The High Road in Hard Times
May 26, 2009
Filed under People and Places
When Rick Percival was laid off from his job in Kansas City, he decided to return home to New Zealand by an unusual route: a 2,175 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail.
We caught up with him in Damascus, Virginia, where he said the simplicity of trail life has already given him a new perspective on difficult economic times.
Be sure to click the video’s “HD” button to watch in high resolution.
Having trouble with the video? Click here to watch it directly on YouTube.
Does Rick’s trip sound like the ultimate adventure or a grueling nightmare? Where would you go if you found yourself without a job or immediate responsibilities? Let us know in the comments below!
See for yourself:
The Appalachian Trail runs from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Each spring hundreds of “thru-hikers” set out in hopes of walking the entire 2,175 mile stretch in a single year.
Damascus, Virginia calls itself “Trail Town, USA.” It’s the southernmost of a handful of towns through which the A.T. passes directly and is the first major milestone for northbound thru-hikers.
The Appalachian Trail Conference oversees the Trail’s use and maintenance from its headquarters near the Trail’s midpoint in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
