A mutual dream to fulfill

It was when they became counselors for a therapeutic wilderness program called Passport for Adventure in Salina, Kansas, that both of them met. The program aimed to help troubled teenagers by taking them to camping trips. When Geoff and Molly decided to go on a hiking adventure through the Appalachian Trail between Main and Georgia, both of their parents thought it was a great idea. Geoff’s mother, Glenda, who was working as a nurse at that time, said she had no regrets. After all, according to her, it was the couple’s mutual dream to fulfill, which is what life is all about.

“Why are we doing this?”

Their trip started in Mount Katahdin in Maine on June 3, 1990. They were not looking to break any records so they took their time enjoying the scenery. They slept late and sometimes skipped days. They dealt with insects, rains, rivers, sore muscles, and rashes. Before the week ended, they already felt discouraged. But they knew they would encounter many challenges. In an entry on her diary, Molly wrote, “We reminded one another before we started this ordeal that there would be tough days, days we would ask ourselves, ‘Why are we doing this?’ Well, we had one of those days.” But as time went on, they became more positive. In another entry, Molly wrote, “We both felt good as we went to bed. Maybe we’ll get this trail done after all!”