A forester was working along the Appalachian Trail in Maine when he stumbled upon something unexpected. A dilapidated tent was sitting in the trees. He had just stumbled across the abandoned campsite of a hiker that went missing two years prior.
Things became even weirder when he found the lost hiker’s journal inside the damaged tent, giving an inside look at her final moments.
Gerry Was Taking On The Appalachian Trail
Geraldine Largay, Gerry, was 66 years old when she decided to take on one of the most iconic hiking trails in the United States — the Appalachian Trail.
Extending from Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, the trail is about 2,200 miles long and not for the faint of heart.
An Outdoor Lover
An outdoor lover, Gerry was highly involved in her community in Atlanta, Georgia. She was even a member of the local Nature Conservancy. The group did many things around the city and the state, including quilting and going on the numerous hikes Georgia has to offer.
It was only a matter of time before she tried her hand at the Appalachian Trail.
Her Family Loved Going On Adventures With Her
It was not uncommon for Gerry to bring people along on her adventures either. Sometimes, her husband, George, and daughter Kerry would join, along with her grandkids. They all loved going hiking together.
Soon, her sights were set somewhere her family couldn’t follow, something that was going to take a lot of time and energy — the Appalachian Trail.
Gerry Began To Plan Her Trek
Gerry had made up her mind. She was going to plot a course and hike the Appalachian Trail. While George was not up to following his wife on this particular adventure, he was very supportive.
So, after they sold their home in Atlanta, the couple moved in with their daughter in Brentwood, Tennessee. It was there that Gerry began to plan her trek.
She Suffered From A Back Injury
It was going to be a long and hard journey, and there was one obstacle Gerry had to figure out. Years before, she suffered a back injury, making it hard for her to carry large and heavy backpacks.
Luckily her husband came up with the perfect solution for his wife.
George Was Going To Run Supplies To Her Checkpoints
Instead of carrying all of her supplies for the entire trek, George told Gerry that he would regularly run supplies up to her various checkpoints so she wouldn’t run out. It was the perfect solution!
Now, all Gerry had to do was a few practice trials, and she was off to conquer the Appalachian Trail!
They Began Their Journey On April 23, 2013
Gerry and her friend Jane Lee began their journey on April 23, 2013. Starting in Harpers Ferry in West Virginia, it was said that the two friends wanted to hike north to the town at Mount Katahdin.
From there, they would catch a ride back to their starting point and journey the southern half of the trail down to Springer Mountain.
Everything Was Going Smoothly
The two ladies were having a great time. They didn’t even let a little bit of rain get their spirits down. It was evident from the early entries in Gerry’s journal that she was having the time of her life, seeing all of the different flora and meeting other hikers.
She even adopted a trail name — Inchworm!
Jane Lee Had To Race Home
Sadly, the ladies’ luck took a turn for the worse. In late June, two months after they began their journey, Jane Lee got word about a family emergency back home. She had no choice but to leave Gerry on the trail.
Not deterred by her friend’s absence, Gerry kept going.
Gerry Was By Herself
Gerry was by herself, but she was making the best of it, constructing makeshift shelters in remote areas of the trails and seeing George when he brought her supplies at checkpoints. He even got her to campsites or motels for a good night’s sleep!
All in all, things were still okay for Gerry.