Excitement builds as I complete my preparation for a SOBO (southbound) hike of the great and challenging 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail (AT) from Mt. Katahdin, Maine to Springer Mountain, Georgia beginning on June 23, 2025 and ending approximately 5-6 months later if successful. Although I am not the oldest person to thru-hike the AT (85 years old), very few people over 70 years old have completed this adventure. I have been preparing for the hike over the past 5 years and am retiring as the Medical Director of Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers on June 20, 2025 at age 70. I will fly to Bangor, Maine on Saturday, June 21st, meet Dr. Jim Jarvis and his wife, Diane, who will drive me to Baxter State Park on June 22nd. Dr. Jarvis was a former faculty member at the Self Regional Healthcare Family Medicine Residency Program in Greenwood, South Carolina where I served as a faculty member and Program Director (1999-2012). I have reservations at Katahdin Stream Campground at Baxter State Park for June 22-23 and hope to summit Mt. Katahdin on Monday, June 23rd, walk back to the campground, and begin the 100-mile Wilderness on Tuesday, June 24th. Arrangements have already been made to meet friends in Monson (Maine), the Shenandoah Valley, and Franklin (North Carolina). My wife, Kathy, will be mailing packages and hopefully meet me periodically at some nicer towns along the route. Please keep me in your prayers. If you would like to show support, please check out the donations section on the home page and donate to one of my favorite charities. I will also post on my Facebook site (FB name gary.goforth1).