GET - AT Hike

Andrew Grizzell, Susan Baxley, & a 2 year old black lab named Corley will leave Springer Mountain in March, embarking on the six month 2,174 mile journey to Maine. Andy & Susan are outdoor enthusiasts, having worked as white-water rafting guides for the Nantahala Outdoor center for several years on the Chattooga River. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the severe drought that is driving their shift from water to land, but the desire to leave civilization behind to enjoy the wilderness and adventure that the AT offers. They heard about the GET through the American Hiking Society and were excited about the possibility of supporting the creation of a trail that offers a more remote wilderness experience and a network of hiking trails in the East, offering 10,000 miles of new trails & countless opportunities for adventures.

Read more about the hikers & view their photos here:

Susan Baxley

Andy Grizzell

Corley

The Appalachians in my family have always just been called “the Mountains”. I was born & raised in Bellaire, TX where the only hills that exist are concrete with yellow and white paint all over them. However, my parents being the type of parents that enjoy the outdoors, took me & my 13-month older sister Sarah camping ever since we were in diapers. Every year, so I hear, my parents packed all our gear into our brown Audi and drove from Texas to North Carolina to stay beside Cliffside Lake (what is now Van Hook Glen) outside Franklin, NC. Here I was myself in all my glory: soaking wet & muddy from head to toe, tumbling down trails head-first, & generally being loud and silly. The mountains gave me my first sense of freedom, and I have always returned to them, every single year of my life.

Andy & I have talked about hiking the AT for the five years we have know each other and found that this year was the perfect time in both our lives, straddling the moment between having a job and having a career. We decided we needed a good six months to consider what it is that we really desire to do to help change the world - and what better way that to simplify everything down to yourself. a backpack, and all the time in the world to think.

We stumbled upon the Great Eastern Trail while looking at trail-building opportunities on the American Hiking Society’s website and found that it was something that we wanted to support, both for ourselves and for future generations of hikers. We’re excited to be a part of the beginnings of the trail’s creation, helping by raising some money, but mainly by spreading the word during our journey.

I’m carrying a Nikon D40 digital SLR & my trusty Canon Powershot, hoping to create some beautiful photography. I might even carry a little medium format Diana film camera for a bit… People may scoff at my carrying all this gear, but, as my family will tell you, I’ve been taking landscape photographs since I was a wee 5th grader and I cannot imagine going on this journey without my cameras. We shall see how the cameras fare though… I tend to be a little rough with my equipment

I know my friends & family will be checking our progress often, and those of you that followed my journey with Texas 4000 know, I will update the site often with stories and photos. So come back and check on us! And perhaps you’ll be inspired to send us a package….

Cheers!

susanb

2008-02-23

www.texas4000.org

www.beallandthomas.com

www.nikon.com

www.canonusa.com

http://www.lomography.com/diana/

Here is the skinny on how I have gotten to where I am toady. I was born in California. The mountains of the small town where my family resided was my first introduction to the outdoors. I spent many days climbing and scrambling over the rocks that littered the mountain side. When I was nine my family moved to the deep South where Columbia, SC would be my new home. I traded in the rocks and mountains for fishing poles and hooks. It was on a Boy Scout High Adventure trip that I received my first experience in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. We started this trip backpacking on the Chattooga River Trail and ended it with rafting down Section III of the Chattooga River. The winter of 1994 I purchased my first kayak. Kayaking has literally taken me all over the place, letting me see some spectacular places while enjoying the outdoors. In the Fall of 2001 I started college at Brevard College where I was in the Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education (WLEE) program. Brevard College is located in a hot spot for outdoor enthusiasts. I took full advantage of the outdoor opportunities that came my way. After graduating from college in 2005 with a degree in WLEE I spent one final year of raft guiding on the Chattooga River where I feel in love with the mountains of the Southeast many years ago. In the end of 2005 I began working for the City of Columbia as a Park Ranger along the City’s Three Rivers Greenway. After two years of being a Park Ranger I am trading in my uniform, steel toed boots, and ear plugs for hiking boots, a backpack and probably endless days walking/sleeping in the rain for a chance to Thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

This is Corley, he rolls with a camo collar and a ton of energy. AKA Big Corley, Big Dog, or sometimes but not very often, Cupcake. Corley loves being outside when not relaxing in his kennel while his dad is at work. If it’s fishing, he’s game. If it’s going for a ride in the truck, he’s already loaded up. When it comes time to go for a hike, he’s all in. Corley has logged several miles on the AT and the Art Loeb Trail. He loves strapping on his pack and going for a hike.

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