PAX: Honeysuckle, Safety Valve, Roxbury, Popeye, America’s Best
AO: Tuesday Tuff, 09/08/2026
By: America’s Best
The Appalachian Trail spans almost 2200 miles through 14 states. Most people (80%) who plan to trek the entire length of the trail quit within the first 30 miles of the trail in Georgia.
The reasons are typically physical strain, mental stress from the monotony, and simple unpreparedness.
Those 3 things sounded like a solid beatdown to me.
The AT hiker’s credo is “No rain, no pain, no Maine.”
We wouldn’t be reaching Maine regardless, but I had plans for the other 2 this morning.
The Rain:
There are plenty of songs about rain, but only one by Peter Gabriel.
We would alternate high knees and butt kicks (to replicate ideal hiking technique, of course) and do a curl on every “red” and every “rain”.
The Pain:
This would consist of monotony and muscular strain.
To add to the psychological redundancy of being in Georgia for too long, the soundtrack was “Peaches” by the Presidents of the United States of America and”Peaches” by In The Valley Below. On repeat. Ad infinitum. Ad nauseam.
Starting at the first corner of the stage track:
7 Manmakers
Murder bunny to next corner
7 Manmakers
14 curls
Rifle carry to next corner
7 Manmakers
14 curls
21 merkins
Block and bear to next corner
7 Manmakers
14 curls
21 merkins
28 bbs
Ran a big lap to recover.
More pain:
7 mtn climber merkins
Murder bunny to next corner
7 mtn climber merkins
14 OHP
Farmer carry to next corner
7 mtn climber merkins
14 OHP
21 Curls
Block and bear to next corner
7 mtn climber merkins
14 OHP
21 curls
28 wheezy Jeffersons
As we got to the last station, YHC asked,
“Ok- anybody want to quit here?”
Rox was first to say no. But it was only a test anyway— I didn’t expect any takers in this group.
Most of those who don’t make it out of Georgia fail because they quit when it’s hard. The rule is: don’t quit when you’re in the thick of it. When you’ve finished a section and you’re rested, that’s the time to evaluate if you go on or not. That’s probably why we all keep coming back to the gloom too.
Back to the flag, and we had about one minute to hold plank.
COT
Safety Valve prayed us out.
SYITG,
AB