I grew up on the east coast, right on the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland. First the last few years, I have been living abroad. First in Benin, West Africa. I was an English Teachers or middle school students through the Peace Corps. Less than halfway through my service, the Covid-19 pandemic abruptly uprooted me and sent me back to America, unemployeed, unhoused, and desperate for any escape. South Korea was enthusiastically accepting foreigner visa's so I packed my bags again and have been teaching elementary and kinder students here for the what will be a year and a half. I'm not a terribly experienced backpacker, but I have been an enthusiastic enjoyer of everything outdoors for many years now. I first dreamed of the AT 7 years ago when I was on a total self discovery kick.