In 100 Days

May 24, 2011

I was born and raised in Vermont. It is my home. I can not recall the first time that I camped, hiked or fished because I was a tot...simply just too little to remember. Though I do  recall tent camping  with my parents when I was around 5 or so but I was already conditioned to it. Stubbed toes, scrapped knees and all. I joined the Boy Scouts of America at age 8 via the Cub Scouts; went through my Webelos and soon became an official Boy Scout. At the time, I remember this being quite an achievement. I was a proud Scout. I was eager to learn and apply anything outdoorsy. The troop I was in, Vt BSA Troop105, was a very active troop that held weekly meetings (the troop still  meets at the same room in the same church at the same time every week )  and weekly or so. usually on the weekends, an outing ... be it hiking, camping, Jamborees, despite the season. At age 14, I did my first primitive camping trip in the winter with this troop. We stayed in pine bough shelters that we built. My first true awareness for love of the outdoors. I remember a specific time when we helped out the Green Mountain Club build/move a section of the Long Trail and that's when I fell in love with it.... I asked everyone and anyone on that one day about the Long Trail.... and since then it has become my life's dream to thru-hike it.  

After 30 years, and in just 100 days, on September 1, 2011 at 8:00am EDT, I will take my first step onto what was a but dream and now a reality... To walk the spine of the Green Mountains of Vermont in it's entirety. All 273+ miles... This is my homeland, my life's obsession. The countdown has begun to the adventure and dream of my lifetime....