I had originally planned to hike the AT in 1995. The employees of my small company were being trained to operate it in my absence, but as often happens my plans fell through. I had bought the planning books, made lists of equipment, food and supplies that I would need, started working on the mailing drops. All of which sat dormant for 5 years. Instead, in 1995 and 1996, I hiked New York's Finger Lakes Trail (FLT). I figured it would test me for the much longer AT, but at 565 miles long, the FLT is no "Walk in the Woods" either. During my two annual hikes of 18 days each, one in the early summer of 1995 and the other in the Fall of 1996, I learned the essentials of long distance back packing as well as the associated pains and injuries.
In February of 1999, I sold my small information firm, retired and turned 50; talk about a life style change!! My plans for hiking the AT were back on. In fact, prior to the sale, when asked what I would do with myself in retirement, the first thing out of my mouth was, "hike the AT". That plan had been merely on hold and I thought about it every day since 1995.
At my 50th birthday party, my old high school buddy, Jim Francisco asked me " now what are you going to do". I repeated for the 90th time "hike the AT next Summer". "What's that" he asked. "The Appalachian Trail, ya oughta come along". Sometime last Summer, Jim and I went out for something to eat and he asked me if I was serious about the AT. I said "sure, I'm doin' it next Spring". He asked " no, I mean about you taking me with you". After some discussion where I learned that he didn't even own a pack and had never hiked over nite in his adult life, he explained that he had been thinking about it since my party, had discussed it with Bonnie, could afford losing a whole Summer of work and if his knees held up, he would like to tag along.
Now, seven months later, we are on our way. I've been training since last Summer, doing lots of running, lifting weights at the JCC gym twice a week, even gaining some weight, down hill skiing this Winter ( great for the thighs and knees). Unfortunately have not been doing much backpacking. Jim and I did do a 5 day, 80 mile hike in the southern Catskills this Fall from Peekamoose to Windham, getting caught in the tail end of Hurricane Floyd. Both he and I, except for some bad blisters (what's new) on my feet, made it through in great shape, averaging 16 miles a day over some really rugged terrain. Bottom line is, we're ready to take it on. The mail drops are planned, the food and supplies bought and stacked in my basement and my ready willing and able support staff of one, Rosemary, eagerly awaits keeping me fed and supplied with Advil.
For my part, this hike is dedicated to my Grandfather, Flobert Warren. Grandpa died in 1982, but he was my idol & mentor on all things wild and natural. I had at one time given him, as a Christmas gift, a National Geographic book all about the AT. When he died, I somehow got the book back. It wasn't until a 1992 magazine article, about the AT, that I remembered the book. I read it and was hooked. Within a week or so I bought my first pack, then a tent and all the other shit that we haul on our backs, as my first entry in my journal of 1995 read, "like a 50 pound stone". Thanks, Grandpa, for showing me the wonders of the great outdoors.
On March 17th, 2000, we begin Rick's & Jim's Excellent Adventure. "SUIT UP, WE'RE GOIN' IN!" So follow us along from Georgia to Maine, keeping in mind that nearly 2000 hikers attempt annual thru-hikes; only around 200 make it. On this site, maintained by my wife Rosemary and brother-in-law Jon Goldstein, we'll give you our Current Location, bits and pieces from our Trail Journals, interesting Photos and maybe even a glimpse of the ever elusive "Swedish Bikini Team". Our journey of 5-6 months begins at Springer Mountain in Northwest Georgia. Wish us luck??