Dr. Jacqui Lowman had an idea: to bring a group of people together to accomplish something that seemed impossible. The idea is to hike the Appalachian Trail: to bring people together from all over the country, to encourage teamwork and to accomplish something greater than themselves. This hike is made even more groundbreaking since Lowman uses a wheelchair. Lowman involved one of her upper level courses with the planning for the trip. This group of 10 students was willing to work together to accomplish something amazing.
The group of students stood at the front of Pullen 210 on University Day waiting to present what they had been working on for a semester. Joshua Archer, the project coordinator, opened the presentation by explaining what they are working to accomplish. All of their efforts are geared toward helping Lowman and a group of hundreds of others to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.
On a projection screen behind Archer is a complex web of things to do and think about when planning this extensive trip. All of the nine remaining students take their turn center stage explaining their role and responsibility in the planning. Erin Keehn is in charge of creating a meal plan for the trip. These dehydrated meals will be prepared by Marteen Hester. Enough meals will be prepared to feed 10 hikers at a time and will also accommodate Lowman’s diet as a vegan.
Keehn is also in charge of mapping out the “day-to-day and week-to-week” journey. This ensures that every day and every week Lowman will be able to set goals and destinations to reach. This daily planning will also make connecting with volunteers on the trek a smoother process altogether.
“I have really enjoyed being part of the planning. I feel like I am part of something bigger,” Keehn said.
The presentation continued to Oliver Barratt, who was in charge of design and technology. Marc Knapp was next to present. He is in charge of equipment and finding corporate sponsors and donors to help with the cost of equipment. This is where Joshua Cross came into play. Everything that the other students do comes back to Cross as he figures out a budget for this six-month-long trek.
Tong Liu’s focus was daily supplies, such as ingredients for meals. Meghan Legassie’s focus was locating emergency centers near each point on the trail. She is also in charge of gathering general safety information for each section of the trail.
Ning Sun is in charge of recruiting trail coordinators who will act as supervisors of the volunteer group and provide support to the hiking team. Melissa Lizotte is in charge of recruiting trail support volunteers. These volunteers might volunteer as little as an hour of their time. They will be in charge of things such as gathering mail from the post office or dropping off supplies. Last, Monica Hewitt talked enthusiastically about her role of coordinating the recruiting of the hiking volunteers.
“I am excited to see the project grow and become something bigger than we had all originally hoped,” Barratt said about the project’s potential.
At all times during this journey there will need to be six porters who will take it in turn carrying Lowman in a special backpack or helping her with a hiking wheelchair. There will also always be two women who will help Lowman with personal care when needed. There will be one more hiker to make up a group of 10 who will be an all-around helper to the group. Saint, Lowman’s service dog, will also be a constant part of the group.
This trip will take place over seven months in 2017.
