Dust off those fanny packs and get out on the trail

It's great to open up my inbox and see messages from readers who are heading out to hit the trail this week (I'm glad I haven't scared you off!) In fact, I've heard from a bunch of folks who say they are amped to go out into the backcountry and stomp around for a while. By the way, I took a "sneak preview'' hike of sorts on a Kentucky section of the 1,800-mile under-construction "Great Eastern Trail,'' which parallels and in one section overlaps the Appalachian Trail. I can't wait to through-hike this thing when it's all done. It might even end up as America's newest national scenic trail at some point. Stay tuned to find out more about the "G.E.T.''