Outdoor specialists will offer advice April 9

By: Tom Meade

01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, March 23, 2008

 

Randy and Sheri Propster through-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 222 days, and then walked across the U.S. in 253 days. They are coming April 9 to the REI store in Cranston as part of Backpacker magazine’s Get Out More campaign. 

 

The couple met as college freshmen 13 years ago at Old Dominion University where both were athletes.  In 1999, they hiked the Appalachian Trail, and then went to work for the Department of Defense as outdoor recreation specialists working out of the Outdoor Adventure Center on the Navy’s Dam Neck Base in Virginia Beach, Va. They led hiking, rafting and paddling expeditions and conducted team-building adventures for the Navy and other government groups.

 

Their love for backpacking eventually led them away from the coast and into the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. They lived within walking distance of the Appalachian Trail where they trained for their next long-distance adventure.

 

In early March of 2006 the couple embarked on a through-hike of the American Discovery Trail, across 13 states from coast to coast.

 

For the Get Out More tour, they will visit 35 states and 55 locations — including REI on April 9 at 6 p.m. and Kittery Trading Post in Maine, April 12 at 2 p.m.

 

Among the topics they will discuss in their 60-minute presentation are the complete backpacker, getting in gear, and the survival state of mind.

 

For details, go to www.backpacker.com/getoutmore

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