ANDOVER — I am one of a few women over 70 who plan to be on top of Mount Katahdin in September or October this year. Only 50 people over 70 years old have completed the Appalachian Trail (AT), a 200-mile hike through 14 states and over several mountains. The oldest male was 83, completing it in 2021, and the oldest female, 74, in 2014. Come join me on my five- or six-month hiking adventure, starting April 2, 2025! 

Though I have read articles and books about hiking the AT for 20-plus years, I just didn’t want to do it alone. A month ago, I found three women I will be hiking with, or at least start out with and meet along the trail. I have been told that whom you start with, you might not end with, due to walking pace, illness, injuries, or maybe relationship differences.

For this first writing, I will explain what I have been doing to prepare for this trip. As a 70-year-old with few medical issues, I drink a lot of water, don’t drink alcohol, don’t do drugs, don’t smoke, and I eat only small amounts of animal products. I do like sugar and that has reduced over the years to a minimal amount because my hands swell when I eat sugar. 

Instead of buying expensive dehydrated and prepared foods with sugar and salt and preservatives in them, I will be dehydrating my own foods in the dehydrator (Excalibur) that I have had for 20 years. I am dehydrating individual foods (rice, noodles, fruit, onions, peppers, beans, marinated tofu, etc.) and full meals (rice and beans, chili chicken, oatmeal, Pad Thai, etc.). I prefer a plant-based, Asian, vegan menu, so I will be focusing on plant-based proteins (beans, tofu, soy products) and fats (avocado), fruits, vegetables, and seaweed. 

I have become friends with Amazon and REI, as I am not a backpacker or hiker and thus need to purchase, borrow, or rent all my clothes, sleeping bags, stove, tent, etc. Delivery trucks find their way to my house regularly. I have bought and broken-in my boots. You may find me on the Northern Rail Trail, as it is easy to access from my home. 

I walked toward Webster Lake the other day and fell on the ice and almost slid down a hill. The Rail Trail is icy, and the feels-like temperatures are in the negative digits, so I am following a fellow AT hiker’s advice, “Don’t hurt yourself while you are training,” and stopping my walking on the Rail Trail. Now, I am going to a gym to stay off the ice and gain strength and endurance through machines (not my favorite, but a good alternative).

Honk if you see me walking along the road. You will know me by my orange hat and walking sticks (I had to get used to these, never having walked with walking sticks before). I hope you enjoy my amazing journey and come along with the 50 people over 70 who have completed the 2,200-mile Trail, and the approximately 1,200 starting through-hikers who make it to Katahdin. 

My next article will be about what else will be on my menu, surprises I’ve run into, and training with a 25- to 35-pound backpack on my back (sounds exhausting just writing it). “Why start something if you think you aren’t going to finish it”? (unknown person)