Growing up in a country with amazing volcanos, I spent my teenage years admiring the beauty of many sunrises from above 12,000 feet and, after I got en route to the U.S., equally amazing sunsets from the John Muir Trail in California and the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

That was over 30 years ago, before I decided that raising my beautiful daughters was an equally amazing and challenging experience. At 54, I decided it was time to get back en route to the woods… to bask in the beauty this amazing country has to offer.

This time, I am dragging along my best friend and life partner Soylamar as we prepare to fulfill a couple of the items in our bucket list: a “hike through” the Appalachian Trail and a visit to every state park in the U.S.

At my age, I know it won’t be easy but I have no doubt it will be worth it!