone! My adventure backpacking the Appalachian Trail has been a humbling and an amazing experience, to say the least. For the first time in my life, I am living freely and simply, traveling, seeing some of the most beautiful sights I've seen in my entire life, and I'm living amongst Mother Nature (her beauty and her fury).
My inspiration for this journey began when I met my boyfriend, George, about 5 years ago. He told me about his wild and magical endeavors on the AT during his own 600 mile adventure in 2009. Hearing his stories of such freedom, beauty, trail magic, challenges, and so much more, for the first time left me with tears of disbelief, and a heart of longing to wander and desire to experience it all for myself. It was then that my dream of hiking the trail first manifested.
The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking only trail in the world. It is about 2200 miles long, and runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katadin in Maine. Typically it can take some thru-hikers 5-7 months to complete the trek, depending on their pace and circumstances. It was last year when I made the decision to attempt the challenge of thru-hiking the trail myself.
On March 30th, 2017, my hike began. So far, (as of 6/19/17) I have managed to hike over 700 miles of the Appalachian Trail. This adventure has been one of a lifetime. The sights that I have seen, the friends and faces that I have met, and the lessons I have learned thus far are of such significance to my heart and soul now. This adventure, backpacking along the Appalachian Trail, is a dream of mine coming true. It is also the most challenging thing I have done in my entire life. Unfortunately, I am running out of resources.
In September, I am excited to be going to the University of Maryland to begin a 200 hour yoga teacher training. Originally, I had planned on paying for this program with an Education Award that I have. However, I am very disappointed to have recently discovered that the program doesn't meet the award's specifications. Therefore, I now have to pay for the program myself. In order for me to do that, I now have to either get a job or use my travel money that I have saved.
This is where I could use some help. Any little amount that can be given will help me to accomplish hiking a bit more of the Appalachian Trail this year. I don't expect to receive enough donations to complete the trail. My only hope in setting up this account is to see just how much further I can go with a little bit of help.
The kindness and generosity that I have had the opportunity to experience from others continues to shock me every single day. None the less, I may be hiking this trail alone, but it has been with the kindness and support of others that has helped to get me this far. I will forever be grateful for this experience and those who have, and continue to, help me along the way. Sending gratitude, love and light from the mountains on the ole' AT.
My inspiration for this journey began when I met my boyfriend, George, about 5 years ago. He told me about his wild and magical endeavors on the AT during his own 600 mile adventure in 2009. Hearing his stories of such freedom, beauty, trail magic, challenges, and so much more, for the first time left me with tears of disbelief, and a heart of longing to wander and desire to experience it all for myself. It was then that my dream of hiking the trail first manifested.
The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking only trail in the world. It is about 2200 miles long, and runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katadin in Maine. Typically it can take some thru-hikers 5-7 months to complete the trek, depending on their pace and circumstances. It was last year when I made the decision to attempt the challenge of thru-hiking the trail myself.
On March 30th, 2017, my hike began. So far, (as of 6/19/17) I have managed to hike over 700 miles of the Appalachian Trail. This adventure has been one of a lifetime. The sights that I have seen, the friends and faces that I have met, and the lessons I have learned thus far are of such significance to my heart and soul now. This adventure, backpacking along the Appalachian Trail, is a dream of mine coming true. It is also the most challenging thing I have done in my entire life. Unfortunately, I am running out of resources.
In September, I am excited to be going to the University of Maryland to begin a 200 hour yoga teacher training. Originally, I had planned on paying for this program with an Education Award that I have. However, I am very disappointed to have recently discovered that the program doesn't meet the award's specifications. Therefore, I now have to pay for the program myself. In order for me to do that, I now have to either get a job or use my travel money that I have saved.
This is where I could use some help. Any little amount that can be given will help me to accomplish hiking a bit more of the Appalachian Trail this year. I don't expect to receive enough donations to complete the trail. My only hope in setting up this account is to see just how much further I can go with a little bit of help.
The kindness and generosity that I have had the opportunity to experience from others continues to shock me every single day. None the less, I may be hiking this trail alone, but it has been with the kindness and support of others that has helped to get me this far. I will forever be grateful for this experience and those who have, and continue to, help me along the way. Sending gratitude, love and light from the mountains on the ole' AT.
Organizer
Jessica Whitehead
Organizer
Arbutus, MD
