A Chat with Chuck Hearon - AT Thru-Hiker Talks about his Incredible Journey

About this time twenty years ago Chuck Hearon was finishing up his thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail.

Gary and Mark chat with Chuck about his backpacking journey of close to 2,200 miles in 1999. Two decades later he remembers it like he just walked off the trail. Most people only dream about such an adventure and those who actually start the journey call it quits a few hundred miles in. Chuck is one of those who made it! Only a small percentage ever complete the entire trail.

Just in case you’re not all that familiar with the AT, the “long trail” starts at Springer Mountain, Georgia and ends at Mt. Katahdin, Maine – or you can hike north to south. It crosses 14 states in its journey and passes through multiple national forests, national parks, state parks, etc. Chuck can tell you it’s a mentally and physically challenging undertaking.

Today Chuck lives in Saluda, NC where most of our podcasts are recorded. Chuck is very active in the local community and even twenty years after his AT hike he’s still hiking and is a volunteer trail maintainer for FENCE, a nature center in Tryon, NC.

At the end of our podcast the Board of Trustees & Founders of “The Gary & Mark Podcasting University” presented Chuck with the very first Honorary BS in Podcasting with Honors (and extra honors) to Chuck.

Learn more about the Appalachian Trail at. www.appalachiantrail.org

This episode was recorded at Saluda Outfitters, a major sponsor of The Gary & Mark Show. Check them out at: www.saludaoutfitters.com.

And of course, follow The Gary & Mark Show at www.garyandmark.com as we keep finding our way.

Chuck Hearon

Gary after presenting Chuck with his diploma from "The Gary & Mark Podcasting University."

Chuck, Gary, and Mark