ISF Appalachian Trail Expedition

11/24/2020

The video is here!!!!!

11/02/2020

Last night at 6:15 EST, we crossed the road behind the store at the Nantahala Outdoor center and walked across the street to the restaurant. We dropped our packs and I walked across the roaring river along the beautifully lit bridge to the parking lot up the hill at Basecamp to my car. Debbie and John went on to get the food ordered as they were closing soon, so I walked alone. It was all quiet but the rushing of the swollen and furious Nantahala River...my mind was overwhelmed with what we had just accomplished. The map says we hiked 137.6 miles of the AT and ascended and descended more than 34,000 ft! Our apple trackers say we hiked more than 150 miles in total...my feet felt damaged beyond repair...hips, knees and ankles in pain but glad to be relieved of the burden of my pack. My legs felt tight and fatigued, but what I felt mostly was gratitude. I had been able to do something many people only dream about, I spent a month on the Appalachian Trail, embracing some of God's most glorious handiwork in the mountains of northern Georgia and North Carolina. I would be lying if I said there were times I did not want to curse those mountains and the switchbacks and false summits along the way! But the wonder of the beauty in every direction was overwhelming every single day. We got to see leaves come ablaze with color and then stripped to the ground by the strong winds and rain, we saw rivers swell and rise, snails crawling, moss and mushrooms growing bountifully and heard the songs of the cicada, crickets, frogs and all the creatures of the forest.
I spent many hours on the trail thinking about ISF and what it has meant to so many people over the years. I thought about my role and responsibilities and contemplated many ways to improve my leadership and impact on this ministry. I thought of the thousands of people who have donated to us over the years as well as the ones who have supported this hike. And once again, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. My prayer is that as I enter this season of life and leadership at ISF that I will finish strong and position ISF in a situation for sustained and long term growth and global impact. I will be putting together a final video soon, but I wanted to thank all of you who have supported this crazy adventure of ours and let you know it is not too late to donate at https://isf.managedmissions.com/Donations/Donate/52018

10/31/2020

John Kelso joined us today and we knocked out 14 tough miles! Including Edwards Mt. and Wayah Bald! Such a great day but there is a chill in the air for sure...30 degrees in a tent, what could be more fun?!?

10/29/2020

Thanks for all the concerns but we are all good up here in the mountains! Rained on us alllll day yesterday but everyone was a trooper, we will take today to dry out and regroup but we are safe and well.

10/26/2020

From Debbie Rogers: I am hosting a Norwex ISF Fundraising Party! I will be donating 75% of the profits from this party to ISF!
Go to sportsmissions.com to learn more about this ministry.
Think about starting your Christmas shopping and helping reach people around the world with the Gospel!
Here is the link to the Party! Thank you’d much!

http://drogers.norwex.biz/en_US/customer/party/4973605

Here is the Norwex 2020 Catalog and the new Christmas Catalog

https://norwex.biz/cms-media/media-manager/norwex-documents/20608_july_2020_catalog_us_lr_UbrE3mc.pdf

https://norwex.biz/cms-media/media-manager/norwex-documents/21286_2020_holiday_mini_catalog_us.pdf

10/24/2020

Week three has been spectacular! The first part of the week we were joined by Alissa Noguez for our time going over Tray Mt. to Dick’s Creek. We then made our way to the exciting milestone of crossing the GA/NC state line!! We finished the entire Georgia section of the AT! Today we knocked out a little 4 mile section with ISF alum Rachel Mercer! Or aka Research! The weather held us back a little and not sure about tomorrow, thunder storms are no joke in these here mountains!

10/19/2020

Week 2 is in the books! A wide variety of weather and terrain but we made it!! Ended the week with a surprise visit from ISF board member, Jon Zila, and his 3 youngest...they met us on Blue Mt. as we finished on Saturday. Took a zero day in Helen and had great food and have now been joined by my friend Alissa Noguez for the next 3 days. One more night in a good bed and back on the trail bright and early tomorrow.

10/16/2020

What is it like inside your tent??

10/15/2020

Made it to Rock Top, about 4 miles from Neels Gap, great view and a good fire!

10/13/2020

What a day!! We started at Lance Creek and hiked all the way over Blood Mountain to Neels Gap! 8 miles today, 8 hard miles for sure...bout to kill a Hunts Brothers pizza!!!!

10/10/2020

Thankful that we have taken 2 zero days, would be on the trail right in the middle of the red with no way off the mountain! Will be back on track tomorrow by noon, we hope!

10/10/2020

Took a zero day and probably another one tomorrow because of the storms...prayers for the people in the path of Delta. Here is a recap of our first week on the trail!!

ISF Appalachian Trail Expedition week one recap