“I’ve Been Dreaming About This For 15 Years. It Starts Now.”

Fifteen years ago, I was hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina when I crossed paths with a group of hikers who had completed the Appalachian Trail the year before. Listening to their stories absolutely fascinated me. There was something about their energy, their sense of accomplishment, and the sheer scale of what they’d done that stuck with me. From that moment on, the AT became something I dreamed about — watching YouTube videos, reading trail journals, imagining what it would actually feel like to spend months out there in the wilderness.

Fast forward to now. After two years of serious preparation — working six and seven day weeks, skipping vacations, and grinding to save every dollar — I’ve finally got my gear dialed in. As for my fitness? Well, the trail will sort that out.

So, what exactly is the Appalachian Trail?

For those who don’t know, the AT is one of the longest marked hiking trails in the world — roughly 2,200 miles long, stretching from Springer Mountain in Georgia all the way to Mount Katahdin in Maine, crossing 14 states. Over the course of those miles, thru-hikers gain and lose over 464,000 feet of elevation — that’s the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 16 times.

Around 4,000 people attempt a thru-hike every year, but only about one in four actually complete it. Most thru-hikers finish in five to six months, averaging around 13 to 14 miles

per day. It’s physically brutal, mentally demanding, and — apparently — completely addictive.

I’m starting mid-April, heading northbound from Georgia to Maine. My goal is to summit Katahdin by September 10th. That’s a tight window, which means no slacking — well, not too much slacking.

But here’s where my hike gets a little unconventional…

About 45 days in, I’m pausing the trail and flying to Italy. Specifically, to the medieval hilltop town of Spello in Umbria for the Infiorata — the Corpus Domini flower festival. Every year on the Feast of Corpus Christi, nearly a thousand people work through the night to create elaborate carpets and paintings made entirely of flower petals along the town’s narrow streets. The historic centre is adorned with more than 60 floral carpets, made exclusively with untreated petals, leaves and natural materials. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tick off two long-held dreams in the same adventure.

After the festival I’ll be straight back on trail to finish what I started.

Over the coming months, I’ll be documenting everything here on the blog, on Instagram Instagram.com/jef.guerin, and on YouTube YouTube.com/@jefguerin— the good days, the hard days, the blisters, the trail magic, and whatever happens when you take a detour to watch a thousand Italians cover their streets in flowers mid-hike.

Whether you’re a hiking enthusiast, thinking about your own adventure, or just curious to see if I actually make it — I’d love to have you follow along.

Let’s go.