Links
My Fundraiser Page: GoFundMe Charity
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Phone: 1-800-273-8255
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): afsp.org
Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC): appalachiantrail.org
Interactive Map of the Appalachian Trail: AT Map
My own Gear List (with weight and prices of items): Check it out
My AT Instagram Account: @sm.onthe.at
My Personal Library
How to Hike the Appalachian Trail: A Comprehensive Guide to Plan and Prepare for a Successful Thru-Hike By: Chris Cage
This book has been my largest guide in preparation. Before I knew anything about the AT, I read this book. It helped with making a gear list with recommendations (and comparisons of different brands/materials), what to expect on the trail (animals, weather, people, lifestyle, struggles, victories, blah blah blah), state-by-state breakdown (each state…broken down), how to prepare (physically, financially, mentally). Overall, incredibly helpful.
A brief sneak peak: (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B01NBR1GNE&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_AKVQK7YWBBA38SMD0TR4)
Appalachian Trials: A Psychological and Emotional Guide To Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail By: Zach Davis
I found this book after watching several youtube videos on how the mental battle on the AT will be the most difficult obstacle encountered. It had a lot of great insights on preparing to climb yourself out of the disheartening hellhole days/situations you’ll find yourself in. He also provided another baseline gear list recommendation, which was great to cross-compare with other lists. Zach is also a UW-Madison grad… ROLL BADGE!
Sneak peak: (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B0074U5L58&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_81VNQWPNNZD13F5SZ2T4)
AWOL on the Appalachian Trail By: David Miller
Alright, now this book was way more immersive on life on the trail . Literally, I think he took a lot of stuff from his journal and put it into a book. It felt a bit monotonous and boring at times (Hmmmm, I wonder if this is any indication on what the trail will be like…) But this book was really inspiring and reassuring that hiking the AT was what I should be doing. It was the right book when I needed it. Also, David (“AWOL”), is the author of my guidebook for on the trail. So I guess he’s a big deal to the AT community.
I think you know what this is: (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B003JMFKRE&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_J2HD04ADP3VBJRFXVNE7)
On Trails: An Exploration By: Robert Moor
So this book was real cool, because the topic was really intriguing to me, and the author hiked the AT. The topic of the book is more on how trails shape our world and have been a part of our daily lives without us even knowing. There are lots of interesting people the author meets on his adventures. It was fun to hear about all their backgrounds and knowledge on trails. He does talk about his time thru-hiking the AT and circles back to it in the end of the book. Good book to read.
Just click it: (https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B0176M3ZG0&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_F28NT5CSAVG1CD66GAA3)
“The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”
Christopher Mccandless – “Alexander Supertramp”
SM on the AT 