Hot Dogs Get Your Hot Dogs !

I have been working at a hot dog stand on the weekends to make some extra cash to help out with the AT. I usually work Thursday and Friday nights from 12:30 am to 3:00 am and make $25 an hour plus tips. Last night snowflakes were falling, the hot dogs were steaming, I was shivering, the icy wind cut right through my pink coat and drunk people were stumbling in and out of the bars. As I took in my surroundings I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation… ‘all of this to live in the dirt for a few months’. I flashed forward in my mind to the AT after a long day of hiking, setting up camp and making dinner. I imagined we were reminiscing on what we had to do to get where we were at and the conversation we centered around hot dog sales. In my imagination I looked back fondly on my adventures at the hot dog stand, but was glad that I wouldn’t have to do that again for awhile… at least until we start prepping for our next big adventure.

Hot dogs get your hot dogs… and give me a big tip so I can save up to hike the AT!

Welcome

Welcome to our blog where Elliott, Karen and Dan will all be sharing their thoughts and experiences about the Appalachian Trail. In the next couple of months you will see posts about equipment, food, training and research.

The Appalachian Trail is the most iconic American hiking trail ranging roughly 2,175 miles in distance. We will be starting on Springer Mountain in Georgia and ending on Mt. Katahdin in Maine. In 2010 1,460 hikers started at Springer Mountain in Georgia, it is estimated that 25% drop out with in the first 30 miles of hiking and another 25% drop out by Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which is half way.  Of the 1,460 hikers that started only 303 made it to Katadhin to finish the trail.

With these statistics in mind we continue to plan for our journey with high hopes that we are able to finish the entire trail.

Get more information about the AT at http://www.appalachiantrail.org.