Welcome!

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”  — John Lennon

I have decided to take some time off and spend the next 5-6 months thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail — 2189 miles from Maine to Georgia.  I will use this site to share my experiences.

In case you are wondering about the site name, thru-hikers use “trail names” during their hikes.  Rather than risk being assigned one along the way that I don’t like, I have selected my own – Uncle Malty; i.e., think malty, like a nice German Doppelbock, Maibock, or Oktoberfest beer!  (Some of you also may note a similarity to the title of an Aerosmith song.)

Posts to the page will likely be sporadic after I depart and will coincide with time I spend off the trail resupplying.  I welcome your comments, questions, and support.  I look forward to seeing everyone when I return home.  If you would like to see me sooner, I welcome your companionship on the trail or in trail towns along the way. Drop me a line and we can work out a time and place to meet.