YOLO

My name is Zach Barger and I’m from Louisville, Ky.  I graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelors Degree in Middle/Secondary Education.  About 6 years ago when I was in high school, one of my best friends and I were doing what we did best; dicking around in Randy Penner’s Woodshop Class.  On this particular day, Adam and I were being about as productive as a slug when he told me about his uncle who hiked something called “The Appalachian Trail.”

Upon listening to Adam tell me about his uncle’s journey through the woods, an idea popped into our heads… “HEY, LETS HIKE THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL TOO!!!!!! IT’LL BE SO FUN!!!!!!”  Adam and I had always been the type of people that live by the motto you only live once.  (For the record, the term ‘YOLO’ had not been coined yet)  So on that very day in Woodshop, Adam and I made a pact that one day, we too would become champions of the Appalachian Trail.

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(Fast forward to High School Graduation in 2008)

Zach: “See you later Adam! Good luck in the Marine Corps!”

Adam: “See you later Zach! Have fun in College!!”

(We both drank copious amounts of fun juice and completed our goals)

(Fast Forward to 2013 when Zach and Adam reunited)

Adam: “Lets leave for the Appalachian Trail on March 3rd next year…Monday seems like a good time to leave huh?”

Zach: “Yep.  Lets Do it.”

Adam: “My buddy Justin wants to come too.”

Zach: “Cool.”

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So you’re up to speed now.  On March 3rd of 2014, my best friend and one of his friends from the Marine Corps named Justin will be undertaking the most challenging journey of our lives.  We are actually going to attempt a thru hike of the ~2,200 mile long Appalachian Trail.  We’re gonna poop in the woods, walk, eat, poop, walk, sleep in the cold, take advil, walk and then eat some more.  ITS GONNA BE THE GREATEST ADVENTURE EVER AND I WANT ALL OF YOU WHO CANT COME TO EXPERIENCE OUR JOURNEY TOO!!!!!

So please share this page with anyone who would like to follow Adam, Justin and I along the Appalachian Trail.  I’ll try my best to keep this as entertaining and honest as possible.  I’ve never done a blog before so bear with me as I figure this whole thing out.

Check back soon to hear some of the reasons why I want to thru hike the Appalachian Trail.

Cheers!

(That’s me on the left and Adam on the right.)

Zachsquatch