Calendar Year Triple Crown

 

Sammy Potter & Jackson Parell with Bailey Tuckerman 
Click on photos to enlarge. 

BACKPACKING 7,938 MILES…. Last fall, I read about two Stanford University students planning to escape Zoom classes to attempt the Triple Crown of backpacking: The Appalachian Trail (AT, 2,184 miles), the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT, 2,654 miles), and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT, 3,100 miles). Sammy Potter is a Mainer from Yarmouth whose trail name is Buzz; Jackson Parell is a Floridian whose trail name is Woody. (Yes, Toy Story.) 

Background: One of my research interests as a professor involves athletes’ writing (e.g., How does writing about a game, practice, or a performance like hiking help athletes learn and improve? http://www.writingathletes.com). In January, I wrote to Jackson and Sammy and asked if they’d be writing about their hike. Sure enough, they were. Since then, I’ve followed their trek on the Appalachian Trail and their midwinter transfers to the CDT and PCT.  

So here’s the fun part: Early this morning I saw a photo on Instagram that Sammy and Jackson posted from the Mahoosuc Mountain range here in western Maine right near where I live. I recognized the view and after some quick calculations, I headed north with Bailey. We drove to the Height of Land near Rangeley and hiked south on the Appalachian Trail. After a few hours on the AT we headed back to the Height of Land. Something told me to hang out for a bit longer and within 20 minutes, there’s Sammy, then Jackson. Random. Fun. 

To follow their attempt of the Calendar Year Triple Crown on Instagram go to @cytriplecrown. They’re good guys, and you’ll get a kick out of their posts, especially their video SnackChats.

Sammy & Jackson with Stanford classmate Evan

  

Off they go, NoBo: Northbound to Mt Kathadin