Kristy Interviews Jennifer Pharr Davis - Video
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| Jennifer Pharr Davis |
She saw 36 bears, moose, porcupines and just about every sunrise and sunset during her journey, which lasted exactly 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes since she left Mount Katahdin in Maine on June 16.
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| Record-Holder, Jennifer |
She emerged from the woods with her husband by her side and walked to the granite slab on Springer Mountain in Georgia at the trail's southern end. There cheering for her were her parents and dozens of other family members and friends.
Since she carried less gear, her hike was quieter, allowing her to see more animals and to get more in sync with nature.
Davis also provided the boost she needed when she was ready to quit during the first days of the trip in Vermont after being chilled by a sleet storm in the White Mountains. He pointed out she was ahead of the record and would feel even worse if she quit.
"There's no way I could have done it without him," Davis said. "Not just the physical, logistical support, but his emotional support."
The Appalachian Trail winds its way through 14 states and gets close to 3 million visitors a year. About 1,500 of those people try to hike the entire trail in one trip, and about a quarter of them make it all the way, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
For many of the "thru hikers," the trail turns into a communal experience. But Davis' pace kept her chances at making new friends to a minimum. An average day had her up by 5 a.m. and asleep around 10 p.m. "I said good morning and good night to the sun every single day on the trail," she said.
But the solitude always made her appreciate nature's boundless beauty.
Here's Kristy Watts interviewing Jennifer
Now here is a woman who truly loves the Creation of God! Congratulations, Jennifer!
2011 Christian Nature
