Episode #74 - Jack Jones (Quadzilla)

Jack Jones flip-flopped the Appalachian Trail in 2016, sharing part of his time with two previous guests, Kelly Anderson and Edwin Thullen. He found the physicality of the trail to be relatively easy and, with his military training, he carried a very heavy pack. Here he is in Virginia, with the spectacular view from Dragon's Tooth behind him. 

His journey to the trail came via adoption from China at age eight, and Jack speaks of the dislocation that caused him, yet the trail brought home to him the camaraderie with his fellow travelers. The picture below shows Jack with Kelly and their friend, Simba, on the way up Katahdin.

He learned a great deal about diet on the AT and is hoping to use that knowledge in his Arizona Trail and Continental Divide Trail hikes this year (2018).

You can see a short video of Jack's journey on YouTube and read his AT blog at his new site, CouchToTrail.com. If you sign up for his newsletter, you'll get over 100 high quality, full resolution photos of the Appalachian Trail. The photo of Jack at the bottom of these notes is of him at Mt Washington.

Update 2/19: Jack sent me a couple of other links: Instagram and Reddit. Just click on either.

Doctor Lynne returns to the show as Hiker Lynne, with a local Connecticut hike, the Charles Ives Trail her focus. She has shared a great link to a brochure and map for the trail. Just click here. Here she is with her family on the trail.

Bruce’s blog is now regularly updated. You can find it at rtkchallenge.com, where you will also be able to hear our podcast and contribute to his fundraising for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While you’re online, we’d also be delighted if you’d check out Trailtopia.com and consider the wonderful food choices that they have for your next hike.