Archive for the ‘Becoming Odyssa’ Category

Jennifer Pharr Davis Sets Sights on the Appalachian Trail’s Overall Speed Record

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
I heard a few rumblings about this a few months ago, but wasn't sure if it was true or not. But now comes confirmation from a press release that Jennifer Pharr Davis will indeed attempt to break the Appalachian Trail’s Overall Speed Record this June. To break the record, she will have to hike the entire 2,180-mile trail in less than 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes.

Davis is the current holder of the Women’s Speed Record for the fastest thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

To break the overall record, Davis will have to hike an average of 47 miles a day! She will have trail support from legendary ultra-runner and former AT and Pacific Crest Trail speed record holder David Horton, as well as veteran AT expert Warren Doyle and Davis’ husband, Brew Davis. Her record-breaking fastpacking career and influence in the industry is remarkable, given that she picked up the sport just six years ago.

“Whenever I’m not on a trail, I am being pulled back to it. Hiking is not only something I enjoy, it’s my passion, my career and my calling,” says Davis. “It’s so fulfilling that I have people I love supporting this next speed challenge. I hope to elevate awareness of the sport and the outdoors, and to get more people involved in sharing a similar passion.”

Davis wrote a memoir, Becoming Odyssa, sharing an intimate look at how thru hiking can help shape a person in many ways. The book, released in the fall of 2010, details how Davis, as an inexperienced hiker fresh out of college, tackled a steep learning curve on the Appalachian Trail, learning about herself and falling in love with the sport along the way. The book has been applauded by seasoned thru hikers, but also inspires adventure, strength and discovery on a broader scale. Davis recently wrote two guide books, Best Hikes Near Charlotte and Best Easy Day Hikes Charlotte. She is the owner of the Blue Ridge Hiking Company, which offers coaching, guiding and public speaking services.

Jennifer has hiked more than 9,000 miles of long-distance trails and has trekked on six continents. In addition to the Women’s speed record on the AT, Jennifer also holds endurance records on the Long Trail and the Bibbulmun Track. She has also completed Ironman Florida and multiple road marathons and 50k and 50 mile trail marathons. Jennifer lives in North Carolina with her husband and hiking partner, Brew Davis.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Jennifer Pharr Davis to discuss adventures on the Appalachian Trail

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
Jennifer Pharr Davis will at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville this Saturday to discuss her book, Becoming Odyssa: Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail.

The book chronicles her adventures, experiences and challenges during her first A.T. thru-hike just out of college in 2005.

Davis became a local celebrity in 2008 when she set the women's speed record by completing the entire length of the 2175-mile Appalachian Trail in just 57 days, 8 hours and 35 minutes - averaging 38 miles per day - with no rest days!

Blue Ridge Books is at 152 S Main Street in Waynesville, and the book discussion will begin at 6 p.m. Click here for more information.

You can also click here for more information on the book.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Hiking and National Park related Gift Ideas

Monday, November 29th, 2010
So we're less than four weeks away from Christmas and you're still looking for some gift ideas, or maybe just trying to find a simple stocking stuffer for that outdoor lover in your life.

Let me offer a few ideas that would make any hiker or fan of the Great Smoky Mountains a happy camper on Christmas morning:

Where are the best places to hike and take pictures in the Smokies? You now have the option to take the latest technology with you into the park to guide you to the places you want to go. This summer Travel Photo Guides released its iPhone App for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The App offers the best places to hike, the best places to take pictures of beautiful vistas, rivers and waterfalls, and where to find wildflowers and wildlife. It even provides camera settings and GPS coordinates.

So maybe that hiker is a little old school. How about a couple of trail maps? National Geographic Trails Illustrated recently published two new maps for the Smokies: one for Western Smokies that includes Cades Cove and Elkmont, and the other for the Eastern Smokies that includes Clingmans Dome, Mt. Leconte and Cataloochee. The maps show much greater detail, including backcountry campsites, footbridges, fords and stream crossings, nature/interpretive trails, as well as detailed trail mileages.

Just last month a brand new collection of photos from Ansel Adams was published. The book is the most comprehensive collection of Ansel Adams' photographs of national parks and wilderness areas. It includes more than two hundred photographs - many rarely seen and some never before published.

How about two old classic board games with a new National Park twist? Check out the National Parks Edition of Monopoly or Yahtzee.

Although spring is still a few months away, the Great Smoky Mountains Association has an excellent wildflower field guide for the Smokies (one that I own myself). The book is packed with color photographs and explains how to identify wildflowers in the field. It also includes sections on suggested walks, hikes, and drives in the park as well.

Becoming Odyssa: Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail, is the brand new book from Jennifer Pharr Davis - the current female Appalachian Trail speed record holder. The new release chronicles her experiences during her first hike across the 2175-mile trail out of college.

Calendars also make for great stocking stuffers - and Amazon sells hundreds. For hikers, check out the Zen of Hiking or the Appalachian Trail wall calendars. How about the National Parks calendar, or the Blue Ridge Mountains wall calendars. The Ansel Adams calendar is always a popular choice as well.

And then of course there's always gift cards and gift certificates: Patagonia, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Backcountry.com and Amazon all offer gift cards or certificates in any amount you wish to purchase.


For more ideas, and a full list of book and maps related to the Great Smoky Mountains and the surrounding Southern Appalachian region, please visit the: Smoky Mountains Day Hikers Store


Thank you!

Jeff

Jennifer Pharr Davis announces speed record attempt on A.T.

Sunday, November 14th, 2010
In an article published today, North Carolina native, Jennifer Pharr Davis, announced that she will be attempting to break the overall speed record on the Appalachian Trail this coming June.

In 2008 she became the women's speed record holder by completing the entire length of the 2175-mile Appalachian Trail in just 57 days, 8 hours and 35 minutes - averaging 38 miles per day - with no rest days!

Davis told writer Marty Basch in a recent phone interview that she plans to tackle the overall speed record, held by Andrew Thompson who completed it in 2005 in only 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes. Next June, Davis plans to depart from the northern terminus of the trail at Mt. Katahdin in Maine.

Davis is also the author of a new book - Becoming Odyssa: Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail. The book chronicles her adventures, experiences and challenges during her first A.T. thru hike just out of college in 2005.

Incidentally, I'm quite familiar with the author of the article. I've read a couple of books written by Marty Basch - an accomplished adventurer himself. Against the Wind, about his solo bicycle ride from Maine to Alaska, is a particularly good read.





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com