Sep 14, 2017
For our 52nd episode–which commemorates the fact that
we've been podcasting for precisely a year–I caught up with Jessa
Hackman, otherwise known as Attie. Jessa was first introduced to
listeners of the show in Episode #16. She had written to me
requesting Grizz's hiking preparations spreadsheet and, as I sent
that to her, I wondered if she would be a candidate for a project
I'd been considering. I wanted to follow a hiker in their
preparations for the hike, then continue to hear from them
throughout their journey. Jessa had just qualified as lawyer, she
was very articulate, and it seemed to me that she had the potential
to really give the Appalachian Trail a determined try. We
discussed the idea and I immediately gave her an "out." I wanted
her to be sure that this show would be something that she could
commit to and, after a weekend's thought, she agreed. Later hearing
from her mother, Joan, about Jessa's many achievements already in
her young life, I knew that we'd found an exceptional woman.
Moreover, involving both Joan and Jessa's fiance, Nick, in her
journey seemed to give extra impetus to the project. For
this week's pictures, I asked for one of Jessa as a lawyer and one
of her at her skankiest as a hiker. Typically, Jessa obliged by
giving me a neat set of "kind of matching" images.
For me, this is something
of a sad farewell, as I've thoroughly enjoyed my weekly chats with
Jessa. That said, we now have a permanent record of her hike that,
in some small way, this show has helped bring to fruition.
Hopefully, guests, listeners and I feel some part of that success
and can share in the feeling in the picture below.
