I don’t have to be a real adult yet…right?

So, as I’m writing here, it can probably be assumed that I’m planning on attempting to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. That assumption would be correct.

For some people that know me, this comes as no huge surprise. For others…well, they’re still laughing.

I grew up attending summer camps and loving every second of it. I waited impatiently until the year I was finally old enough to work at camp and get to stay there all season. I learned how to teach canoeing, shoot archery, lifeguard, and yes, even backpack (not that I claim to be an expert in any of these things, mind you). Meanwhile, the rest of the year, I would read books, go out, chill with my awesome cat, drink, maybe car-camp on the weekends, but, for the most part, forgo outdoors activities for more typical ones you would expect of a teen and then 20-something-year-old girl.

Well, it’s at that point where I can’t keep working at camp in the summer, and I have to, you know, do adult things. But, really, I’m not ready to do that. I relish trying new things above almost anything else (and I’ve done the backpacking through Europe and skydiving thing), and being a regular adult with a regular job just doesn’t seem to fit into that mold.

So, I’ve decided to do the thing I’ve been thinking about since I was about 6 years old and I first heard my camp counselors talking about it (thanks CML, Peace, Jiggy, and Janky). I’ve decided to go spend 6-ish months away from the real world and in the woods. And I couldn’t be more excited. Or horrified. Or elated. Or apprehensive. But mostly excited, I promise. (Hey, who wouldn’t be nervous to go be in the woods for months?).

My wonderful parents agreed (with a number of conditions, of course – they are business people) to help with my endeavors, and really, without their help I wouldn’t even be able to attempt the trip. I’ve also changed jobs, changed cities, and rather thrown my life into chaos to make it happen, but chaos is what makes life interesting. Plus, all that chaos should be really good incentive not to quit, right?

I’m not hiking until 2015, but I want to be able to document my preparation process (dehydrators and gear and maps – oh my!), so I’m starting my blog now (I also want to give my long-suffering friends and family a break from my never-ending AT chatter).

And oh yeah, my name is Maggie, but my camp (and therefore trail) name is Stix, so that’s what I’ll be going by. Now that’s out of the way, I’m going to drink my beer and search the internet for more facts to show people when they say I’m going to die while on the trail. Cheers!