Post-Hike Update

Thank you for your continuing interest in my post-hike activities. I finished a short adventure team challenge with No Barriers USA in Colorado. Please visit www.nobarriersusa.org for a description of the event.

We came in eighth out of thirteen teams. Unfortunately the team made a decision to use maps, as opposed to GPS. That might have cost us about two hours. Oh well.

I found a publisher for a book about my hike of the AT. I am currently working with Beavers Pond Press.

Gary has put together some videos. Both the documentary and book might come out early next year if all goes well.

We are still working on funding for a business opportunity. Given the current state of the economy, that is not surprising.

I am trying to link this blog to Face Book and other social networking sites. I will keep you updated as things progress.

Post-Hike Update

This is an update to my post-hike activities. I am currently writing a book about the hike. I have a rough draft and am getting estimates on the cost of self-publishing. I hope to have something published by early2012.

Gary is working on the documentary. I believe he has the same target date in mind.

I am also speaking both in the Twin Cities and nationally about the hike. I am looking for an agent.

We are seeking funding for the business opportunity. We have a product that will take navigation for persons with visual impairments beyond standard GPS but the economy does not lend itself to raising funds.

I am planning a much shorter (3-5 day) hike on the Superior Hiking Trail in August. Some friends and I are working on setting an exact date.

Summary

Please accept my apologies for not posting this earlier. I thought this post had already gone through. I finished my hike of the AT and returned home on October 2. I had to cut it a little short to take advantage of a business opportunity. I have been invited to join a startup company that will produce assistive technology to provide real time information to persons with visual impairments currently unavailable to us. That has kept me fairly busy. I will try to keep you posted more regularly on post-hike activities related to this and progress on the documentary.’

Mike Hanson

Interview

As you know, I am currently hiking the Appalachian Trail. I was interviewed recently by someone who wants to pitch a show containing the interview to Oprah Winfree.

You can vote for that show by going to oprahwinfree.com. Click on own, as in own your own TV show. Search for Jessie Baker. You can vote more than once. Please consider voting for this show. This could really6 get the message out about the independence of persons with visual impairments and the value of adaptive technology!

Please accept my apologies for not posting before now. Got to Harpers Fairy on June 4. Almost half done! I’ll leave tomorrow.

We are currently at NOC. We need to bypass the Smokeys because of unusually deep snow and ice conditions, particularly at higher elevations. We will hike them after we finish up in Maine. We need to ask that users read references to sponsors as people who were kind enough to give us gifts.

We made Neil’s Gap, AKA Mountain Crossings yesterday. We had to hold up at the Hiker Hostel in WOody Gap and wait for the weather to clear up. Ice slowed us down but we’re picking up the pace. I’ll post more as time and signal access permit.

Mike Hanson

Departure and Start Dates

Thanks to those of you who posted comments for your support and encouragement. I will update this blog as time and access to the internet permit.

We will fly out of Minneapolis to Atlanta, GA on March 3. We have reservations at the Hiker Hostel for March 3 and hope to hit the trail near Springer Mountain on March 4. Packing and last minute preparations are going well.

Packing Party

It’s Official

The official departure date for the Hanson Appalachian Trail Campaign is March 3, 2010. We expect to leave for Atlanta then and start hiking and filming on March 5, 2010.