In two weeks’ time I will be driven to North Georgia and left for dead. While that may seem a bit dramatic, I am sure it will feel as such when I wave goodbye to my family and set off on a 2,200 mile walk in the woods. I woke up this morning at…
Author: Laura Caldwell
Shakedown Hike: The Good, the Bad, and the Hungry.
So, what is a shakedown hike anyway? Before I set off on a 2,200-mile trek from Georgia to Maine I need to know a few things. Several things actually. For example, will the quilt I spent hundreds of dollars on keep me warm when temps drop below freezing? Will the tiny one-person tent I chose…
Hike Your Own Hike: What it Means to Me.
It’s about more than pace. One of the most used phrases in the hiking community is hike your own hike. It basically means to go at your own pace and to experience the trail in your own way. For me, a plus-size backpacker, the phrase hike your own hike is about much more than keeping…
New Year’s Resolution: Lose Weight – Scratch That.
Why weight-loss is not my New Year’s Resolution. This was the first New Year’s morning that I didn’t wake up, step on the scale, and confirm my #1 New Year’s resolution – to lose weight. In fact, losing weight is not on my New Year’s resolution list at all. Not even an honorable mention. Why?…
Georgia to Maine – Never the Same.
How I am mentally preparing for a 2,200 mile walk in the woods. Okay, its officially 2,197.4 miles. Piece of cake. I’ve been walking my whole life; this is just more of the same. As much as I try to make light of the situation, my inner self keeps saying “Shut up, you’re not funny….
Fluffy Folks on Mountains: The Quest for Plus-Size Gear.
When one thinks of a long-distance hiker, often the image of a bronzed, Patagonia-clad athlete with bulging quads comes to mind; perched no doubt on a rocky summit in the White Mountains. And that’s fair enough because that’s the image we’ve all been served. But in reality, my reality anyway, the muscles are more akin…
Lessons Learned On My First Backpacking Trip.
1. Make sure someone knows your plans! It’s not enough to announce, “I’m going off to hike the Appalachian Trail.”, unless of course you’re planning to hike the entire 2,198 miles of it. If you are planning a solo backpacking trip, it is crucial that someone knows where this adventure is to take place. When…
A Fluffy Folks Guide to Hiking in Georgia
The great outdoors can be awe-inspiring, stimulating our senses and challenging our bodies to push further and reach higher towards that next summit. But it can also cause us to gasp for oxygen and fret over whatever it was that just cracked in our lower back. If you are a member of the Fluffy Folks…
Hiking Her Way to Health: One Woman’s 260-Pound Weight-Loss Adventure.
This is April’s story. In a world full of stories that just hurt your heart, it’s refreshing to come across one that lifts your spirit and resonates hope and encouragement. Such is April’s story – a story of faith, family and persistence; mixed in with a healthy dose of the great outdoors. April’s weight-loss journey…
Highpoint Highlight – Florida’s Britton Hill
At just 345 feet, Florida’s highpoint Britton Hill is the lowest of the U.S. Highpoints. In fact, you wouldn’t guess it was a highpoint at all if it weren’t for the signs marking its significance. Florida’s Britton Hill is in North Walton County, approximately 12 miles from Defuniak Springs Florida, and just an hour’s drive…