Mary Weishaar told us of her multi-year walk on the Appalachian Trail.
The Appalachian Trail runs through 14 states from Georgia to Maine, a total of 2,170 miles.  In six years Mary has covered 300 miles of the Trail in 3 states. Everyone hiking the Trail has a nickname, and Mary's is "Numbers"--appropriate for a CPA.  Her PowerPoint presentation showed the impressive terrain in Virginia, as well as some of the 250 shelters that are found along the Trail.  Hikers like Mary are constantly trying to lighten their load, and we saw an example of that in her camping stove (miniscule but, according to Mary, ineffective!).
 
When asked whether the Trail is clearly marked, Mary said not always, noting that it sometimes disappears in the rain and fog.  There are many wet crossings, and hiking poles are standard equipment.  Mary's often-humorous descripition of her hiking adventures (and misadventures) left everyone impressed, although few appeared ready to sign up for their own trip.