Peachtree City resident taking on the Appalachian Trail

Once you have biked over 4,000 miles, what challenge is left for you to overcome?

That was the question Peachtree City resident Barbara Corley, 54, had to answer for herself after completing a bicycle ride from Oregon to Georgia in 2004. Her answer was to hike the Appalachian Trail.

“I was doing a BRAG (Bike Ride Across Georgia) ride in 1997 and crossed a trail crossing. I got off my bike and walked a bit of the Appalachian Trail and thought, ‘This would be cool.’,” said Corley. “After completing the ride in 2004, I knew I could do anything.”

The original plan called for Corley to hike the Appalachian Trail with her son, but he fell in love during the preparations and Corley had to find herself a new partner. She found a woman, Sarah, who wants to hike the trail on a hiking website, but the two didn’t meet in person until this past Sunday, the day before they embarked on their journey. On Monday morning the pair started at Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the trail, and Corley’s goal is to make it to Mt. Katahdin, which is the highest mountain in Maine and the northern terminus of the trail.

“Only 25 percent of the thousands of people who attempt this trip every year make it to the end though,” said Corley. The trip is nearly 2,175 miles and is expected to take almost six months.

Corley has been training seriously for the hike since June, which is when she started walking more and riding her bike less. She would often walk a seven mile round trip to Home Depot and on the weekends would walk 12 miles with a stop for lunch. She will try to average 20 miles a day on the trail. She realizes that the goal is ambitious, but, as she said during the interview, “All you do is wake up in the morning and walk all day.”

Corley has been carrying her pack for much of her training and trying to find ways to eliminate weight and make sure she has the right materials.

“I’ve tested out everything I am taking with me,” said Corley, who added that she had already changed out her tent and sleeping bag. “I’ll be spending the next six months with these things, so I need to be comfortable.”

Corley knows that in addition to being physically ready for the challenge of the hike, she also needs to be mentally ready.

“It is all mental. I know that from the cross country ride,” Corley said. “You just have to keep going day after day and it can be hard when you are away from home and dealing with other people.” Corley has the full support of her family though. Her husband, Jim, will prepare her weekly food and mail drops and she will be able to stay in touch by phone and e-mail.

“It’s not that remote,” Corley added, stating that there are towns all along the trail and she will stop at least once a week. She has a mile by mile itinerary planned, based on the itineraries of two other former trail hikers, one from a person of a similar age and one who is older.

This won’t be Corley’s last excursion either. She still plans on cycling down the Pacific coast within the next few years.

“You only live once and I refuse to just sit on the sofa,” she said. “There’s no reason why I can’t do it.”

Her can-do spirit is inspiring and she encourages everyone to “find your challenge and go for it.”

To follow her journey on the Appalachian Trail, visit www.trailjournals.com/BarbaraCorley.

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