My name is Gene and I’m thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail beginning in March 2027. Depending on when you are reading this, I am either still prepping for my journey or in the middle of it or just finished it up. Or, just maybe, it is now the year 2047 and this obscure blog is in the news because the author was found dead in a brothel in Thailand from self-asphyxiation surrounded by a throng of terrified screaming prostitutes.
As of this writing, I am 50 years old and living in Austin, TX, USA. Never married, no kids. Here is where I would make a joke about “dodging some bullets” or what have you. Truth is I never dodged anything. I’m quite ugly and introverted so I never came particularly close to marrying anyone. I have been scared to death of having children my whole life because I can’t even keep a houseplant alive for more than a month.
I have lived in the City of the Violet Crown for almost ten years. I grew up in rural North Carolina and lived there until I attended college out of state. I have also lived in greater Boston (~20 years), Las Vegas (~3 years), and one miserable year in a suburb of Los Angeles called Hawthorne.
I love sports and my favorite teams are the Chicago White Sox (MLB), Boston Bruins (NHL), Carolina Panthers (NFL), and NC State Wolfpack (NCAA). I also spend my free time doom scrolling Reddit, playing whatever games are currently on Xbox Game Pass, and occasionally reading books to appear intellectual to no one in particular.
That is the 30,000 foot view of my life. Kind of humbling that I can fit it all into only four paragraphs. For more in depth info about my life, may I suggest you read my blog which is also here in this same place. Convenient.
Gene Hikes the Appalachian Trail 