Hi All! After retiring from being a scuba instructor I have decided to leave the gorgeous Florida Keys in search of a new adventure, namely thru hiking the AT in 2015! I'm a vegan, bibliophile, scuba bum, and generally snarky individual with aspirations of avoiding "a real job" for as long as possible.

I'm a 2015 NOBO thru-hiker. I recently gained the opportunity to change my life direction, and free of (most) obligations, I'm embarking on a 6-month journey of self discovery. Before I started the trail I had never been backpacking and had almost no experience camping, but I'm having the time of my life and learning a lot. I blog about all my life experiences at https://morechocolateisneeded.blogspot.com/

Hello humans! My name is Amanda Vega. I am a 26 year old food-loving palm-reading young lady from Greenville, South Carolina. My biggest fears include public bathrooms and earthworms, so naturally I've decided to thru hike the Appalachian Trail.

Hey all, my name is Andrew. I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, (Azerbaijan 2011-2014), future grad student in international relations, and a 2015 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker (NOBO, March 10th). I've been traveling internationally my entire life and want to see more of what the motherland has to offer while I spend money on getting my masters degree instead of round-the-world plane tickets. I'm always up for a conversation on gear, anthropology, civil rights, or linguistics. I'll be attempting my thru hike in 120 days so stay tuned!

I am a 26 year old backpacker who calls Indianapolis, IN, home. In 2015, my other half and I successfully completed our thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Now, we are gearing up for our 2016 Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike. I guess that makes us gluttons for punishment. I'm here to give a little travel advice and encourage questions. Feel free to check out my personal story on Lokitravels.com. Keep dreaming, keep hiking, and get outside more often!

First the bad news I have Stage II Primary Brain tumor which has started to spread slowly to my spine it cannot be surgically removed and I have 1- 2 years left on this planet. Now the good news: I will leave this world on my own terms and those terms are walking from Georgia to Maine..

I'll be graduating in May of 2015 with a Masters Degree in Architecture, and before I spread my wings and fly into the big, scary, grown-up world, I've decided to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail to prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to, which I think will ultimately help me tremendously in my journey through life. Until my hike, I'll be posting about my small hiking/camping adventures, what I'm working on for my Master's Thesis (Tree House Architecture, Artificial Lighting, and the Opportunity for Comfort on the Appalachian Trail), and other random things I think about that relate to the trail!

Hello! I completed my thru hike in 2015 with my dog, No Shame. We had an amazing journey full of ups and downs, seems that is the nature of the AT. Throughout our hike we shared our stories and now off trail I am still embedded in trail life. Currently I am planning my next long distance hike for No Shame and I.

I am searching for an adventure, for solitude, an escape from civilization, to refocus and revitalize my mind. I'm taking full advantage of the opportunity to sleep under the stars, walk miles a day in the wilderness and to simply bask in time. I am fascinated with studying our environment, health, and on improving the state of them, both independently and at Florida State University. This year, my girlfriend Morgan and I will be completing our first thru hike of the Appalachian Trail! We want to share our adventure with you as well!

Bryan is an avid adventurer with a a desire to see and experience it all. He has spend much of the last few years traveling around the country for music and mountains seeing many things most people just dream of. He continues on with his biggest trip to date, a 2015 Thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail starting in March and ending in September.

Describing oneself in a little blurb is always a complicated endeavor. I'm a later thirty-something, military wife and stay at home mom to four kiddos. I've recently been given a 6 month kitchen pass to explore my dreams, a bit unexpectedly. The kids say "Go! If Dad can do it, so can you." I have a feeling a I will be exploring more than nature on this journey.

My name is Bard the Changeling and in 2010 I hiked the AT from Pennsylvania to Maine. The AT and I have some unfinished business, approximately 1,175 miles of unfinished business. The strength and lessons wrought from hiking everyday have lost its luster in my current form. I want to find my balance again.

How quickly we move; how slowly I move. Not from one moment to the next, but like a long breathe drawing itself in, then out, the tide, the seasons, the slow, gentle touch of age. Flowing without divisions and without deadlines. No discipline, no self-discipline, but it takes every muscle, every thought, to keep from moving along with the pressure. Blowing myself into unhappy ticks and tocks. With a suffocating anticipation they wait for me to climb onboard. They wonder why I take so much time to stay or so much time to waste when I could be finding or making. Find a mate, make a family, find a job, make a future. This is my life; I will live it slowly. I will not live my life between sick days and vacation time. I will not live to work until I am no longer useful. I will not work to live only to find that I have no time left for living at the end of each day, season, year, years. I want my work to be life. I settle for nothing less and accept nothing more, an immeasurable self-discipline is one that cannot be judged. There is only now. One foot in front of the other.

My name's Chris, I'm from a small town of eastern Virginia. Walking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Yearning to leave this way of life for a while. Hopefully in the end, I'll know more about myself AND the eastern Appalachians.

My name is Chris "Chickenfat" LeBlanc. I graduated from college in May 2014, and started my SOBO AT Thru-hike the next month. After finishing in November, I realized if I ever wanted to hike the PCT, it would need to be sooner rather than later. So here are my unfiltered and unprofessional writings about my 2015 PCT Thru-hike. #Fattestchicken www.fattestchicken.tumblr.com

NEVER HAVE I EVER: - Been backpacking - Written a blog - Had a nickname - Pooped in the woods - Not panicked in close proximity of a small wild animal (skunk, possum, bird, raccoon) THINGS I HAVE DONE - Lived in AR (7 years), CA (11 years), FL (6 years) - Earned my BA in Business Management - Announced my intentions to the world, via the Facebook - Sold everything that doesn't fit in my Hyundai Elantra - Accepted a job at Yosemite National Park for the next 6 months - Convinced my parents that this isn't completely insane *I think - 4 months of physical therapy to build muscle around my broken vertebrae - Purchased what some might consider "a lot of beef jerky" - Spent countless hours researching maildrops, water filtration, and the intrinsic greatness of merino wool

Hello my name is Trung Phan (trail name Chuhawk). I find myself in the strange predicament of hiking the Appalachian trail 2015. I enjoy the hike the most and anticipate seeing a lot of different people and culture on the trail. I also intend to patronage the best espresso from the trial towns.

Hiking NOBO on the Appalachian Trail. Nature lover, photographer, balloon hater. Always looking for my next adventure. I'll be writing about my journey from Amicalola Falls to Katahdin. Starting out with my buddy, Krums.

Well hello there brothers and sisters!! My name is Colton Harris and i am an explorer and adventure enthusiast. I grew up just a short distance south of the Atlanta area in a town called McDonough. Hunting and fishing and spending a majority of my time outdoors was the way we grew up as kids, and now here i stand a successful thru hiker of the Benton MacKaye Trail and staring down the Appalachian Trail as my next endeavor! I love to share my adventures and hope to join some of you in yours. Happy trails!!

I love grey and beverages. Recently relocated to Richmond, VA from Austin, TX, y'all. NOBO thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2015. Exhilarating and terrifying.

Dakota thru-hiked the AT in 2015. Dakota hails from Boston, MA, and is currently in London, where she occasionally dreams of Pasta Sides and fresh air. Described by many as reasonably funny and not too annoying.

I am currently living in the Southwest via Kentucky. After years of persistence, my husband has convinced me to thru hike the AT with him in 2015. We will leave behind our house, our cats and our jobs. What can possibly go wrong?

Lived in Shanghai for 1.5 years and am now back to discover my inner-Emerson. If you like short stories and art check davidhuntington.net, but if you're into a treacherous descent into the green-spangled unknown, this is the place. I'll be hiking NOBO with my brother Kyle.

Hey! Name's Dennis. | Long answer --> Cycled coast-to-coast in 2008 and am looking to tackle another big physical and mental challenge. Also hoping to inspire and empower others to achieve their own goals. For more on that, check out #YourHike. | Short answer --> I'm just doing it for the AT beard.

I'm Ellen, I'm 25, and the word "future" makes me shake in my hiking boots. Starting in April, I'll be thru-hiking the A.T. with my childhood friend, Anna.

I'm a wilderness/dog-sledding guide in Finland who happens to be from one of the warmest states in the U.S. - Arkansas. I love all things arctic, 157 huskies, and life out of doors. I've got a slight obsession with pizza, 80s action films, and The Misfits. Hiking the AT has been a dream for 3 years and I am so happy to finally be out here with some amazing people, stunning views, and the best lifestyle money can't buy.

Hey there! I'm Emily. I'm a laughter inducing, never sarcastic, 23 year old chick from Pennsylvania. I'm in school studying Environmental Science, and about 3 years ago decided that in 2015 I would hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail Northbound. Off-trail Emily spends her free time gardening, attempting to go running (they say it's good for you), going to as many punk shows as possible, eating sandwiches, and rocking out on my bright yellow ukulele, Simon, which will be accompanying me on my trek). I'll be setting off for the AT at the end of February, and starting March 1, 2015.

Bonafide hiker trash trying to pass as a respectable adult. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2015, and now I'm just biding my time until the next adventure.

As an avid outdoor enthusiast, I'll be putting my biology degree to good use as I explore the Appalachian Trail with my big brother Andrew in 2015. We'll be stepping off a day after my 28th birthday. I'll also be hiking for a good cause - on the trail I'll be raising money for BECA (Bilingual Education for Central America), a non-profit dedicated to providing bilingual education to some of the most underprivileged families in Honduras (please donate at GoFundMe.com/ATforBECA). Maybe we'll even write a book about our adventures on the Trail ourselves! After the AT, I plan on going to grad school for ecology and then seeing where life takes me.

I have just turned 60 and am attempting to retire a little early. My youngest son, Ian, is 22 and will finish college this coming spring. He and I are going to thru-hike the AT southbound in 2015 leaving May 23rd. This has been something that has interested Ian since high school. I have realized that it's not going to get any easier as time passes and this looks like an ideal time to start an adventure. Ian has agreed to help me with the blog, so this will be our story - from preparation to (hopefully) standing on Springer Mountain sometime in November next year.

I'm a nearly 22 year old Oklahoma native, and I'm a full time recycle worker doing my part to save this beautiful blue dot we call Earth. But as of April 2015 I'll be a full time adventurer experiencing all the Appalachian Trail has to offer! Never ever been thru-hiking before, ain't that a pip? I decided to hike the AT after getting my Associate's Degree in basically an undecided major, and landing a great job that let me save up to do so. I'm hoping that all this time away from "normal" life will give me a chance to reflect and let me realize my calling! My trail name is Grey Wolf.

Sorry, no AT plans but I am hoping to hike 5,000 miles on the Arizona Trail, Continental Divide Trail and Te Araroa in 2015 and 2016. I fell in love with the lifestyle on the PCT in 2013 and I want to raise awareness of these incredible trails and help fund the people that make them possible! Check out my fundraiser here: https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/fmYf1/ab/c3U9D9

I am homegrown here in Georgia! I spent the first 18 years of my life living in the same house on a gravel road in the country about an hour south of Atlanta. I regretfully did not learn to appreciate it until I got into the big city! Now I long for property surrounded by cattle farms, open meadows, and beautiful landscapes. I was raised playing outside and I've luckily found a way to continue that as an adult! Hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, or anything else that will get me active outdoors is what I am looking for. I believe that I am a long distance hiker at heart and after finishing my first thru-hike on the Benton MacKaye Trail in June of 2014 I am ready to put myself to the true test! Appalachian Trail 2015, here I come!

This is harder than I thought it would be. I have social anxiety disorder. I have epilepsy I have two sons and a daughter; they are amazingly cool. I have a nephew that has autism spectrum disorder, and he is The Sauce. One of my sisters has extensive frontal lobe brain injury from flipping her car seven times while drinking and driving. Don't drink and drive. In the last year and a half I have walked away from my marriage and my house, lost two cousins to drug overdoses, lost my mother suddenly, and then lost my father to pancreatic cancer. My dad helped me plan some of my thru hike while he was getting chemo; at the time we thought that I would be going on the PCT, but that quickly changed because of a popular book, a popular movie, and a water shortage. I am pretty lazy. I love Starbucks. I love Starbucks ALOT. I really want to do this. I am hiking with a dear friend of mine named Scott, he is an Army Veteren. He like cats, the outdoors and me; he also can't wait to live in a tent for six months. I can't wait to come up with a trail name for him.

I am a 68 year old retired teacher living in Kalamazoo, Michigan with my husband and two dogs. I love to hike and I love to camp, as does my husband. Over the years, we have hiked many, many trails here in the United States as well as trails in England, Ireland and Scotland. This April, we will be heading out to hike the 2,185 mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. My husband has already accomplished this twice, but it will be my first time. Our adventure will take us about 6 months.

I'm "Ironjen." I'm a 38 year old professional photographer with a triathlon addiction who has always felt most at home in the mountains. My Appalachian Trail thru-hike adventure is the fulfillment of a dream 26 years in the making, and it began on March 18, 2015. It's a punctuation between life in Washington, DC and life in the Rocky Mountains. I'll be hiking with my husband, trail name Muskrat, and we look forward to celebrating our first anniversary in the woods!

Hello fellow hiking enthusiasts! I am Jena and am a prospective 2015 AT thru-hiker. I LOVE food! Right now I work for a freight logistics company and am a personal trainer on the weekends(which is truly the job I love). I am ready to make a big change in my life, so why not combine my love for the woods and fitness?! My main goal career wise is to build and work a rehab facility for overweight and obese people. This should give me the kick in the butt that I need to get this started. I am really looking forward to the friendships/relationships I am going to build and the memories I will share in this journey! Can't wait to see everyone out there! Until then, happy trails!

Hey! I'm Jen. People say that I'm generally funny, can be quite zany, and love to go on wild adventures. I have a deep love for animals and the outdoors, and have studied monkeys in several countries for seven years (see my website at jenniferlegan.com for more info). So, basically, I enjoy monkeying around. My last adventure entailed 6 months of rigorous research, studying baboons in South Africa. I saw baboons grow bonds and I saw baboons get killed, and, somewhere along the way, I lost my faith in conservation. So, among many other reasons, I am thru-hiking the AT (NOBO) to reconnect with the wild and with humanity—to rediscover what makes mankind a wonderful species, and to prove to myself that I can overcome even the most drastic of challenges.

I'm Jenn (aka Sarge) and I thru-hiked the A.T. in 2015! I'm a Tennessee girl, but I currently live in Alabama (bleh, it's so flat). When I'm not slinging drinks, I often escape to Tennessee, Georgia, or North Carolina. Before I even finish one hike, I'm planning the next. My father claimed "chicken" was my first word. I find pepperoni pizza boring, but love pepperoni and cheese tortillas. I love reading about zombies at night while out in the woods. I psycho-analyze people when they don't even realize it is happening. 2017 holds The Wonderland Trail in the palm of my hand!

I'm an 19-year-old NOBO'er, trail named Sputnik, taking a year off before college. I've wanted to hike the AT since I was little, and, education-be-darned, I need to have my shot at it! I've been on trail since February 25th and plan to finish by the beginning of August. When not in the mountains I enjoy cooking, daydreaming about being in the mountains, whitewater kayaking, and playing intense games of Monopoly.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived" -Thoreau, AT 2015, PCT 2016

Originally from New Jersey and now reside in North Carolina. I am an entrepreneur, a wife, a mother, outdoors mountain lover, and have been cursed by wanderlust! Family always comes first to me. When I am not adventuring with my husband, 11 yr old daughter, and dog, Margo I am; working on client projects, getting tattooed, boxing, writing, photographing, rescuing dogs or creating. By the end of 2015 I will able to add A.T. thru-hiker to this list. I have a huge appetite for life and choose to live one full of adventures. Welcome to all the shenanigans that make up, Jessica--> www.jessicageorgia.biz

Adventure leads to mishap which leads to wisdom...or so I hope. I grew up on the Iron Range of Northern MN with time spent in the woods through out the year and summers spent in the BWCA . I fell in love with nature and all it's magical powers. I was introduced to the magazine National Geographic by my grandfather Jack at an early age. It opened up the world to me which to my adventurous, restless spirit. My husband Tom has supported me with most of them and he will be dropping me at Springer Mountain, Georgia in March 2015. My family consists of 2 grown children Andrea and Kevin and Kevin' friend Leslie and her daughter Audrey and my dog Finn.

John is 32 year old small business owner who has hiked all over the country. He gets in a bit of trouble here and there but his wit makes most situations a lot of fun. Enjoy!

Hey! My name is Joe, I'm 24, and I'll be thru-hiking the AT northbound starting March 30th, 2015. I'll be going by the trail name "Psych," because I'm interested in pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology at some point post-trail, and I'm also really passionate about mental health awareness and advocacy. Among many other reasons, I will be hiking to fundraise $3 per mile for the organization HIKE for Mental Health. Along the way, I look forward to blogging here, and also on my personal blog and website to keep people updated about my fundraising efforts.

I like baseball, movies, good clothes, fast cars, whiskey, and no, I'm not John Dillinger. Just your average city slicker who will be getting lost in the woods this summer on the AT! @TheJoshGoebel is the name SOBO thru-hiking is the game! I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate NY, played college soccer in Atlanta, GA, met a lovely young lady there with whom I have fallen madly in love with, followed her to her home state of Hellhio and now I am pleased to call her my fiancée! I've been selected to be an ambassador for the 2015 Thru-hike Syndicate! #thruhikesyndicate @thruhikesyndicate I get to represent some pretty awesome sponsors this year and can't wait to tell you more about it! Other than that I lover soccer, Liverpool FC, running, and my dogs! Ready to just go with the flow, roll with the punches, and ride the wave! #WhenInRome

I'm a nutritional therapist and board certified music therapist planning on tackling the Appalachian Trail, starting April 2015. During the day, I work with children and adults with disabilities, helping them achieve their developmental goals with music therapy. In the evenings, I run a nutritional therapy consultation company, helping clients with a variety of symptoms! My goal is to hike the A.T. with the nutrient dense foods (think grain free, grass-fed meats and veggies kind of thing), so I can hike efficiently and have time to forage local wild edibles along the way. I also plan on being a bit of a minstrel, earning my keep at the occasional hostel and hut by entertaining the other hikers with my stories and songs. I hope to inspire other hikers to make music, eat well and appreciate each step of the journey. For more information about nutritional therapy, visit my website at: www.wildatheartnutrition.com

Hi! I’m Robert. During an adventure and travel filled life, I have found junctions where Shangri-La, Heaven, Nirvana, and Utopia meet. This is where time stops. It is where the brain blossoms so that the mental, emotional, and physical unify. The universe collapses to finite space and the burdensome manifestations of existentialism cease. I anticipate entering more on the AT in 2015. My hope is for all of you to find similar junctions in your lives. They are not physical locations....... Recently, I entered another while surrounded by the Gulf of Thailand. There was nothing possible to do but run long distances on soft pure white sand, swim endlessly in the warmth of the sea, and contemplate the myriad forms of life’s complexities...... Due to political controversies, my Peace Corps work in the small Muslim country of Azerbaijan, which is in the middle of a very rough neighborhood, ended early and abruptly. I find myself homeless, carless, and jobless. Some would say clueless!. Ironically, an unfortunate situation provides me the perfect opportunity to hike the AT...... Consider this a friendly invitation to follow my hike and read my blog “Mingechevir to Mount Katahdin.” It has two objectives. The first is to help me wrap my head around the verbal, cultural, interpersonal, economic, and political enigmas of my Peace Corps adventure. Second, is to provide a structured writing platform where I can utilize the AT as a vehicle to learn, understand, and to communicate critical aspects of our lives and how to discover mind expanding junctions. I start hiking March 18.

I'm Kaili, pronounced kay-lee for those who were wondering. Outdoor enthusiast, Disney freak, marching band geek, and avid reader. I am currently an Anthropology undergraduate at Mississippi State University, but will be graduating soon to take on the big wide world! Life after college terrifies me, so hopefully I'll be staying in for just a few more years to get that PhD. Before that though, I need some time for soul-searching. Life is getting me down, and I am yearning for the quintessential human experience. Enter, thru hiking. What is more human than wandering the earth by foot? Nothing, I tell you! June 2015 will see me begin my SOBO thru-hike journey at Katahdin!! Life altering experience, here I come!

Hey - I am an almost 60 something grandma looking to embark on the adventure of a lifetime when I retire. I know next to nothing about camping and just a bit more about hiking, so why not hike the AT to kickoff LIFE 2.0? I have been working in Corporate America for most of my (long) checkered career. Originally a New England girl, I will be hiking homeward, starting at Springer in March.

Hi, I'm Ken. Nevis and I will be thru-hiking the A.T. as SOBOs, starting sometime in June, and assuming my ancient knees allow it, finishing around the end of the year. I've been wanting to do this ever since reading "A Walk in the Woods" long, long ago. Career (mostly overseas, 53 countries and counting), marriage, and life in general always made me say "later". Finally, retired, divorced and living in the States (WA) again, my time has come. I've done plenty of hiking, climbing and scuba diving around the world, but this will be my first backpacking. Everything in its own time. I look forward to meeting y'all on the Trail. Hi, I'm Nevis, named after Scotland's highest peak, and the incredibly handsome brains of this family. I'm a 2-year-old border collie, herder of sheep (my true love), goats, ducks, Agility dog (CPE Level 4), and bi-lingual (Turkish and English). I like all people and animals (although I know some sheep that might disagree), and I very rarely bark, and then only once. Baba only accepts low growls If I want his attention.

Raised a Clemson Tiger, graduated an Oklahoma Sooner. Animal lover, except for birds. Fluent in sarcasm. Tennis coach turned 2015 AT thru hiker!

Daughter, sister, teacher, organic farmer, MBA student, I’ve had a lot of roles in my 30-years. Before joining the corporate world in the fall, there is one more role I’d like to add to the list: a 2015 AT thru-hiker. So Springer Mountain, I’ll see you in April. Until then, I’ll be planning, traveling to NZ to study abroad and trying to graduate.

Laurel and Eric here! Hailing from the Midwest via our current DC home, follow us on the adventure that is preparing for and embarking on a thru-hike as a married couple. Between us is one life-experienced hiker and one city-girl-turned-hiker who is still, despite reassurances, slightly concerned about not wearing deodorant for six months. Because it’s perfectly normal to leave jobs, family, and life behind to embark on our NOBO 2015 thru-hike. We hit the trail April 3.

My name is Liz, and I'm one of your friendly neighborhood bloggers here at Appalachian Trials. Originally from Western Massachusetts, I am flip-flop hiking the AT this year, beginning in Virginia in May. I love to share my experiences with others, and in general learning as much as I possibly can. I look forward to many years of travel and backpacking ahead of me, and the AT will be an introduction and an initiation into the lifestyle. I hope you find my writing entertaining and informing. Happy Trails.

I like to do cool stuff in the woods and tell stories about it. I crave long adventures (affectionately known as "sufferfests") and any excuse to eat jars of peanut butter. I am most comfortable when I'm sweating or shivering or scaring the hell out of myself on sketchy mountain bike descents. I prefer to walk/bike/travel uphill rather than down. In March 2015, I'm stepping away from my beautiful life in Asheville, NC to pursue a dream hatched twenty some years ago as a kid at summer camp - a northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

I grew up in the woods and it’s where I feel most at home. I’d call myself a photographer, nature-lover, world traveler, bookworm, dancing queen, dog trainer, and parent to a charismatic golden (Griffin) and his trusty sidekick (Little Bear). At the end of 2015, we’ll be AT thru-hikers. I have a passion for life and all that it brings and find true joy in discovering my place in this world. We all choose what to make of our lives; I’ve decided to make mine an adventure!

After hiking some 600 odd miles of the AT in the summer of '15, I've become completely addicted to hiking! Regardless of my luck, I'm hoping to complete a 2016 PCT thru hike. Be prepared for a lack of cohesive adventuring, some obvious colloquialisms, and non traditional hiking.

Well hey there. My name is Markie and I'm from Indianapolis. I love travelling and being outdoors. My favorite outdoor activities are hiking/camping/backpacking, running, mountain biking, and longboarding. When I'm not doing those things, I occupy my time hanging out with my favorite people while usually consuming copious amounts of booze. I've done the whole school thing (B.S., M.P.A) and presently have an awesome job, but I've decided it's the right time (and needless to say, I'm totally stoked) to join the class of 2015 AT thru-hikers! I have so many reasons for doing this, but mainly it's because time flies, and I fully intend on living the f*ck outta some life!

A bit about me. I am 25, born and raised in Wisconsin (yes, that means my blood is mostly bratwurst, beer, and cheese). I have always been a sucker for adventure, i guess that's why no one was surprised to hear about my thru hike plans. In march 2015 I will be setting off NOBO with my dog Zeus. Besides having one hell of an adventure I will also be raising money for a very worthy cause, The Wounded Warrior Project.

Hi! My name is Michelle and I'm a 2015 NOBO Appalachian Thru-Hiker. I first set foot on the Appalachian Trail two years ago and spent my first week in the wilderness. It was one of the most liberating weeks of my life - I knew I had to go back. Two years later I'm finally about to live my dream of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Not a day has gone by since I haven't thought of being back out there. Here we go! www.michelletheresehand.com

After 11 years in the Air Force, I finally get to knock the AT off my bucket list! With only a few hats to wear... mom, wife, veteran, and videographer... I'm excited to add blogger and AT thru-hiker to the mix. While I'm used to telling other people's stories, it's going to take some getting used to writing my own.

Mike and Grace have travelled three continents together on some truly life-changing adventures. In April 2015 they will begin a NOBO thru-hike of the AT, arguably the most difficult thing they have attempted. While thru-hiking, Grace will be writing and recording a ukulele album called "Trail Mix." Mike will be carrying nerdy talismans and hoping people start conversations with him.

Hey everybody! My name is Alexander Newlon or just Noodle for short. I'm a perpetual daydreamer, a cannabis and human rights activist, a Eagle Scout and solo adventurer. I'm epileptic and will be thru hiking the Appalachian Trail NOBO this April to show myself and others that we all CAN accomplish our dreams and turn them into reality! By completing one of my long time dreams, I hope to inspire others to follow their dreams. Get inspired and explore your local trails!

My name is Oliver Hudgins. Georgia Native who, when asked if he likes sports, doesn't say football. I say my sports are extreme. Mountain Biking, Fishing, Kayaking, Hunting, etc. Anything that will separate me from artificial lighting and synergistic revenue triangle graphs.

Hey I'm Rachel, your average Indiana English teacher with an unusual approach to her post grad years: NOBO hiking the AT. I love reading, guacamole, exploring, and deep-cleaning my car. I hate grammar, know-it-alls, sedentary lifestyles, and coffee. I'm hiking with one of my dearest friends and looking forward to an amazing and worthwhile adventure.

Rawwwwrrrrr! I'm Andrew aka Reptar. Originally from Northern Virginia but have been living the past few years in beautiful Key West Florida! I run an independent game development company and love photography and traveling. I just finished thru hiking the Appalachian Trail and loved every minute of it. Now the adventure continues on the PCT!

Hello there friends, my name is Ruth. I love tv shows, gear talks, reading a wide variety of books and eating a wider variety of food. I've been a Girl Scout for eight years and have a love of nature and a thirst for adventure. I have officially bored all of my family and friends to death talking about the AT and now need some fresh ears (that's where you come in!). I am planning on going on a NOBO hike starting this May. I hope you enjoy following me on that journey!

Hi, I'm Sam. Grew up on an Island. Yogi at heart. Figuring out more about who I am with every step I take. So why not walk 2,200 miles & really see where I stand!

After completing the Appalachian Trail, Sara "Stretch" is trying to figure out what to do with her life. Want to hire her? Great please get in touch. In the meantime, she will be hiking, recovering from hiking, doing yoga and possibly getting her yoga instructors certification.

I fancy myself a photographer, occasional writer (when the mood arrests me), teacher, nature enthusiast, Kerouac adorer, dreamer, soul searcher, moon howler-at-er (...?), general wanderer, and of course, future AT 2015 thru hiker! But those are just words: empty words with empty meanings. You find the meaning of a person in actions, in their soul and spirit; in the quiet spaces surrounding their thoughts.

Day time architect, night time medic, all-around outdoor nut. Fighting off mid-life crisis by running away from life for 6 months in 2015, although I am still spinning my compass to figure out whether I will go north or south. Come join me for the fun!

Back home I go by Connor, but out here on the trail I am known only as Seeker. I graduated The University of Connecticut in the Spring of 2013, and this Fall I will be attending Law School in the Boston University School of Law as I continue working towards becoming an environmental lawyer. These in-between years have been dedicated to preparing myself mentally, physically, and financially for a little hike known to all of us as The Appalachian Trail. I am hiking to fulfill the dream that I have had since I was eleven and first discovered backpacking while growing up in the Boy Scouts. Aside from hiking, I love playing the guitar and trumpet, snowboarding, legal affairs, history, and a good IPA with a buffalo chicken wrap.

On a hiatus from medical school, Sharon is thru-hiking the AT with her boyfriend Nate. Having conquered thirteen of the forty-six high peaks of the Adirondacks, a 115-mile week-long on the North Country Trail and a month of hauling their packs around their tiny hometown, they think they’re ready to make it To Katahdin.

Homegrown: 27 year old male. Born and raised in West Palm Beach Florida until moving to Savannah Tennessee for high school. Studied Wildlife Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Biology at University of Tennessee at Martin. I then attended Colorado State University and majored in Forestry and Horticulture. I'm interested in anything that has to do with plants or being in nature but with a special love for mountaineering and flowers. Bailey: 4 1/2 year old Black Lab Loves long walks in the woods. Chipmunks and fish are some of her favorite animals. An affinity for water and sticks keeps her busy along the trail. Smokey Bear : Born 1987 in Captitan,NM Fern and Flower Lover. Student of life. Master Diver and Eco-Tourism Degree fuel my travel addiction. Finds friends in the midst of crowds. New appreciation for everything since becoming a Thru-Hiker.

My name is Button. I find enjoyment and passion in animal welfare, whiskey, writing songs and venturing through the woods. I am currently hiking Nobo on the Appaclahian Trail.

Sprinkles is a 2012 AT thru hiker, a Smoky Mountain 900-miler, and a thru hiker of both the Benton MacKaye Trail and the Long Trail. She is currently a backpacking guide in the Great Smoky Mountains for a local outfitter and is constantly dreaming of getting out on her next long-distance hike. You can learn more about Sprinkles from her Instagram and Facebook pages, as well as her personal blog!

Teacher turned nomad. Aspiring travel nurse. Full-time RV living. Appalachian Trail thru-hiker turned long-ass section hiker. Lover and trainer of dogs. Refusing to believe that after this year I'll no longer be a 20-something. Short term hiking bucket-list: Colorado Trail, John Muir Trail, Foothills Trail, Camino de Santiago.

Aussie girl, flying 9000 miles so I can walk 2000 more.

I like coffee. I love drinking. I went to school with no clear plans for using my degree. I work(ed) with both animals and kids, and adore both. When I packed up my apartment to move, I had more boxes of books than anything else. I love my cat, Odin, more than I even like most people (and in general, I like people). My name comes from the outdoors camp I worked at for many years, where I taught kids how to start fires, build shelters, ride horses, catch and clean fish, do archery, be ninjas, and other general badass-ery. People like to abbreviate my real name to MagQuam. I will be starting my NOBO hike in March 2015.

Laura Seeman and Kyler Star here, or better known as Team SeeStar. In May 2015, we'll be leaving behind our Vermont home to take off on our Appalachian Trail thru-hike adventure. We like to do things a little differently, so we'll be starting in Virginia, hiking north to Maine, then back to Virginia to complete our hike southbound to Georgia. Becca Baer (like bear, grrrr), Laura's cousin, is also part of our team, and might guest blog occasionally! The "threesome dynamic" is already turning out to be an interesting one. Stay tuned.

I'm John Rambo, Jambo, TBird, or Tee, and for the past 4 years, I have been having a contemptuous affair - with backpacking. In 2011, I was accosted by the fat face of failure while attempting an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. Cold and alone, I returned to my home state of Massachusetts, finished my degree in History at Hampshire College, and brooded about what could have been. In April 2014, I reemerged, this time on the Pacific Crest Trail. Defiantly, I completed a continuous footpath on the west coast counterpart of the AT. Yet here I am again, on the east coast. And I say: HEY! Appalachian Trail! I'm callin' you out! 2015 will be the year my feet crumble the Trail that once crushed me. I invite you to follow along as I put this east coast rivalry, the AT vs. Tee, to bed.

I love old-school blues, my dog, Oliver, New York bagels and most (if not all) terrible 80’s movies. For the past few years I’ve been working in insurance, living just outside Phoenix, Arizona. During the week, I worked, but on the weekends I spent my time in the canyons and wonderlands of the great American Southwest. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that corporate life was good, safe and dependable…I could never shake the calling of the wild unknown. Deep down, I knew what I really wanted -“If only I had the guts to follow my heart.” I’ve now recently left that corporate world behind, and have chosen to pursue my youngest childhood dream. This spring, I will set out to thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail - from Georgia to Maine. Join me on this great adventure as I blog the highs and lows of trail life, on my quest for Katahdin!

Old Dirty Razor thru-hiked the AT in 2015, PCT in 2017, and she's gearing up for the CDT...because you only do one or three, nobody stops at two. You can read about her travel adventures from the Arctic Circle to thru-hiking America on her blog @ theotherforkintheroad.com.

“This is the real secret of life -- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” ? Alan Wilson Watts I am 24 years old, trying to learn and experience as much as I can. ~Hardwork and Dedication~ I have a sickening work ethic and really trying to enjoy what I am doing in the moment. I wear a few different masks, student, athlete, backpacker, amateur boxer, hunter, supportive boyfriend ;), big brother, health nut (but don't mind drinking a few beers lol). Although I have a lot going on, I have made the decision in my life to take on the Appalachian trail with my other half (my girlfriend Lindsay) and cannot wait to be on the trail. We are counting down the days and preparing as much as possible, we will be quitting our jobs and putting some other things on hold to start writing this new chapter in our lives. We are great people with a sense of humor and always bring the party!