Pete and Ferg's 500 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail
Wednesday 18th September 2024
UK
4703
Pete and Ferg's 500 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail
On the 20th September, Ferg and I will set out to hike approximately 500 miles of the Appalachian Trail in America. Walking roughly 20 miles a day, we'll be raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity and My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.
For those that aren’t familiar, the Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, beginning at Mt Katahdin in Maine and finishing almost 2,200 miles south at Springer Mountain, Georgia. The trail zig zags through 14 US states with a total elevation gain of over 460,000 feet, the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 16 times!
We intend to hike the c. 500 mile section from Damascus, Virginia to the southern terminus of Springer Mountain, including over 110,000 feet of elevation (3 and a half-ish Everests) along the way.
Damascus was the final point on the trail that my late father reached as part of his southbound thru-hike during shore leave from the Royal Navy in 1988, similarly, alongside one of his best friends.
We will be walking roughly 20 miles a day and camping almost every night, most notably trekking through the 'Blue Ridge Mountains' made famous by John Denver's eponymous song, Country Roads. For the majority of our section hike we'll be spending three or four days in the wilderness between rural towns, carrying everything on our backs throughout. As such, over the last few months and for the remaining weeks before we leave, we’ll be spending our weekends on long, multi-day training hikes and avoiding using lifts at all costs!
My father Andrew and his friend, Steve, undertook their walk to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy and Ferg and I will similarly be looking to fundraise for charity, this time for the Brain Tumour Charity and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. It has been a long-held ambition of mine to complete what my dad initially set out to do and to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity in his honour. We’re also proud to be supporting the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, a charity close to Fergus' heart as his grandfather, 'Poppa Frank', battled valiantly with MND for the final 16 years of his life.
For those that are able, we have set up this page with an ambitious target of £5,000 - ten pounds for every mile - with all donations received to be split 50:50 between the two charities.
In summary...
- 2 mates
- 6 weeks-ish
- 4 US States
- 466 miles of hiking on trail (+ approx. 40 additional miles walking to and from towns off trail)
- 34,867m / 114,393 ft of elevation
- 2,025m the highest point on trail (Clingman's Dome) - 1.5x taller than highest peak in the UK (Ben Nevis)
- 2 fantastic causes, raising money in memory of 2 extraordinary family members
- £5,000 charity fundraising target
We can’t wait to hit the trail and look forward to keeping everyone updated throughout the journey.
Pete and Ferg (the Appala-chums)
£3,785.50
+£553.75 Gift Aid
raised of £5,000 target
by 68 supporters
Supporters 68
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R3 hours, 15 minutes
Richard W
You'll have a great experience whilst supporting a great cause.
£ 30.00 (+£7.50)
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A17 hours, 8 minutes
Anthony Barnard
Amazing adventure , fantastic causes , all the very best of luck . Barny
£ 50.00
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C17 hours, 57 minutes
Chris G
Good luck with this guys - 2 great causes to spur you on
£ 30.00 (+£7.50)
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J22 hours, 41 minutes
Jonathan and Denise Brown
Best foot forward Fergus!!😁 Pack your plasters, and best of luck. xx
£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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A1 day, 12 hours
Ann-Marie and Richard Bach
We love that you’re finishing off what your Dad began. Good luck
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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L6 days, 21 hours
Linda Marston
Good luck to you both, look forward to seeing your progress. Your Dad would be so proud Peter xx
£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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T1 week
Tracey Colbert-Smith
Well done Peter you’re dad will be watching and will be so proud xx
£ 20.00
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R1 week
Rachel Smith
I hope it goes well and that you cope with the mountains and each other!! Very proud of you xx
£ 100.00
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B1 week, 3 days
Becky Reeves
Masses of luck to you both! Have a great time & can't wait to hear about it.
£ 30.00 (+£7.50)
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N1 week, 4 days
Nick Braybrook
An amazing challenge to match an amazing story. Hope it goes well - keep us updated.
£ 100.00
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N1 week, 4 days
Nanny
Good luck on your trek, I shall be thinking of you every step of the way. Lots of love Nanny
£ 200.00
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1 week, 5 daysAnonymous
£ 10.00
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M2 weeks
Mum and Andrew S
We’re so proud of you Peter for taking this on, and grateful to Ferg for going with you! Stay safe and enjoy the adventure. Much love. Xx
£ 250.00 (+£62.50)
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2 weeks, 1 day
Anonymous
£ 10.00
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R2 weeks, 1 day
Rory & Sue McVie
Good luck to you both - a great challenge which I’m sure you’ll conquer. You’ve certainly done a lot more training than your dad did! Just watch out for the bears!
£ 50.00
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G2 weeks, 1 day
Graham Tilson
Good luck lads, it sounds a blast and supporting some very worthy charities. Are you going to be playing the Proclaimers for the whole trip?
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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C2 weeks, 2 days
Clara Martyrossian
What an epic trip! Great causes! Will be thinking of you and looking forward to hearing about it when you are back!
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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R2 weeks, 2 days
Robert and Karen Humphreys
Good luck Peter, wonderful that you are going to finish what Andrew started. Have an epic trip!
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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P2 weeks, 2 days
Pat Chatterton
Go and smash it out of the park Pete. What an adventure. Good luck!
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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S2 weeks, 2 days
Simon
I love your story guys, best of luck and don’t forget the bear spray…
£ 100.00
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N2 weeks, 3 days
Nicci Dever-Seaton
Fabulous causes you’re doing this for boys, wishing you a safe, happy and successful little stroll 😘 love Auntie Nic, Uncle Jon et al xxx
£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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A2 weeks, 3 days
Archie Woodman
Fantastic challenges and causes, best of luck to you both.
£ 30.00 (+£7.50)
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S2 weeks, 4 days
Suze
Good luck Pete and Pete’s friend!! Amazing challenge and story
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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F2 weeks, 4 days
Francesca Skinner
A truly inspiring thing to do for two very important charities. Wishing you all the best on this adventure!
£ 25.00
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N2 weeks, 4 days
Nicola Gordon
Good luck Pete, it looks like an amazing challenge for two fantastic causes and in honour two much loved family members. Have an amazing time!
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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S2 weeks, 4 days
Stephen Humphreys
All the best on the trail to you both, great work :)
£ 250.00 (+£62.50)
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L2 weeks, 5 days
Lauren Scott
Resists making a Proclaimers pun… Best of luck both! X
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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2 weeks, 5 days
Anonymous
£ 500.00
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J2 weeks, 5 days
Josie and Sam
Good luck lads. Fergus, good luck with the chat. Pete, your dad would be very proud. Lots of love x
£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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T2 weeks, 5 days
Tim Pierce
Great work Pedro, an amazing adventure for two fantastic causes!
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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G2 weeks, 5 days
George Mitchell
If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far…go together 🫡 enjoy fellas
£ 20.00
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2 weeks, 5 days
Anonymous
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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