I have returned from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy conference...final days of training for the Coast to Coast walk. in addition to some great hikes, i attended some excellent workshops....including one on map and compass skills. Even after a full day REI class and this workshop, I still don't have any confidence in my navigation skills. I am excited that this adventure is about to begin but I do have many fears. In addition to my worries about getting lost, I wonder if walking 191 miles is a little crazy at my age! I did feel a lot better after meeting people at the conference who are my age, who have hiked the Appalachian Trail--some hiking the full 2200+ miles in one season and others who have done sections over a number of years...either way is pretty ... read more