My AT via Hike 2.0

Hello. I’m Diane, a retired USAF flight surgeon living a dream with my family in Hazel Green AL. In just a few days, I will embark on “AT 2.0,” my second attempt at completing my AT thru hike. In 2024, I made it from Georgia to Maine, but I didn’t make it to Katahdin. It took me over 7 months to complete the 2000 miles I hiked and would have required an 8th month to reach the summit of Katahdin. With no hope of finishing, I finished.

AT 1.0

I can’t really say why I was so slow and getting slower in 2024. I can tell you that the reason I failed was exhaustion, pure and simple. I thought I was right until the whites arrived. I made it through them. I even managed to get through the Mahoosucs. It was mid-September, so I pushed ahead to the Wilderness 100 miles, thinking that if I got to Katahdin before October 15th I could finish Maine later. However, it became clear that while he probably could have reached the top, he would not have been able to get back down before nightfall. He wasn’t interested in asking for a ransom!

Modified flip flops

My plan was to return to Maine the following year, but three major surgeries got in the way! It’s driving me a little crazy waiting until early April to start this year, but I’m planning on some modified flip flops so I won’t be exhausted when I get to Maine.

I will leave Springer Mountain, hike NOBO through the Smokies, climb to Harper’s Ferry and continue NOBO to Katahdin, then return to Harper’s Ferry to complete my hike heading to SOBO. If I can’t finish the southern part before it gets too frozen, I can do it in March 2027.

Trail name

In 2024, I used a “trail name” from my past as a US Air Force aviator. We call them “call signs.” I was hoping to get a «real» route name, but it didn’t happen. This year I will wait. I’ll be «Diane» until someone changes it.

hiking blogs

In 2024, I signed up for Trek to blog, but found it impossible to keep up. Then after returning home I discovered that I was working too hard. For AT 2.0, my plan is to write shorter segments and not worry too much about what I’m «supposed» to write. Hopefully it will be a lot more fun for everyone this way!

I can’t wait to start

Since this is 2.0, I’m a lot less anxious about a lot of things. I know what equipment works for me. I’m much less worried about logistics. I am a little worried about the medical “problems”; More to come on that!

Embracing sucking

I know I have the mental strength to walk through pain. Yes, something will hurt every day… sometimes a lot! I don’t mind walking in the rain. I am well equipped to withstand the cold. I know not to give up when I’m cold and wet…another good reason to start a little later. I’ve been working with a personal trainer to make sure my legs are stronger (even after I broke my hip 7 months ago).

All that being said, I’m not getting any younger. I’ll probably turn 70 while I’m on the SOBO portion of my hike. I have shown that my body can break without my permission.

People ask me why I don’t finish the parts I missed on my 1.0 walk. Even my personal trainer thinks I’m crazy. The truth is that I love the trail. There is always something beautiful to see, someone interesting to meet. The trail is fascinating. It’s difficult, sometimes very unforgiving, but its ever-changing beauty draws me in.

It’s all about joy

For the next 6+ months, I plan to post every week, hoping to share, through images and stories, the joy this trail brings. Life is hard. We need joy!

By the way, I can’t wait to get started!

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