Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail ! 

Many of the common questions that people ask are posted here.
Hopefully, this will answer your questions, in addition to providing additional information on the her hike or the AT in general.

QUESTION:	ANSWER:
Why is she doing this?	Good question. When I find out, I'll let you know.
How is she doing?	Please see the "Updates" page for the latest information. The updates page is usually updated after she calls me here at home base, which is usually weekly. ...more or less.
Where is she now?	Please see the "Map" page for the latest estimate on her location. The map page was usually updated every week.
Can I send her cards, gifts or letters of encouragement?	YES! Please Do! The mailing addresses can be found here or here.
How can I contact her?	You can either Mail her directly, at one of the maildrop addresses, Mail me, and I'll put it in the next drop, or E-Mail me (jtcrawford@email.com) and I'll print and send it with the next maildrop.
How far is it?	Over 2100 Miles! She started on April first, and expects to finish in late september.
Will she make it?	Gosh, we hope so. She comments on this in her first pre-trip trail Journal.
Where is this alleged "Appalachian Trail'?	It stretches along the eastern US, from Northern Georgia to central Maine. (If you look at her map page you should note that geographic north is not straight up on the map.) The "AT" is Trail #1 on the map below. (Map courtesy of the National Park Service.) Check her map page for a closer view of the A.T. and an estimate of Samwise's progress on the AT.
What is a "Thru-Hiker"?	Someone who hikes the entire trail in one season, also called a "2000-miler." There are some subtle variations on the definitions, but basically if a person backpacks from Springer Mtn. to Mt. Katahdin (or vice versa) without taking an extended break, then they are a "Thru-Hiker." A "section hiker" is someone who hikes only a portion of the trail at a time. A section hiker may hike for a week or a month or more at one time, and return later to resume where they left off. Often they will hike a different section each summer, and eventually hike the entire trail spread out over several years. ...or they may hike whatever sections the choose, never intending to hike the whole A.T. There are additional resources on the resources page.
Why do you keep calling her "samwise"?	Samwise is her "Trail Name" Almost hikers use a nickname, rather than their real names. She comments on choosing her name in the first pre-trip trail Journal, and in her June 11 trail journal. I will also ask her for an additional explanation to place here.