Minnesota native Joanna Swanson backpacks 1,600 mile Great Eastern Trail

The Great Eastern Trail is a new 1,600-mile trail from Flagg Mountain in Alabama to the Finger Lakes of New York, roughly parallel to the Appalachian Trail. This trail was first thru-hiked last year by Joanna Swanson, who will be sharing the challenges and rewards of navigating the young trail.

Tales of wildlife encounters, snowstorm camping, and "trail magic" will be shared, along with photos that showcase the beauty of the east.

Although Minnesota does not have a 1,600 mile long trail, Jo Swanson crossed the BWCA Kekekabic Trail with BWAC team last October and wrote about her experience (yet to be posted on www.bwac.homestead.com). Below: Jo Swanson (with BWAC Vice president Brian Fournier in background) on the Kekekabic Trail. She is still smiling - it's the first day of three days on the KEK.

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Keep on trekking, Jo! copyright Martin Kubik (c) 2013