In 2015, my girlfriend and I completed the Maryland miles over several day-hikes and shuttle set ups together. I always enjoy dishing up Trail magic to the thru-hikers, things like rides to town or hiking in treats to give out at the nearby shelter. As you can tell, my love for the A.T. and the hiking community is strong.

When the idea to do my 50-mile section hike came to mind, I kept it to myself for a few weeks, to see how it felt. When I dared to utter it out loud to a few Trail running buddies, they said, “Yes, you have to do it! It will be great! You’ll be amazing!” I mentioned it to some not-so-outdoorsy friends who said things like, “My idea of a bucket list birthday is more spa and Botox than bears and snakes and sleeping in tents,” and, “Oh my, the A.T. alone? Aren’t you afraid?” I kept mentioning it, and mentioning it, until it sounded real. Then I started proclaiming it, and it felt great.

When the idea to do my 50-mile section hike came to mind, I kept it to myself for a few weeks, to see how it felt. When I dared to utter it out loud to a few Trail running buddies, they said, “Yes, you have to do it! It will be great! You’ll be amazing!” I mentioned it to some not-so-outdoorsy friends who said things like, “My idea of a bucket list birthday is more spa and Botox than bears and snakes and sleeping in tents,” and, “Oh my, the A.T. alone? Aren’t you afraid?” I kept mentioning it, and mentioning it, until it sounded real. Then I started proclaiming it, and it felt great.

The first five months of 2018 have been full of planning, gear acquisition, and training. One could use the word obsessed. Following five or six 2018 thru-hikers on YouTube, talking to the local outfitter, and picking the brains of other hikers has proven to be empowering; and my confidence is building. I’m training on my little backyard section of the A.T. with a loaded pack and intentionally going southbound to run into as many thru-hikers as I can. They inspire me with their trek and I still pinch myself that I am out there with them.

Spending this training time on the Trail, watching the season unfold, and showing me a different view on every hike of the same 20-mile section has me counting my blessings that the Trail is so close. It never under-delivers. The section I’ve chosen for my 50-for-50 hike is the northernmost 50 miles of Virginia from Front Royal to Harpers Ferry. I’ll go through the section referred to as the Roller Coaster. I feel like that is appropriate for the ride I’ve been on for the first 50 years. They will be new miles for me, and that’s exactly how I want it to be. Who knows what will follow? As I see it, the Trail will let me know, and that will be the best birthday present, ever.

book I read years ago, SOLO: On Her Own Adventure, by Susan Fox Rogers, introduced me to the idea of doing a backpacking trip alone. I’ve been talking about it ever since. Keyword: talking. For over 10 years. Ok, maybe closer to 20.

So, in my 49th year, sitting at my desk in my windowless office, surrounded by shades of gray, contemplating a milestone birthday year and typing random strings of A.T. hike-related text into the search bar, an idea was sparked. An idea that has since turned into a plan, which will come to fruition this August, the week after my 50th birthday: 50 miles for 50 years. Could never having spent the night in the woods by myself, yet having the strong call to backpack be a problem solved this year?

The A.T. — quite literally my back yard — has been a wonderfully rewarding and therapeutic respite for the past two decades I’ve lived in Maryland. It has been a training ground for walks and trail runs and innumerable dog walks. We’re on our fourth dog since moving close to the Trail and the section we call home holds memories of each of those fur babies. There’s been many tree, wildflower, and bird identification hikes with my husband; him the patient teacher, me trying hard to remember. In 2015, my girlfriend and I completed the Maryland miles over several day-hikes and shuttle set ups together. I always enjoy dishing up Trail magic to the thru-hikers, things like rides to town or hiking in treats to give out at the nearby shelter. As you can tell, my love for the A.T. and the hiking community is strong.

When the idea to do my 50-mile section hike came to mind, I kept it to myself for a few weeks, to see how it felt. When I dared to utter it out loud to a few Trail running buddies, they said, “Yes, you have to do it! It will be great! You’ll be amazing!” I mentioned it to some not-so-outdoorsy friends who said things like, “My idea of a bucket list birthday is more spa and Botox than bears and snakes and sleeping in tents,” and, “Oh my, the A.T. alone? Aren’t you afraid?” I kept mentioning it, and mentioning it, until it sounded real. Then I started proclaiming it, and it felt great.

When the idea to do my 50-mile section hike came to mind, I kept it to myself for a few weeks, to see how it felt. When I dared to utter it out loud to a few Trail running buddies, they said, “Yes, you have to do it! It will be great! You’ll be amazing!” I mentioned it to some not-so-outdoorsy friends who said things like, “My idea of a bucket list birthday is more spa and Botox than bears and snakes and sleeping in tents,” and, “Oh my, the A.T. alone? Aren’t you afraid?” I kept mentioning it, and mentioning it, until it sounded real. Then I started proclaiming it, and it felt great.

The first five months of 2018 have been full of planning, gear acquisition, and training. One could use the word obsessed. Following five or six 2018 thru-hikers on YouTube, talking to the local outfitter, and picking the brains of other hikers has proven to be empowering; and my confidence is building. I’m training on my little backyard section of the A.T. with a loaded pack and intentionally going southbound to run into as many thru-hikers as I can. They inspire me with their trek and I still pinch myself that I am out there with them.

Spending this training time on the Trail, watching the season unfold, and showing me a different view on every hike of the same 20-mile section has me counting my blessings that the Trail is so close. It never under-delivers. The section I’ve chosen for my 50-for-50 hike is the northernmost 50 miles of Virginia from Front Royal to Harpers Ferry. I’ll go through the section referred to as the Roller Coaster. I feel like that is appropriate for the ride I’ve been on for the first 50 years. They will be new miles for me, and that’s exactly how I want it to be. Who knows what will follow? As I see it, the Trail will let me know, and that will be the best birthday present, ever.