Jillian's AT Adventure
Donation protected
Winter of 2014-15 was unbearably cold. Cold enough to keep me indoors and consequently catch a bad case of cabin fever. That's when I had the idea of hiking the Appalachian Trail, the whole thing. I prayed and researched and read and prayed. The idea kept growing and this indescribable feeling kept getting stronger and stronger. The mountains are calling me.
I quit my job in February and began training. I had saved money and planned my trip for a year. It was time to hike.
I registered as a thru hiker on Saturday, April 8, 2016 and weighed our packs (Chef's, my dog, was ~11Lbs and mine was nearly 45lbs with food and water!). Afterwards we drove to Springer Mountain just a mile into the AT. Dad walked with us to the starting point of the trail. There, I wrote in the trail journal. We stayed in a hotel that night so I could rest and have an early start on Saturday.
With the thru-hike taking approximately 6 months, I still need to pay my school loans, car insurance (my car is still at home in mom and dad's driveway...), life insurance, and a few other bills. I also need to have money for Hostels/Hotels every so often, as well as buying last minute things at stores along the way. Plus, I have to board Chef while I hike through the Great Smokey Mountains.
My parents are sending me supplies every 4-8 days. These shipments cost about $80 each time, just for postage. My parents are buying most of the food (mine and Chef's) to send.
People have asked to send me packages, or have asked "what can I do?" Since I have planned out the food/supply boxes with Mom and Dad, it would really be more beneficial to help with the cost of food/shipping/etc. I only have room for certain amount of food or supplies in my pack. In fact, I've had to ditch some stuff already because I had too much or didn't need it at the time. (by "ditch" I mean give it to other hikers)
If there is money donated that isn't used by the time I finish my hike, I will donate it in honor of all AT thru-hikers.
Thank you for your consideration. If you'd like to check out my blog, it is www.trailswithtails.blogspot.com.
I quit my job in February and began training. I had saved money and planned my trip for a year. It was time to hike.
I registered as a thru hiker on Saturday, April 8, 2016 and weighed our packs (Chef's, my dog, was ~11Lbs and mine was nearly 45lbs with food and water!). Afterwards we drove to Springer Mountain just a mile into the AT. Dad walked with us to the starting point of the trail. There, I wrote in the trail journal. We stayed in a hotel that night so I could rest and have an early start on Saturday.
With the thru-hike taking approximately 6 months, I still need to pay my school loans, car insurance (my car is still at home in mom and dad's driveway...), life insurance, and a few other bills. I also need to have money for Hostels/Hotels every so often, as well as buying last minute things at stores along the way. Plus, I have to board Chef while I hike through the Great Smokey Mountains.
My parents are sending me supplies every 4-8 days. These shipments cost about $80 each time, just for postage. My parents are buying most of the food (mine and Chef's) to send.
People have asked to send me packages, or have asked "what can I do?" Since I have planned out the food/supply boxes with Mom and Dad, it would really be more beneficial to help with the cost of food/shipping/etc. I only have room for certain amount of food or supplies in my pack. In fact, I've had to ditch some stuff already because I had too much or didn't need it at the time. (by "ditch" I mean give it to other hikers)
If there is money donated that isn't used by the time I finish my hike, I will donate it in honor of all AT thru-hikers.
Thank you for your consideration. If you'd like to check out my blog, it is www.trailswithtails.blogspot.com.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jillian Koren
Organizer
Colebrookdale, PA
Paula Koren
Beneficiary