Richard "Pittsburgh" Mann
   I hiked 900 miles of the A.T. in the summer of 1996, doing day-hikes and sleeping in my van. At some point I decided to try and form a group to SLACKPACK the trail in 1997. I returned to Georgia, and began documenting the road crossings along the trail. I ended up hiking some of the trail in all of the 14 states that it passes through.
   Through an interesting series of events, I enticed one person to come along on the 1997 SLACKPACK, hired another person to drive my van and support the trip, and had another fellow mysteriously enter my life to help support the trip. We all are hoping for an unusual free-form experience with unexpected twists and turns along the way, and you can read all about it!
   The photo to the right pictures me, my sister, and Grandma Gatewood in May 1958.

Laura "Sunshine" Lutchansky
   My birth name is Laura, but I go by SUNSHINE on the Appalachian Trail. As a reward to myself for getting my Masters degree I have decided to hike the entire A.T. There is practically nothing that makes me happier than hiking. I am fortunate enough to have a husband that is supportive and that has encouraged me to do what I have dreamed of doing for years - HIKE THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL!
   Right now, my husband Gary and I (and our two cats), live in Florida. Eventually we plan to move to someplace where there are four seasons and mountains for hiking and mountain biking. For now we are enjoying the sunshine state.
   In the future I hope to do social work, brush up on my flute and piano playing, have one or two children, and of course - KEEP ON HIKING!
   The photo above is me inside of a large tree at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Cinda "Timmy" Williamson
   Cinda "Timmy" Williamson and her husband, Al "Peter Pan", have lived near Boone, North Carolina for the past year, where they moved from Western Springs (Suburban Chicago), Illinois. In her previous life, Timmy was a legal secretary for a large law firm in the Sears Tower. She has been thinking, planning and training for this adventure for a couple of years and considers doing it without a full pack a fantastic idea. She sends her heartfelt thanks to all Trail Angels who have been there with a helping hand on so many occasions. She is smiling a lot more these days, anticipating the ability to enjoy God's Creations around her without the agony of carrying so much weight. Many thanks for meeting the Slackpackers.

Sylvia "NTO" Young