Spring is coming and it's in the air....except for today. Today, it's rainy and cold. But, yesterday was great and the day before that...and the day before that, etc.

But, while we go to work and do all the things that come with our daily lives, others are soul searching and/or finding out what they're made of. Today's post is all about my new nephew, Todd Powell, age 25, who is, as I write, hiking the Appalachian Trail for six months.

He began his journey on Thursday, March 16, 2006 in Chickamauga, TN and will be hiking 2,174 miles up to Maine before he is done.

So far, according to his travel journal, he's seen every kind of weather from icy teens and snow to 80-degree heat. All of this is being done with a backpack on his back and minimal provisions. I'll give you more updates as time goes on but, for now, I'll leave you with a couple of links.

Todd Powell's (Grinds) Travel Journal

About the Appalachian Trail