Appalachian Trail AT Thru Hike Class of 1997

05/07/2026

The issue of whether Florida should legalize recreational cannabis went away as a significant campaign issue earlier this year after Smart & Safe Florida, the organization behind an initiative to put it back before voters this November, fell short of the nearly 880,000 verified petition signatures r...

12/22/2025

Did you vote to screw millions of Americans out of affordable healthcare?

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he will not allow a floor vote this week on a bipartisan amendment supported by moderate Republicans that would extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits. Johnson was confident that blocking the amendment would not lead centrist G...

10/28/2025

When Donald Trump returned to the presidency, he restarted the trade war he had initiated during his first term. The major buyer for U.S. soybeans has been China, but the country has bought none this year. Prices for the commodity are so low that some farmers told PBS News they’re storing their pr...

01/21/2025

Few more from ‘97

01/21/2025

Connected with “Peaches” ‘97 today…

08/05/2024

My trail name in 1997 was “Church Mouse” which was given to me by my girlfriend before I left home in the Florida Keys. I should have started there but at the time Key West to Canada wasn’t a thing yet. The name was an enigma as many would presume it had religious connotations when nothing could be further from the reality. I got the name because the girlfriend thought it fit because “you are quiet during sex”. I have worked on that since then!! Everyday for at least 10-15 years after finishing, at least once, I’d begin a sentence with… “When I was Hiking the A/T…” and 27 years later still often related something daily to life on the trail. I’m ready to go again… drop that same 40 pounds I lost and found again. Hope to see your memories here soon.

08/05/2024

Glad you found this page! Reconnecting 1997 AT Appalachian Trail Thru Hikers. Sorting my 27 year old photos brought back a lots of memories and amazingly there were only good ones. The through hike took us to places of contemplation we’d never reach otherwise. Why did we do it? What kept us out there through the aches & pains, emotional ups & downs, and moving forward for six months. Since the AT began we are a group of less than 50K that made the distance. Congratulations on your success!